Blue Ice (1992)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers (WGA):

Ted Allbeury (character)
Ron Hutchinson (written by)

Release Date:

9 October 1992 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

If Harry's past ever catches up with him, he won't live long enough to regret it.

Plot:

A former British secret service agent falls for an American woman and becomes entangled in a web of espionage.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Spy | Blackmail | Murder | Unfaithfulness

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Harry Anders
Sean Young	...	Stacy Mansdorf
Ian Holm	...	Sir Hector
Bobby Short	...	Buddy
Alun Armstrong	...	Osgood
Sam Kelly	...	George
Jack Shepherd	...	Stevens
Philip Davis	...	Westy
Patricia Hayes	...	Old Woman
Mac Andrews	...	Trans Cab Driver
Alan MacNaughton	...	Lewis Mandorf
Todd Boyce	...	Kyle
Peter Forbes	...	Medic
Peter Gordon	...	Mortuary Attendant
Oliver Haden	...	Stacy's Driver
Philip Whitchurch	...	Blackner
Nigel Harrison	...	Fleming
Bob Hoskins	...	Sam Garcia
Roger Monk	...	Interrogator #2
Brian Parr	...	Stallholder
Neville Phillips	...	Usher
James Simmons	...	Sir Hector's Aide
Roger Sloman	...	Shipping Clerk
Mark Stewart	...	Uniformed Driver
Stanley Townsend	...	Interrogator #1
Raymond Trickitt	...	Cab Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Alon	...	Secret Serviceman (uncredited)
Del Baker	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	...	Clubber (uncredited)
Simon Crane	...	Secret Serviceman (uncredited)
Jim Dowdall	...	Garcia's Driver (uncredited)
Elaine Ford	...	Lady Punter (uncredited)
Richard Hammatt	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Frank Henson	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Mark McBride	...	Patrol Car Man (uncredited)
Wayne Michaels	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Gareth Milne	...	Terrorist (uncredited)
Nicholas Powell	...	Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Lee Sheward	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	...	Patrol Car Driver (uncredited)
Tip Tipping	...	Hit Man #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Russell Mulcahy

Writing credits (WGA)
Ted Allbeury		(character)
Ron Hutchinson		(written by)

Produced by
Martin Bregman	....	producer
Michael Caine	....	producer
Peter Kendal	....	producer: BBC
Gary Levinsohn	....	executive producer
Barney Reisz	....	associate producer
Louis A. Stroller	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Non-Original Music by
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		(from opera "Die Zauberflöte")

Cinematography by
Denis Crossan

Film Editing by
Seth Flaum

Casting by
Joyce Nettles

Production Design by
Grant Hicks

Art Direction by
Laurence Williams

Costume Design by
Les Lansdown

Makeup Department
Lois Burwell	....	makeup artist: Michael Caine
Julie Dartnell	....	makeup artist: Sean Young
Christine Walmesley-Cotham	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barney Reisz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jamie Annett	....	second assistant director
Beni Turkson	....	third assistant director
John Watson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Judy Ducker	....	production buyer
Jeff Frost	....	stand-by carpenter
Justin Gregory	....	art department runner
Phil Harvey	....	assistant art director
Roger Hulme	....	production buyer
Doug Purdy	....	props storeman
Brigitte Rigby	....	props
Mikey Roach	....	stand-by construction
Roy Robert	....	stand-by painter
Ron Venables	....	construction manager
Karen Wakefield	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Peter Austin	....	supervising adr editor
Peter Bergren	....	sound editor
Tim Boissaud-Cooke	....	boom operator
David A. Cohen	....	sound editor
Joe Earle	....	sound editor
Terry Elms	....	production sound recordist
Ron Evans	....	sound editor
Frank A. Fuller Jr.	....	sound editor (as Frank Fuller)
Mike Getlin	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Hebenstreit	....	adr editor
Sonya Henry	....	sound editor
Barbara Issak	....	sound editor
Doug Kent	....	sound editor
Gary Lewis	....	sound editor
Albert Edmund Lord III	....	adr editor
Pat McCormick	....	sound editor
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ralph Osborn	....	sound editor
Julia Regan	....	assistant sound editor
Bill Thiederman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dave Weathers	....	supervising sound editor

Visual Effects by
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC
Mark Nelmes	....	digital visual effects supervisor: CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunt double: Steven
Tracey Eddon	....	stunt double: Stacy (as Tracy Eddon)
Mark Henson	....	stunt double: Harry
Nick Hobbs	....	stunt double: Garcia
Alan Stuart	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Clive Andrews	....	rigger
Mark Bevan	....	sparks
Pete Cavaciuti	....	Steadicam operator: "a" camera
Ben Chads	....	camera trainee
Dan Cohen	....	clapper loader: second unit
Dave Cummings	....	best boy
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
Azmet Jah	....	clapper loader
Alastair Meux	....	camera operator: second unit
John Murphy	....	sparks
Ronan Murphy	....	second grip
Richard Philpott	....	focus puller
John Rake	....	key grip
Donald Russell	....	additional camera operator
Alessandra Scherillo	....	focus puller
Alex Scott	....	gaffer
Richard Seal	....	sparks
Anthony Stanier	....	focus puller: second unit
Dan Zeff	....	video assist operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giles Gale	....	wardrobe master
Lena Hansen	....	wardrobe mistress
James Smith	....	dresser: Michael Caine (as Jim Smith)
Jackie Vernon	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Philip Alton	....	assistant editor: UK
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Rod Dean	....	assistant editor: USA
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer
Michael Klawitter	....	post-production coordinator
Phontep Povichien	....	editorial intern

Music Department
Christopher Brooks	....	supervising music editor
Joel Franklin	....	music preparation
Don Gallacher	....	music clearance
Dave Green	....	musician: bass
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator
Anthony Kerr	....	musician: vibes
Peter King	....	musician: alto sax
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist
Gerard Presencer	....	musician: trumpet
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrator
Pete Thomas	....	composer: additional music
Pete Thomas	....	musician
Charlie Watts	....	musician: drums
Steve Williamson	....	musician: tenor sax
Patti Zimmitti	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Ken Goskell	....	unit driver
Roy Hyatt	....	transportation coordinator
Cecil O'Reilly	....	unit driver
Peter Pegg	....	unit driver
Brian Weske	....	driver: Michael Caine
Brian Weske	....	unit driver

Other crew
Paul Cadiou	....	production accountant
Saundra Chapman	....	assistant production accountant
Marissa Cowell	....	script supervisor
Paul Emerson	....	production operative
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist
Joseph Malone	....	production operative (as Joe Malone)
Jason Marshall	....	floor runner
Angus More Gordon	....	location manager
Fiona Murray	....	production secretary
Simon Olswang	....	legal
Janet Riddoch	....	assistant location manager
Dave Rogers	....	production operative
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician
Steve Smith	....	production operative
Daphine Spink	....	production associate: BBC
Melanie Viner	....	production secretary
Brian Weske	....	personal assistant: Michael Caine
Jonathan Wicks	....	location scout
Andrew Zein	....	assistant: Mr. Mulcahy

Production Companies

• M&M Productions
• Guild
• Home Box Office (HBO)

Distributors

• Unión Films S.A. (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Classico Entertainment
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (split screen)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

105 min | USA:96 min (DVD)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

M&M Productions

Trivia:

Denholm Elliott was announced in British trades as being in this project.

Quotes:

Harry Anders: Schoenberg always struck me as being a bit of a wanker.

Movie Connections:

References The Ipcress File (1965)

Soundtrack:

One For Sir Bernard

Better than reported by others

I try to be respectful of others opinions as everyone is entitled to one, but, as an actor and a producer who has been the recipient of ignorant comments, I have to respond to some of the comments regarding BLUE ICE. For the person who chastises Michal Cain for doing this picture and suggesting he did it for the pay check, It was his company that produced it. It was supposed to be the first in a line of quarterly pictures for TV with the same character. His partner died and that ended that.

Regarding Bob Hoskins small role...he and Caine have been lifelong friends and this is just one more of a number of pictures they have done together and to suggest that Hoskins has "ruined" his career is just ludicrous.The man continues to turn in outstanding performances in A-list films and top of the line independents. See MRS. HENDERSON PRESNETS.

The name "Harry" is a staple of Noir through both film, novels and TV-to wit "Harry O" on TV with David Janson in the 70's. "Harry" in Heminghway's TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, and yes, the "Harry Palmer" stories of Len Deighton but that does not mean BLUE ICE is a rip off of those stories. And to suggest that Michal Caine does not do well in action films is ridiculous. See ZULU, BATTLE OF BRITIAN, A BRIDGE TO FAR, and a host of others.

I found BLUE ICE to be intelligent, well done, well acted picture with a good script. I do agree that the ending is not up to snuff but the rest of the film, especially the "Jazz" sections, is not something one sees often and it added a measure of quality to the picture.