Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Directors:

George Miller
George Ogilvie

Writers:

Terry Hayes (written by) &
George Miller (written by)

Release Date:

10 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Adventure

Tagline:

Max is back...and Tina's got him!

Plot:

Mad Max becomes a pawn in a decadent oasis of technological society, and when exiled, becomes the deliverer of a colony of children.

Plot Keywords:

Children | Desert | Gladiator | Australian Outback | Orphan

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	'Mad' Max Rockatansky
Tina Turner	...	Aunty Entity
Bruce Spence	...	Jedediah the Pilot
Adam Cockburn	...	Jedediah Jr.
Frank Thring	...	The Collector
Angelo Rossitto	...	The Master
Paul Larsson	...	The Blaster
Angry Anderson	...	Ironbar
Robert Grubb	...	Pig Killer
George Spartels	...	Blackfinger
Edwin Hodgeman	...	Dr. Dealgood
Bob Hornery	...	Waterseller
Andrew Oh	...	Ton Ton Tattoo
Ollie Hall	...	Aunty's Guard
Lee Rice	...	Aunty's Guard
Max Worrall	...	Aunty's Guard
Susan Leonard	...	Aunty's Guard
Robert Simper	...	Aunty's Guard
Virginia Wark	...	Aunty's Guard
Geeling Ng	...	Aunty's Guard (as Geeling)
Ray Turnbull	...	Aunty's Guard
Brian Ellison	...	Aunty's Guard
Gerard Armstrong	...	Aunty's Guard
Helen Buday	...	Savannah Nix
Mark Spain	...	Mr. Skyfish
Mark Kounnas	...	Gekko
Rod Zuanic	...	Scrooloose
Justine Clarke	...	Anna Goanna
Shane Tickner	...	Eddie
Toni Allaylis	...	Cusha
James Wingrove	...	Tubba Tintye
Adam Scougall	...	Finn McCoo
Tom Jennings	...	Slake
Gerry D'Angelo	...	Hunter
Travis Latter	...	Hunter
Miguel López	...	Hunter (as Miguel Lopez)
Paul Daniel	...	Hunter
Tushka Bergen	...	Guardian (as Tushka Hose)
Emily Stocker	...	Guardian
Sandie Lillingston	...	Guardian
Adam Willits	...	Mr. Scratch
Ben Chesterman	...	Gatherer
Liam Nikkinen	...	Gatherer
Dan Chesterman	...	Gatherer
Christopher Norton	...	Gatherer
Katharine Cullen	...	Gatherer
Heilan Robertson	...	Gatherer
Gabriel Dilworth	...	Gatherer
Hugh Sands	...	Gatherer
Rebekah Elmaloglou	...	Gatherer
Marion Sands	...	Gatherer
Shari Flood	...	Gatherer
Kate Tatar	...	Gatherer
Rachael Graham	...	Gatherer
Pega Williams	...	Gatherer
Emma Howard	...	Gatherer
Tarah Williams	...	Gatherer
Joanna McCarroll	...	Gatherer
Daniel Willits	...	Gatherer
Toby Messiter	...	Gatherer
Tonya Wright	...	Gatherer
Charlie Kenney	...	Little One
Amanda Nikkinen	...	Little One
Flynn Kenney	...	Little One
Luke Panic	...	Little One
William Manning	...	Little One
James Robertson	...	Little One
Adam McCreadie	...	Little One
Sally Morton	...	Little One
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Margaret Dupre	...	Barter Town Girl (uncredited)
James Napier	...	Little One (uncredited)

Directed by
George Miller
George Ogilvie

Writing credits
Terry Hayes		(written by) &
George Miller		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Amezdroz	....	associate producer
Marcus D'Arcy	....	associate producer
Terry Hayes	....	co-producer
George Miller	....	producer
Doug Mitchell	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Dean Semler

Film Editing by
Richard Francis-Bruce

Casting by
Alison Barrett

Production Design by
Graham 'Grace' Walker

Art Direction by
Anni Browning

Set Decoration by
Martin O'Neill

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Rosalina Da Silva	....	makeup artist (as Rosalina Silva)
Nick Dorning	....	prosthetics assistant
Helen Evans	....	makeup artist
Elizabeth Ann Fardon	....	key makeup artist
Marjory Hamlin	....	assistant makeup artist
Sherry Hubbard	....	assistant makeup artist
Cheryl Newton	....	wig maker

Production Management
Su Armstrong	....	executive in charge of production
Antonia Barnard	....	production manager
Annie Bleakley	....	production manager: model unit
Tim Callaghan	....	unit manager
Marcus D'Arcy	....	post-production supervisor
Edward Waring	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director (as Steve Andrews)
Ian Freeman	....	third assistant director
Stuart Freeman	....	first assistant director
Ian Kenny	....	second assistant director
Murray Robertson	....	third assistant director
Chris Webb	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Alan Armytage	....	scenic painter
Simon Baume	....	set builder
Tom Beavem	....	construction assistant
Chris Bellet	....	set builder
John Bell	....	construction assistant
Wayne Black	....	set builder
Peter Bower	....	set builder
John Buttimore	....	fibreglasser
Brendyn Byrnes	....	set builder
Toby Churchill-Brown	....	art department runner
Matthew Connors	....	set builder
Pauline Cotter	....	tent maker
Michael Davis	....	art department coordinator
Robert Fisher	....	set builder
John Friedman	....	construction runner
Chris Gibson	....	set builder
Errol Glassenbury	....	construction foreman
Marian Gorsky	....	construction assistant
Scott Gribble	....	set builder
Keron Hansen	....	construction foreman
Kate Highfield	....	art department coordinator
Tony Hunt	....	property buyer
Romaine Joseph	....	draughtswoman
Billy Kennedy	....	scenic painter
Ross Kens	....	tent maker
Steve King	....	set builder
Kirk Lovett	....	set builder
Nicholas Lyons	....	construction assistant
Steve Lyons	....	storyboard artist
Michael Makin	....	set builder
Billy Malcolm	....	head scenic artist
Paul McIver	....	set builder
Rod McKeown	....	set builder
Paul McKey	....	construction foreman
Karan Monkhouse	....	stand-by props
Ken Moore	....	art department assistant
Mark Morgan	....	set builder
Ron Morrison	....	tent maker
Anthony Moss	....	signmaker
Michael Patterson	....	set builder
Ray Pedler	....	scenic artist
Shane Pentland	....	set builder
Rob Ricketson	....	construction foreman
John Rowe	....	scenic painter
Carsten Schimmanowski	....	set builder
Dennis Smith	....	construction supervisor
Marcus Smith	....	set builder
Tom Spellman	....	set builder
John Sprowle	....	construction assistant
David Stack	....	set builder
Jennifer Towne	....	tent maker
Suzanne Wallen	....	tent maker
Daniel Webber	....	fibreglasser
Graham Wood	....	construction assistant
Max Worrall	....	construction foreman
Harry Zettel	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Sue Blainey	....	assistant dialogue editor
Lloyd Carrick	....	production sound recordist
Craig Carter	....	sound effects editor
Tim Chau	....	sound effects editor
Philip Dickson	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Phil Dickson)
John Herron	....	dialogue re-recordist
Tim Jordan	....	dialogue editor
Phil Judd	....	additional sound
Doron Kipen	....	8-track operator
Bruce Lamshed	....	sound designer
Bruce Lamshed	....	sound mixer
Sue Lamshed	....	assistant sound effects editor
Frank Lipson	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound supervisor
Annabelle Sheehan	....	dialogue editor
Joe Spinelli	....	boom operator
Andrew Steuart	....	foley editor
Yvonne Van Gyen	....	assistant sound effects editor
Rex Watts	....	assistant sound effects editor
Karin Whittington	....	dialogue editor
Steve Burgess	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Steve Burgess	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James Mather	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steve Courtley	....	special effects coordinator
Brian Cox	....	special effects technician
Ray Fowler	....	special effects assistant
Doug Head	....	special effects assistant
Barrie Mackie	....	special effects assistant
Robert Podhadsky	....	special effects assistant
Brian Rallston	....	special effects assistant
Steve Volich	....	special effects assistant
David Ward-Fear	....	special effects assistant
Brian Wood	....	special effects assistant
Michael Wood	....	special effects supervisor (as Mike Wood)
David Young	....	special effects assistant
John Bowring	....	special effects armorer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Adams	....	model assistant
Ken Arlidge	....	camera operator: model unit
Eddie Blazkow	....	rigger: model unit
Geoff Brown	....	louma crane operator: model unit
Simon Butler	....	model assistant
Michael Chorney	....	scenic artist: model unit
Chris Cole	....	camera assistant: model unit
Roger Cowland	....	opticals
Paul Geros	....	model assistant
Petra Henniger	....	model maker
Kim Hilder	....	model maker
Romaine Joseph	....	model maker
Alan Maxwell	....	special effects coordinator: model unit
Suza Maybury	....	model maker (as Susan Maybury)
Suza Maybury	....	model painter (as SusanMaybury)
Bart Melocco	....	rigging assistant: model unit
Richard Merryman	....	camera operator: model unit
Roy Mico	....	grip: model unit
John Murch	....	model maker
Dennis Nicholson	....	model coordinator
Robert O'Keefe	....	model assistant
Andy Pollard	....	scaffold supervisor: model unit
Nui Russell	....	rigging assistant: model unit
Paul Shopis	....	model assistant
Peter Terakes	....	camera assistant: model unit
Jennifer Towne	....	model assistant
Walter Van	....	model assistant
Richard Weight	....	model maker
Guy Williams	....	assistant grip: model unit
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Russell Allan	....	stunts
Angry Anderson	....	stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunts (as Scott Ateah)
Kerry Blakeman	....	stunts
Glenn Boswell	....	key stunts (as Glen Boswell)
Phil Brock	....	stunts
Steve Brown	....	stunts
Spike Cherrie	....	stunts
Ros Chigjey	....	stunts
Jade Clayton	....	stunts
Danial Donai	....	stunts (as Danny Donai)
Brian Ellison	....	stunts
John Fogwell	....	stunts
Stephen Fyfield	....	stunts
Mel Gibson	....	stunts
Zenda Graves	....	stunts
Ollie Hall	....	stunts
Jeanot Lagarrigue	....	stunts
Claude Lambert	....	stunt safety supervisor
Olivier Lejus	....	stunts
Paul Lennon	....	stunts
Ian Lind	....	stunts
Fiona McConchie	....	stunts
Ken Moroney	....	stunts
Kevin Nagel	....	stunts
Rangi Nikora	....	stunts
Allan Oberholzer	....	stunts
Chris Olley	....	stunts
Grant Page	....	stunt coordinator
John Pasternak	....	stunts
Wayne Please	....	stunts
Michael Read	....	stunts (as Mike Read)
Arch Roberts	....	stunts
Robert Simper	....	stunts
Tamas Svegedi	....	stunts
David Thomas	....	stunts
Shane Tickner	....	stunts
Rikki Van Gyen	....	stunts
Don Vaughn	....	stunts (as Don Vaughan)
Fred Welsh	....	stunts
Dennis Williams	....	stunts
Vic Wilson	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Bosisto	....	camera crane operator
John Brock	....	additional focus puller
Dean Bryan	....	electrician
David Burr	....	additional camera operator
David Dunkley	....	camera maintenance
Alan Dunstan	....	best boy
Tex Foote	....	generator operator
John Goldney	....	additional assistant grip
Gary Hill	....	electrician
Neil Howell	....	assistant grip
Louis Irving	....	camera operator
Ian Jones	....	additional Steadicam operator
John Mahaffie	....	Steadicam focus puller
Darren McLaughlin	....	electrical apprentice
Irvine G. McLaughlin	....	key grip
Richard Merryman	....	camera operator
Robin Morgan	....	additional key grip
John Morton	....	gaffer
Pat Nash	....	grip
Toby Phillips	....	Steadicam operator
Toby Phillips	....	camera operator
John Platt	....	Steadicam clapper loader
Jim Sheldon	....	still photographer
Mark Sullivan	....	clapper loader
Jon Waller	....	camera crane assistant
Roydon Johnson	....	additional focus puller (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mike Fenton	....	casting: USA
Linda Pavilack	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lyn Askew	....	stand-by wardrobe
Jenni Bolton	....	costume supervisor
Susan Bowden	....	costume designer's assistant
Phil Eagles	....	stand-by wardrobe
Robyn Elliot	....	wardrobe assistant
Julie Frankham	....	seamstress
Lisa Meagher	....	wardrobe assistant
Anna Nolan	....	wardrobe assistant
Susan Pullen	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Arthur Cambridge	....	color grader
Miriam Cortes	....	negative matcher
Louise Innes	....	first assistant editor
Claire O'Brien	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Dick Lewzey	....	music recordist (as Dick Lewsey)

Transportation Department
Helen Folden	....	transportation
Jeff Reeder	....	transportation
David Thomas	....	action vehicle coordinator

Other crew
Billy Allen	....	additional personnel
Dale Aspin	....	animal coordinator
David Atkins	....	additional personnel
Gillian Bailey	....	additional personnel
Catherine Barber	....	financial controller (as Cathy Barber)
Ken Barnett	....	leatherworker
Catherine Bishop	....	production assistant
Tony Bremner	....	additional personnel
Jenny Brown	....	additional personnel
Richard Carroll	....	pig wrangler
Beverley Clarke	....	additional personnel
Robin Clarke	....	additional personnel
Lynda Collings	....	production accountant
Chantal Cordy	....	leatherworker
Peter Dons	....	assistant to accountant
Deidre Eagles	....	nurse
Justin Fitzpatrick	....	additional personnel
Catalina Forsyth	....	additional personnel
Bill Gooley	....	laboratory liaison
Nicole Gooley	....	additional personnel
Marguerite Grey	....	additional personnel
Ollie Hall	....	assistant: Angelo Rossitto
Cassie Hanlon	....	additional personnel
Alistair Jenkins	....	additional personnel
Hine Knapp	....	additional personnel
Ray Kubacki	....	mechanic
David Lee	....	additional personnel
Terry Lee	....	helicopter pilot
George Mannix	....	location manager
John May	....	additional personnel
Bob McCarron	....	prosthetics manufacture
Sue McKay	....	additional personnel
Garry McQuinn	....	production runner
Steve Michaelson	....	mechanic
Keiron O'Connell	....	bike builder
Christopher Palmer	....	assistant: Mr. Jarre
Daphne Paris	....	script supervisor
Margaret Pavletich	....	additional personnel
Anne Phillips	....	additional personnel
Jake Piggeries	....	pigs supplier
Richard Piorkowski	....	laboratory liaison
Jenny Quigley	....	additional personnel
Jason Rogers	....	additional personnel
Phillip Roope	....	tutor
Rick Simshauser	....	additional personnel
Chris Smith	....	caterer
David Smith	....	assistant to accountant
Warner Smith	....	mechanic
John Stark	....	monkey wrangler
Romana Toson	....	additional personnel
Alfonso Valencia	....	metro security
Rod Venables	....	air truck pilot
P.J. Voeten	....	unit runner
Jim Walker	....	pigs supplier
Irene Walls	....	additional personnel
Glen Walsh	....	mechanic
Jenny Wilson	....	assistant: Doug Mitchell
Elizabeth Wright	....	production secretary
Lyndie Wylie	....	additional personnel
Michelle Zeisel	....	assistant: George Miller
Barry Elliott	....	camel wrangler (uncredited)

Thanks
Stephen Hayes	....	thanks
Byron Kennedy	....	dedicatee
Ross Steele	....	thanks (as Professor Ross Steele)

Production Companies

• Kennedy Miller Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Universal City Studios Matte Department (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• BT Australia Ltd.  financial advice
• Feast Film Catering  catering
• Film Australia  post-production sound mixed at
• Optical & Graphics  titling
• Sabemo Rural Services  veterinary consulting
• Soundfirm  post-production sound mixed at
• Transavia Division Pty. Ltd.  aircraft manufactured and supplied by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

Mad Max 3
Mad Max III (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1988) | Finland:K-18 (1985) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Italy:T | New Zealand:PG | Australia:M | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1985) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Made by the spectator that Blaster accidentally stabs, to get to Max.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: A boom mic dips down to catch the Collector saying, "Leave your weapons here; it's the law," casting a very visible shadow on the far left of the frame (over the sign saying "PARK YOUR WEAPONS HERE").

Quotes:

[last lines]
Savannah Nix: Time counts and keeps countin', and we knows now finding the trick of what's been and lost ain't no easy ride. But that's our trek, we gotta' travel it. And there ain't nobody knows where it's gonna' lead. Still in all, every night we does the tell, so that we 'member who we was and where we came from...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "South Park: Douche and Turd (#8.8)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

One of the Living

Watch and you will agree with the soundtrack song of Mad Max 3 - 'We don't need another hero.'

Mad Max 3 has shown me that this Australian film franchise is continuing to be big and successful. Part way through watching this movie, I felt that Mel Gibson was born to play the role of Mad Max, as he suits the character that was created. I was thinking that this film might have had a very 'Hollywood' feel to it. But to my surprise, I was glad to see and hear a very Australian flavour continuing, which has accompanied all the Mad Max movies to date.

Two men enter. One man leaves. That is the law in Bartertown's Thunderdome arena. But lawmaker Aunty Entity will soon add another: Do not get Max mad! Max is back as the hero who takes on the barbarians of the post-nuclear future - and this time becomes the savior of a tribe of lost children. However, the power-mad Aunty Entity, a dominatrix, is determined to use Max to tighten her stranglehold on Bartertown.

What was lacking in the second of the Mad Max movies was its script, which seemed to be underdeveloped, so I was hoping that the 'Beyond Thunderdome' would be better. Thankfully it was, as there was a lot more dialogue, some intriguing characters, and an even better story, which contained a lot of entertaining elements. I especially like the location of Bartertown, as it still had an 'Australian feel' to it, the idea of the Thunderdome was well explained and shown through the story. Then to have Max, be the protector of all these children made the story just that much better. MM3 was written once again by George Miller and Terry Hayes.

But George Miller also did so much more. He directed the third movie, giving it all the necessary touches that have made Mad Max, the movies they are today. Helping Miller in the director's chair is another George, director George Ogilvie. Having two directors I think only enhances the movie all the more. I like the way we see the famous 'Thunderdome' fighting scene, as Miller and Ogilvie focused very much on that event and the many elements within it. I also like the grand view of the open desert that we see numerous times through out the film, as both directors certainly wanted us to see that the conditions surrounding Bartertown were pretty harsh to both humans and animals. Credit for this section of the movie has to also go to the cinematographer, Dean Semler, who shot some great camera angles of the deserts.

MM3 also had some fine performers. Mad Max (Mel Gibson) shows that he is still a force to be reckoned with. His introduction to Aunty Entity (Tina Turner) was highly entertaining, as Max takes an impossible situation to show that he is a person not to be taken lightly. Max, for part of this movie, has long hair, which I believe gives Max an even more silent, heroic, darker edge to his character. However I was not a big fan of Tina Turner's performance in the film, as she did not seem at all in her place as an actress, but the look of her character was effective. Tina sings the song 'We don't need another hero' for the movie's soundtrack.

I also liked the actors with minor roles in the film. Max is told to separate Master-blaster, who is two identities. There is the very small and intelligent Master (Angelo Rossitto), and the very muscular Blaster (Paul Larsson), who Max has the huge encounter with in the Thunderdome. There was also a very Australian feel to this cast. Pigkiller (Robert Grubb) was a peculiar character that I immediately liked. He genuinely wants to help Max's cause in any way he can. Of the nastier looking guys, you have Ironbar (Angry Anderson), who might not have much to say, but has many lives in the film. In fact, many incidents with him are humorous and breathtaking as well. Back in MM3 is Jedediah (Bruce Spence), who now has a son, Jedediah Jnr. (Adam Cockburn). Max and Jedediah have a very clear understanding, which continues here. Another major component to the film is the use of pigs. I will not say why they are used here, just that I liked their presence every time they were onscreen.

There are some amazing scenes attached to MM3. I have to agree that the film contains one the best movie fight scenes ever, as Max and gladiatorial Blaster face off with maces, chainsaws and anything not nailed down inside Thunderdome. It is truly an exhilarating scene to see playing out, (although I cringed when I saw Max drop-start the chainsaw). However the customary car chase scene, which MM is famous for, was not as great here, as in the previous two movies. But it did have the fun sequence showing Ironbar barely escaping with his life many times. I enjoyed the lead up scenes to the car chase, as they had a lot of action and involvement of many people from the cast.

While, I like the characters we see in this movie, I do not believe they are as well developed as the people created for the first movie, as they were a lot easier to get to know, love and understand. I guess the big question after this movie is, 'which Mad Max is better, one or three?' I am still a bigger fan of the original, as it is a great film, showing that a small budget filmmaking can be very successful. That does not mean I am not a fan of this film, because I am. 'Beyond Thunderdome' had such a fine conclusion, that perhaps they should have left the 'status quo'. But hearing that a 4th film in the series is being made as we speak, says to me, that Mel Gibson, George Miller and his talented crew have more in store for Mad Max fans. I cannot wait!

CMRS gives 'Mad Max - Beyond Thunderdome': 3.5 (Good - Very Good Film)