Barb Wire (1996)

User Rating:

3.0/10   

Director:

David Hogan

Writers (WGA):

Chris Warner (characters in comic)
Ilene Chaiken (story)
(more)

Release Date:

3 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Don't call me babe!

Plot:

Post-Apocalyptic remake of "Casablanca" set in a strip club.

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Bar | Topless | Cult Favorite | Action Heroine

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Amir Aboulela	...	Patron
Adriana Alexander	...	Redhead
David Andriole	...	Goon #2
Vanessa Lee Asher	...	Emily
Ron Balicki	...	Customs Agent #1
Jennifer Banko	...	Spike
Candace Kita	...	Dancer (as Candace Camille Bender)
Xander Berkeley	...	Alexander Willis
Tony Bill	...	Foster
Alex Bookston	...	Man in White Suit
Gil Borgos	...	Old Man
Andre Rosey Brown	...	Big Fatso
Mark Collver	...	Manny (as Marc Collver)
Tina Cote	...	Woman in Bar #1 (as Tina Coté)
Vinnie Curto	...	Aide to Pryzer
Shelly Desai	...	Sharif
Miles Dougal	...	Goon #1
Ken Forsgren	...	Greaseball
Darrel Heath	...	Soldier - Flashback
Clint Howard	...	Schmitz
Neil Hunt	...	Weasel
Diana Lee Inosanto	...	Customs Agent #2 (as Diana Lee Insanto)
Udo Kier	...	Curly
Henry Kingi	...	Moe
Tiffany Lawrence	...	Security Guard
Pamela Anderson	...	Barb Wire (as Pamela Anderson Lee)
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Bouncer (as Tiny 'Zeus' Lister)
Marshall Manesh	...	Sheik (as Marshal Manesh)
Temuera Morrison	...	Axel
Jack Noseworthy	...	Charlie
John Paxton	...	Smooth
Pee Wee Piemonte	...	Frick
Steve Railsback	...	Colonel Pryzer
Mary Anna Reyes	...	Woman in Torture Room
Jeffrey Dean Rosenthal	...	Bald Man
Victoria Rowell	...	Cora D
Loren Rubin	...	Krebs
Michael Russo	...	Santo
Joe Sagal	...	Fred the Bartender
Diane Shay	...	Stripper in Dressing Room
Harvey Shield	...	Dad
Lou Simon	...	Passenger
Rene Stahl	...	Woman in Bar #2
Nils Allen Stewart	...	Jack
Teo	...	Disc Jockey
Patti Tippo	...	Mom
Dominiquie Vandenberg	...	Frack (as Dominique Vandenberg)
Ai Wan	...	China
Diane Warshay	...	Maria
Nicholas Worth	...	Ruben
Jack Wright	...	Package Check Guy
Salvator Xuereb	...	Young Soldier
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angelie Almendare	...	(uncredited)
Livia Milano	...	Customs Agent (uncredited)
Arthur Tipp	...	Custom Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
David Hogan

Writing credits (WGA)
Chris Warner		(characters in comic)
Ilene Chaiken		(story)
Chuck Pfarrer		(screenplay) and
Ilene Chaiken		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dennis Brody	....	associate producer
Robert Del Valle	....	line producer
Peter Heller	....	executive producer
Ray Manzella	....	associate producer
Todd Moyer	....	producer
Mike Richardson	....	producer
Brad Wyman	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Colombier

Cinematography by
Rick Bota		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Schink

Casting by
Rick Montgomery
Dan Parada

Production Design by
Jean-Philippe Carp

Art Direction by
Dins W.W. Danielsen		(as Dins Danielsen)

Set Decoration by
Lisa Robyn Deutsch

Costume Design by
Rosanna Norton

Makeup Department
Bridget Bergman	....	makeup artist
Donna-Lou Henderson	....	key makeup artist (as Donna L. Henderson)
Justin B. Henderson	....	makeup artist
Daphne Lawson	....	hair stylist
Ashlee Petersen	....	makeup artist
Steven R. Soussanna	....	key hair stylist
Alexis Vogel	....	hair stylist
Alexis Vogel	....	makeup artist
Alan C. Bosshardt	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Scott Carleton	....	post-production supervisor
Tim Clawson	....	executive in charge of production
Mary Courtney	....	production supervisor: additional photography
Michelle R. Erby	....	production supervisor: additional photography
Gregory Goodman	....	unit production manager: additional photography
Joel Hatch	....	production supervisor
Mark S. Hoerr	....	post-production supervisor
Glenn Kiser	....	post-production supervisor
Robert S. Mendelsohn	....	unit production manager
Linda Shamest	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
M. James Arnett	....	second unit director
Alan Brent Connell	....	first assistant director: second unit
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director: second unit
Kent Genzlinger	....	second assistant director
Judith Moore	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Judy Moore)
Laura Nisbet	....	second assistant director: second unit
Tom Oseransky	....	second assistant director: second unit
Carlos Piñero	....	second second assistant director
Douglas E. Wise	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Patrick Aiello	....	construction office coordinator
John Bakken	....	property maker
Craig Bernatzke	....	property maker
Ed Bowen	....	property maker
Andrew Chapnick	....	property maker
Tom Craig	....	set dresser
Marti Foxwell	....	property maker
Lisa Gamel	....	scenic artist
Mark Gantt	....	property master: second unit
Scott Getzinger	....	on-set dresser
Cynthia Gould	....	scenic artist
Mito Hernandez	....	scenic artist
Nick Huffman	....	property maker
Philip Keller	....	storyboard artist
Patricia Klawonn	....	set designer
Lance Larson	....	weapons and props
Morris Laslo	....	property maker
Doug Lewis	....	property master
Jesus Lomeli	....	scenic artist
Brent David Mannon	....	assistant property master
Fred Marino	....	property maker
Patti McNulty	....	art department coordinator
Rick Newsome	....	storyboard artist
Jack Night	....	property maker
Laurel Pickering	....	lead scenic artist
Julie Pyken	....	scenic artist
Kevin Radanovich	....	scenic artist
Easton Michael Smith	....	assistant art director
John Stone	....	construction foreman
Philip Stone	....	construction coordinator
Alex Temme	....	property maker
Karen Torell	....	scenic artist
Denny White	....	property maker
Dan Wilson	....	property maker
Cole Young	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Harry Cohen	....	sound editor
Paul Curtis	....	adr editor
William Dotson	....	dialogue editor (as Bill Dotson)
William Freesh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vince Garcia	....	sound mixer
Tim Gedemer	....	sound designer
Jonathan Karp	....	sound effects editor
Jason King	....	dialogue editor
Larry Liddell	....	boom operator
Larry Mann	....	supervising sound editor
Greg Meader	....	sound editor
Paul Menichini	....	sound editor
Paul Menichini	....	sound effects editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist (as Jim Moriano)
Piero Mura	....	foley editor
Jim Osburn	....	sound utility
Charles W. Ritter	....	foley editor
Katie Rowe	....	foley artist
Ann Scibelli	....	sound editor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Cathie Speakman	....	adr editor
Liz Sroka	....	adr recordist
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
David F. Van Slyke	....	sound editor
Jeff Vaughn	....	adr recordist
Marty Vites	....	adr editor
Brandon Walker	....	adr recordist
Jeffrey R. Whitcher	....	sound editor
Jeffrey R. Whitcher	....	sound effects editor
Ben Wilkins	....	foley editor
Brian Wittle	....	sound utility
Harry Woolway	....	sound effects editor
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Don Gray	....	special effects
John E. Gray	....	special effects coordinator
Terry W. King	....	special effects supervisor
Roland Loew	....	special effects
Eric Roberts	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Minky Billups	....	rotoscope artist
Scott Billups	....	digital effects creator
Chris Brown	....	visual effects supervisor
Geofrey Darrow	....	visual consultant
Shawn Esposito	....	digital effects artist

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
Seth Arnett	....	stunts
Ron Balicki	....	fight trainer: Temuera Morrison
Ron Balicki	....	stunts
Bob Brown	....	stunts
Keith Campbell	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Mike De Luna	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts (as Jon Epstein)
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Debbie Evans	....	stunt double: Pamela Anderson
Debbie Evans	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Randy Hall	....	stunts
Dana Hee	....	stunt double: Pamela Anderson
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Diana Lee Inosanto	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunts
Randy Lamb	....	stunts
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
Seth Levine	....	stunts
Lisa McCullough	....	stunt double: Pamela Anderson
Julie Michaels	....	stunts
Francine Morris	....	stunts
Patricia M. Peters	....	stunts (as Tricia Peters)
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Darrin Prescott	....	stunts
Ruth A. Redfern	....	stunts (as Ruth Redfern)
Scott Rogers	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunts
Myke Schwartz	....	stunts
Lou Simon	....	stunts
Brian Smrz	....	stunts
John Tamburro	....	helicopter stunt pilot (1996)
Tonya Watts	....	stunt double: Pamela Anderson
Maurice Nero	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Joe Ordaz	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lou Slaughter	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Tipp	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	camera operator: second unit
Scott Billups	....	camera operator
Josh Bleibtreu	....	camera operator: second unit
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera
Tim Collins	....	key rigging grip
Christopher C. Cooper	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Michael Ferris	....	director of photography: second unit
John C. Flinn IV	....	camera loader
Scott Floren	....	key grip
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	camera operator: second unit (as Buddy Fries)
David Garden	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Peter Gulla	....	camera operator
Dennis Hall	....	camera operator: second unit
W.M. Hawkins	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Steve Holgate	....	first assistant camera
Gregory Irwin	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mark L. Johnson	....	film loader
Michael A. Jones	....	camera operator: second unit
John Karls	....	camera operator: second unit
John Karls	....	first assistant camera
Johnny Karls	....	assistant camera
Peter B. Kowalski	....	camera operator
Ron Kunecke	....	night light operator
Jennifer Lehr	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Wren Maloney	....	still photographer
J. Steven Matzinger	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video supervisor
Carlo Papica	....	rigging gaffer
Lionel T. Portugal Sr.	....	dolly grip
Rafael E. Sánchez	....	chief lighting technician
Guy Skinner	....	camera operator
Guy Skinner	....	director of photography: second unit
Joy R. Stone	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Wendy Thackery	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mike Thomas	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Forrest Thurman	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Rick Tiedeman	....	Steadicam operator (as Rick Tiedemann)
Jimi Udel	....	rigging grip
Tony Villalobos	....	second assistant camera
William Waldman	....	camera operator: second unit
Julian Whatley	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Chuck Whelan	....	additional assistant camera
Stephen Wong	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Kelly Diehl	....	remote head technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rodney Epps	....	extras casting: Los Angeles
Lauris Freeman	....	casting assistant
J.P. Shields	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kristen Anacker	....	costumer
Salvador Pérez Jr.	....	assistant costume designer
Yana Syrkin	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Joseph Anaya	....	lightworks supporter
Matthew Bates	....	first assistant editor
Douglas Crise	....	assistant film editor (as Doug Crise)
Poppy Das	....	additional editor
Carl V. Dupré	....	second assistant editor (as Carl Dupre)
David Feldman	....	assistant editor
Anthony Gore	....	post-production coordinator
David Handman	....	additional editor
Paul Kieran	....	assistant film editor
Chris Lovett	....	editor: main titles
Michael McCusker	....	post-production coordinator (as Mike McCusker)
David Orr	....	color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Norman R. Walker	....	assistant editor (as Norman Walker)

Music Department
Sharlotte Blake	....	executive soundtrack producer
Jeff Charbonneau	....	music editor
Michel Colombier	....	orchestrator
Barklie K. Griggs	....	music supervisor
Steven Klinghoffer	....	music playback operator (as Steve Klinghoffer)
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Frank Wolf	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
John Conte	....	transportation captain
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Finn Brandt	....	title designer
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Gary DeGalla	....	location manager (as Gary De Galla)
Kristin Dewey	....	location manager
Henry Eshelman	....	unit publicist
J.W. 'Corkey' Fornof	....	aerial coordinator (as Corkey Fornof)
Paul Guyot	....	stand-in
Linda Hegland	....	script supervisor: second unit
Pam Jackson	....	production coordinator
Wendy Kutzner	....	assistant production coordinator
Lance Larson	....	armorer
Eric Layne	....	payroll accountant
Lance Mancuso	....	set medic
Bertram McCann	....	marine coordinator
Carol McConnaughey	....	unit publicist
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Laurie Morgenthal	....	power pod technician
Mike Patlin	....	aircraft provider
George Patterson	....	production coordinator: additional photography
David Pollack	....	unit publicist
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor: second unit
John Santini	....	helicopter pilot
Marciann Shapiro	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Patrick Shiffrar	....	assistant accountant
Matt Sigloch	....	technical advisor: military and tactical
Lou Simon	....	technical advisor
Michael Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot
Alison A. Taylor	....	assistant location manager
Jim Thompson	....	stand-in
Robin Torell	....	stand-in
Esther Vivante	....	script supervisor
Cynthia Wise	....	production accountant
Michael Zamboni	....	production assistant
Adam Cook	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Melissa Park	....	stand-in: Pamela Anderson (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dark Horse Entertainment
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Propaganda Films

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1996) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• REP Distribution (1996) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1996) (Germany) (theatrical) (cut)
• Sogepaq Distribución (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD) (cut)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Elliniki Kinimatografiki Enosi (ELKE) (Greece)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (Greece) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (video)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD) (cut)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (additional digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Beverly Hills Security  security provided by
• Central Casting  extras casting: los angeles
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Charter Connection  marine coordination
• E=mc²  24 frame video playback
• EFX Systems  sound re-recording
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Inter Video  24-frame video playback
• International Film Guarantors  completion bond
• J.L. Fisher  camera cranes and dollies
• Sound Services  sound transfers

Also Known As:

Barb·Wire (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and nudity/sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | USA:100 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1996) | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Canada:18A (unrated version) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (certificate #34430) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Dark Horse Entertainment

Trivia:

The film's producers took the unusual step of announcing there would be no sequel after it's disappointing opening. In a 2002 interview Pamela Anderson stated that she would not have been interested in one anyway and that the late decision to include nudity and more violence was a mistake.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie says "I talk to Spike, or I talk to nobody," his necklace changes position between shots.

Quotes:

Alexander Willis: Add it to my tab, Miss Kopetski. Boom boom boom!
Barb Wire: Barbara Kopetski died in the war. I'm Barb Wire.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cheerleader Ninjas (2002)

Soundtrack:

Hot Child in the City

Feed her after midnight, get her wet, but, whatever you do, don't call her "Babe"!

Pamela Anderson Lee will certainly never be mistaken for a talking pig, especially in the outfits she gets to wear in Barb Wire. Pamela has cascading blonde hair down to there, acres of cleavage and plenty of clingy leather getups cut up to here. If you get distracted and call Ms. Wire the dreaded "B" word, you may find yourself dealing with her nasty-tempered Rottweiler, Camille, a sidekick with bite. This highly anticipated comic-book action/adventure, starring the pinup star of Baywatch, lasted only a short time in theaters before going bust, so to speak. I'm sure the backers couldn't care less, as their investment was made back in advance by tremendous worldwide sales. Barb Wire was sold on the star's face and form long before there was a story concept or anything resembling a script. Good thing, too. Yes, the futuristic plot does bear some parallels to Casablanca, but the family resemblance is strictly skin-deep. Barb is a nightclub owner who helps an old flame, now a freedom fighter, and his wife escape from a corrupt police official and some neo-Nazi types. Of all the gin joints in the world, Axel had to walk into Barb's. Barb has just been hosed down while performing a torrid dance onstage and is feeling, well, charitable. The movie gets off to a pretty good start, with tongue well in cheek, but grows wearisome when it forgets to laugh at itself. The explosions, shoot-outs and chases are eventually numbing. Must say, however, I did love the death-by-spike-heel scene which comes early on. Steve Railsback, as the head meanie, Colonel Pryzer, comes across as Tommy Lee Jones-lite. Ms. Anderson Lee, as Barb the Buxom, is game, however, firing oversized weapons and kicking fanny without mussing her makeup. Too bad they couldn't afford some better wigs for her stunt doubles.