The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Director:

David Zucker

Writers (WGA):

Jerry Zucker (written by) &
Jim Abrahams (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

The Villain. Even Mother Teresa wanted him dead.

Plot:

Incompetent cop Frank Drebbin has to foil an attempt to assasinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Queen | Baseball | Mind Control | Scheme

Cast

Leslie Nielsen	...	Frank Drebin
Priscilla Presley	...	Jane Spencer
Ricardo Montalban	...	Vincent Ludwig
George Kennedy	...	Ed Hocken
O.J. Simpson	...	Nordberg
Susan Beaubian	...	Mrs. Nordberg
Nancy Marchand	...	Mayor
Raye Birk	...	Pahpshmir
Jeannette Charles	...	Queen Elizabeth II
Ed Williams	...	Ted Olsen
Tiny Ron	...	Al
'Weird Al' Yankovic	...	'Weird Al'
Leslie Maier	...	'Weird Leslie'
Winifred Freedman	...	Stephie
Joe Grifasi	...	Foreman
Tony Brafa	...	Enrico Pallazzo
Lorali Hart	...	Woman on Ledge
Nicholas Worth	...	Thug #1
Ronald G. Joseph	...	Thug #27
Doris Hess	...	Nurse #2
Charlotte Zucker	...	Dominique
Larry Pines	...	Drug Dealer #1
Tom Dugan	...	Drug Dealer #2
Burton Zucker	...	Photographer
David Katz	...	Arafat
Robert LuJane	...	Khadafi (as Robert Lujane)
Charles Gherardi	...	Khomeini (as Charles Gherard)
Prince Hughes	...	Idi Amin
David Lloyd Austin	...	Gorbachev
Ken Minyard	...	Ken &
Robert Arthur	...	Bob (as Bob Arthur)
Greg Breslau	...	Man Deleted from Fireworks Scene (as Greg)
Sharon Breslau	...	Woman Deleted from Fireworks Scene
Reggie Jackson	...	Angels Right Fielder
Michael J. Montes	...	Angels Shortstop
Charles Fick	...	Angels Catcher
Lawrence Tierney	...	Angels Manager
Hank Robinson	...	First Base Umpire
Joe West	...	Third Base Umpire
Jay Johnstone	...	Seattle First Up
Randy Harvey	...	Seattle Pitcher
Brett Bartlett	...	Seattle Centerfielder
Dennis Packer	...	Baseball P.A. Announcer
Dick Vitale	...	Baseball Announcer
Dick Enberg	...	Baseball Announcer
Jim Palmer	...	Baseball Announcer
Mel Allen	...	Baseball Announcer
Curt Gowdy	...	Baseball Announcer
Tim McCarver	...	Baseball Announcer
Joyce Brothers	...	Baseball Announcer (as Dr. Joyce Brothers)
Don Woodard	...	'There he is!'
Christopher J. Keene	...	'Please disperse, Please disperse,'
Mary Norman	...	'Here, you can use my radio mike.'
Susan Breslau	...	'Hey, look out!'
Rick Seaman	...	'Ya dumb broad!'
Fredric Arnold	...	'Hey! What's the meaning of this!'
Ron Tank	...	'Mayor, will there be any additional security officers added to the police force during the Queen's visit!'
Mallory Sandler	...	'Oh, Dr. Alfred, I have Mr. Kepley's chart if you're ready to go over it.'
Edwina Moore	...	'Mr. Pallazzo. our head usher will be here in two minutes to take you onto the field.'
Jeff Wright	...	'Mr. Pallazzo! Will you come with me!'
Jim Smith	...	'Sorry, fellas.'
Mark Holton	...	'It's Enrico Pallazzo!'
Jane Couris	...	'You killed him!'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Lamont Berger	...	Woman Hugger at Stadium (uncredited)
Maureen Flaherty	...	(uncredited)
John Houseman	...	Driving Instructor (uncredited)
Stuart Lancaster	...	Press Conference Toilet Voiceover (uncredited)
Conrad E. Palmisano	...	Hijacked Taurus Driver (uncredited)
Brinke Stevens	...	Woman in Shower (uncredited)
Sydney Urshan	...	Man Pushing Nordberg's Wheelchair (uncredited)
USC Trojan Marching Band	...	Marching Band (uncredited)
Robert K. Weiss	...	Park Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)

Directed by
David Zucker

Writing credits (WGA)
Jerry Zucker		(written by) &
Jim Abrahams		(written by) &
David Zucker		(written by) &
Pat Proft		(written by)
Jim Abrahams		television series "Police Squad" (uncredited)
David Zucker		television series "Police Squad" (uncredited)
Jerry Zucker		television series "Police Squad" (uncredited)

Produced by
Jim Abrahams	....	executive producer
Kevin Marcy	....	associate producer (as Kevin M. Marcy)
John D. Schofield	....	associate producer
Robert K. Weiss	....	producer
David Zucker	....	executive producer
Jerry Zucker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ira Newborn		(music by)

Cinematography by
Robert M. Stevens		(director of photography) (as Robert Stevens)

Film Editing by
Michael Jablow

Casting by
Pamela Basker
Fern Champion

Production Design by
John J. Lloyd

Art Direction by
Donald B. Woodruff

Set Decoration by
Rick Gentz		(as Rick T. Gentz)

Costume Design by
Mary E. Vogt

Makeup Department
Barbara Lorenz	....	hairstylist: second unit
Gail Rowell-Ryan	....	hairstylist: (as Gail Rowell)
Cheri Ruff	....	hairstylist:
Robert Ryan	....	make-up artist (as Bob Ryan)
James R. Scribner	....	make-up artist
Rolf John Keppler	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
David B. Miller	....	makeup supervisor (uncredited)
Lisa Rocco	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John D. Schofield	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur Anderson	....	first assistant director: second unit
Jim Behnke	....	first assistant director: second unit (as James F. Behnke)
George Fortmuller	....	second assistant director: second unit
Nina Halvorsson	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Nina Halvorsen)
Geraldine F. Keener	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Carole Keligian	....	first assistant director: second unit
Carole Keligian	....	second assistant director
John T. Kretchmer	....	first assistant director
Jeff Okabayashi	....	dga trainee (as Jeffrey Okabayashi)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	second unit director
Jeff Rafner	....	second second assistant director
Robert K. Weiss	....	second unit director

Art Department
Jack E. Ackerman	....	property master
Barbara Adamski	....	property master
Steve Adler	....	assistant property master
Matty Azzarone	....	property person (as Matthew Azzarone)
Richard Baum	....	property person
Cliff Bernay	....	property person
Rick Caprarelli	....	lead person
Huey Duval	....	property person (as Huey P. Duvall)
Louis Friedman	....	paint setter
Martin A. Kline	....	production illustrator
Ken Marschall	....	matte painter
Pat Moudakis	....	assistant property master
David P. Newell	....	assistant property master
Gary Ramirez	....	property master: second unit
Phil Read	....	construction coordinator (as Philip Read)
Christopher Woodworth	....	set painter (as Chris Woodworth)
Richard Baum	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Rainer G. Gruetzmacher	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Andrew Neskoromny	....	set designer (uncredited)
James Passanante	....	lead painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator
Thomas Causey	....	sound mixer (as Thomas D. Causey)
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer
Ken Dufva	....	foley sound special effects
Juno J. Ellis	....	supervising adr editor
David Lee Fein	....	foley sound special effects
Leslie Gaulin	....	foley editor (as Leslie Troy Gaulin)
Joseph Geisinger	....	boom operator (as Joseph G. Geisinger)
Frank Howard	....	sound editor
Ron Judkins	....	sound mixer (as Ronald Judkins)
Richard Kite	....	cable person (as Richard H. Kite)
Rick Kline	....	re-recording mixer
Gregg Landaker	....	re-recording mixer
Larry Mann	....	sound editor
Victoria Martin	....	foley editor
Steve Maslow	....	re-recording mixer
Brian L. McCarty	....	playback operator (as Brian McCarty)
F. Hudson Miller	....	sound editor
Lettie Odney	....	adr editor
Donald Ortiz	....	assistant sound editor
R.J. Palmer	....	sound effects editor
Gary Ritchie	....	re-recordist
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Cliff Wenger	....	special effects supervisor
Gintar Repecka	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Eric Roberts	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bruce A. Block	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt double: Leslie Nielsen (uncredited)
Harold Burns	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunt double: Queen Elizabeth (uncredited)
Terry Jackson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mary Peters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Diane Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lori Seaman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rick Seaman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mitchell Block	....	second assistant photographer: second unit
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator: second unit (as Philip M. Caplan)
Christopher C. Cooper	....	second assistant photographer
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator (as Allen Easton)
Jack Glenn	....	dolly grip (as Jack Glen)
Gene Griffith	....	first company grip: second unit
Douglas S. Holgate	....	first assistant photographer: second unit (as Doug Holgate)
Frank M. Holgate	....	director of photography: second unit (as Frank Holgate)
Leslie J. Kovacs	....	chief lighting technician
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Willie McClean	....	second company grip: second unit
Benny McNulty	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Bernard McNulty)
Leo J. Napolitano	....	camera operator: second unit
Michael Orefice	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Michael D. O'Shea	....	camera operator
E. Christopher Reed	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Ernest Christopher Reed)
Robert J. San Martin	....	first assistant photographer
Chris Schwiebert	....	camera operator: second unit (as Christy Schweibert)
Richard Stevens	....	film loader
Paul E. Sutton	....	first company grip (as Paul Sutton)
Robert C. Thomas	....	director of photography: second unit (as Robert Thomas)
Ian Wayne	....	video engineer
Michael T. Travers	....	best boy grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lindsay Chag	....	casting assistant
Sue Swan	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hector Morales	....	costumer: second unit
Gary Sampson	....	costumer (as Gary R. Sampson)
Nick Scarano	....	costume supervisor: men's
Andrea Thau	....	wardrobe: Mr. Weiss
Deahdra Tyler	....	costume supervisor: women's
Gala Autumn	....	costumer (uncredited)
Bob Moore Jr.	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Vincent Laino	....	apprentice editor
Lynne Southerland	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Rice University Marching Owl Band	....	performer: "Louie, Louie"
Jeff Carson	....	supervising music editor
Alf Clausen	....	orchestrator
Gary Ladinsky	....	music scoring mixer
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Ira Newborn	....	orchestrator
Brian L. McCarty	....	music playback operator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Vince del Castillo	....	transportation coordinator (as Vince Del Castillo)
Raymond A. McLaughlin	....	transportation captain (as Raymond McLaughlin)
Robert E. McLaughlin	....	transportation co-captain
Rick Wiley	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)

Other crew
Stephen K. Alsberg	....	office assistant
Donna Cipriani	....	production auditor
Tony Criscione	....	assistant production auditor
Marsha Durko	....	divorce attorney: Mr. Weiss
Ron Eisenman	....	production medic
Michael Ewing	....	assistant: Mr. Weiss
Rita Grant Miller	....	production office coordinator (as Rita Miller-Grant)
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor
Leslie Maier	....	assistant to executive producer
Cass Martin	....	location manager
Timothy R. McWilliams	....	production assistant
Gillian Murphy	....	script supervisor: second unit
John Nesterowicz	....	craft service
Reid Rosefelt	....	unit publicist
Judson Schwartz	....	location manager (as Judson N. Schwartz)
Leslie A. Soultanian	....	secretary: Mr. Weiss
Douy Swofford	....	title designer
William M. DeLuca	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Johnny Disco	....	double (uncredited)
Les Godwin	....	associate location manager (uncredited)
Greg Knapp	....	set and construction medic (uncredited)
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents) (a Zucker Abrahams Zucker production)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount A Gulf + Western Company)
• Paramount Home Video (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (Spain) (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Alimo Society, The  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film
• California Angels, The  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cinema Research  opticals by
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  sound re-recorded at
• Major League Baseball  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film
• Matte Effects  matte paintings
• Record Plant Scoring  music recorded at
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutter
• Seattle Mariners  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film (as The Seattle Mariners)
• Segue Music  music editing
• Tripoli Rocketry Association  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film
• USC Trojan Marching Band  the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the production of this film

Also Known As:

The Naked Gun

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-12/9 | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Spain:T | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Bo Derek was first choice for the role of Jane Spencer.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Frank steals the unconscious umpire's wardrobe. He wears white underwear, but it should be black in case the umpire splits his pants during a game.

Quotes:

Frank: It's a topsy-turvy world, and maybe the problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans. But this is our hill. And these are our beans!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Il silenzio dei prosciutti (1994)

Soundtrack:

God Save the King!

In praise of Leslie Nielsen....

The movie itself is funny. "The Naked Gun" is without a doubt the best skewering of all cop movie cliches available in this day and age. It works on every conceivable level and a few that haven't been conceived yet.

But what puts it over the top is Leslie Nielsen.

It's amazing: he was great in "Airplane!", another classic from the ZAZ team (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker), and in the lamentably short TV series "Police Squad!". But here, he spreads his wings and flies to new heights of insanity and delerium. With jaw set square and tongue firmly in cheek, Neilsen makes the role of Lt. Frank Drebin all his own and the movie-going public's collective life is all the more enriched because of it.

He's aided and abetted by greats like Kennedy, Presley and Montalban (who knew?) and the movie even finds good moments for John Houseman and Reggie Jackson.

As I said, the movie takes off and finds great things to do with police cars with a mind all their own and goes on from there to take on such cliches as car chases, illegal searches, the cleaning out of the desk, the trip to the police lab, shoot-outs, the lax housework of a single police detective, etc., etc., etc.....

And what other cop movie in the history of the world has a music video in the middle, courtesy of Herman's Hermits?

Just one.

Ten stars and a Dugout Dog for "The Naked Gun", the film that answers once and for all - can Leslie Nielsen do comedy?

I think you know the answer.