Steel (1997)

Director:

Kenneth Johnson

Writers (WGA):

Louise Simonson (comic book series) &
Jon Bogdanove (comic book series) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy

Tagline:

Heroes don't come any bigger.

Plot:

John Henry Irons designs weapons for the military. When his project to create weapons that harmlessly neutralize soldiers is sabotaged...

Plot Keywords:

Paraplegic | Wheelchair | Based On Comic | Lasersight | Magnet

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Shaquille O'Neal	...	John Henry Irons / Steel
Annabeth Gish	...	Susan Sparks
Judd Nelson	...	Nathaniel Burke
Richard Roundtree	...	Uncle Joe
Irma P. Hall	...	Grandma Odessa
Ray J	...	Martin (as Ray J.)
Harvey Silver	...	Lamont
Charles Napier	...	Col. David
Kerrie Keane	...	Sen. Nolan
Eric Pierpoint	...	Major
Tembi Locke	...	Norma
Thom Barry	...	Sgt. Marcus
Gary Graham	...	Detective
Eric Saiet	...	Young Cop
Hill Harper	...	Slats
George Lemore	...	Cutter
Joseph Palmer	...	Holdecker
Eric Poppick	...	Mr. Hunt
Rutanya Alda	...	Mrs. Hunt
John Hawkes	...	Mugger
Steven Mattila	...	Big Willy Daniels (as Steve Mattila)
Claire Stansfield	...	Duvray
Kevin Grevioux	...	Singer
Tim De Zarn	...	Skinhead Leader
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Skinhead #2
Kamau Holloway	...	Skin #1
Norris Young	...	Skin #2
Maurice Chasse	...	French Mercenary
Josh Cruze	...	Colombian
Nancy Allison Wolfe	...	American Overload
Danny Hartigan	...	Chauffeur
Rick Worthy	...	SWAT Man
Marabina Jaimes	...	SWAT Woman
Scotch Ellis Loring	...	SWAT Officer
Ben Martin	...	District Attorney
Dirk Craft	...	Officer Craft (as Dirk Wallace Craft)
Jacquelyn Houston	...	Soldier
John F. O'Donohue	...	Federal Reserve Guard
Patrick Hayes	...	Pre-Teen #1
Manner Washington	...	Pre-Teen #2
Cyd Strittmatter	...	Lieutenant
John Donohue	...	Crewman
Jody Fasanella	...	Matronly Secretary
Kevin Sifuentes	...	Reed Driver
Joe Wandell	...	Reff Gunman
Joshua A. Adams	...	Basketball Kid #1
Zane Graham	...	Basketball Kid #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Skinhead #3 (uncredited)
Brigitte Graham	...	Jump Roping kid (uncredited)
Michael Preston	...	Mr. Weston (uncredited)

Directed by
Kenneth Johnson

Writing credits (WGA)
Louise Simonson		(comic book series) &
Jon Bogdanove		(comic book series)
Kenneth Johnson		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Allan	....	co-producer
Leonard Armato	....	executive producer
Bruce Binkow	....	executive producer
Quincy Jones	....	producer
Shaquille O'Neal	....	executive producer
Venita Ozols	....	associate producer (as Venita Ozols-Graham)
David Salzman	....	producer
Joel Simon	....	producer

Original Music by
Mervyn Warren

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin

Film Editing by
John F. Link

Casting by
Laura Adler
Shana Landsburg

Production Design by
Gary Wissner

Art Direction by
Gershon Ginsburg

Set Decoration by
Donald Krafft		(as Donald Kraft)

Costume Design by
Catherine Adair

Makeup Department
Patti Brand	....	makeup artist
Daniel Marc Goldstein	....	key hair stylist (as Danny M. Goldstein)
Desmond Miller	....	hair stylist
Brigette A. Myre	....	makeup artist
Michael Tomasino	....	key makeup artist
J.M. Logan	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mark Allan	....	unit production manager
Karen Skouras	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dirk Craft	....	second assistant director
Venita Ozols	....	assistant director
Rich Sickler	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Ray Anthony	....	lead man
Martin Charles	....	graphic designer
Sharon Compton	....	storyboard artist
Dale DeStefani	....	general foreman
Ronald D. Herbst	....	illustrator (as Ron Herbst)
Ron Licari	....	assistant property master
Alicia Maccarone	....	set designer
Steve Prouty	....	painter
Carlos Romero	....	stand-by painter
John J. Rutchland Jr.	....	construction coordinator
Adam Scher	....	set dresser
Arthur Shippee	....	property master (as Art Shippee Jr.)
Mike Swift	....	illustrator
Todd Tucker	....	key sculptor
Szu Wang	....	art department researcher
Bill Wieger	....	key sculptor
Julie Witherington	....	on-set dresser (as Julie Sexsmith)

Sound Department
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Alan Bromberg	....	adr editor
Stuart Calderon	....	sound effects editor
Mike Dickeson	....	sound effects editor (as Michael Dickeson)
Mike Goodman	....	adr editor
Eric Gotthelf	....	foley mixer
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rick Hinson	....	sound effects editor
Ted Johnston	....	foley editor
Michael Kimball	....	sound effects editor (as Michael John Kimball)
Deni King	....	adr supervisor
H. Jay Levine	....	dialogue editor
Jack Levy	....	sound effects editor
Maciek Malish	....	dialogue editor
Jarmil Maupin	....	assistant sound editor
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Donald Mitchell)
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cecilia Perna	....	foley editor
David Rawlinson	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher B. Reeves	....	dialogue supervisor (as Chris Reeves)
Catherine Rowe	....	foley artist
Debby Ruby-Winsberg	....	adr editor (as Debby Ruby)
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Mychal Smith	....	boom operator
Paul Tinta	....	assistant dialogue editor
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound mixer
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound
David John West	....	supervising sound editor
Daniel Colman	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Mark Relyea	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects technician: Cannom Creations
Tamara Carlson	....	specialty costumer, dresser
Shea Clayton	....	special effects technician: Cannom Creations
Bruce Minkus	....	special effects coordinator
Jim Rollins	....	special effects
Leo Leoncio Solis	....	special effects (as Leo Solis)
Miles Teves	....	conceptual designer: "Steel suit": Cannom Creations
Scott Hastings	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ronald Arredondo	....	visual effects 3D animator
Andy Barrios	....	visual effects assistant compositor
Brian Battles	....	visual effects compositor
Brigitte Bourque	....	visual effects compositor: Rainmaker Digital
Mark Franco	....	visual effects supervisor
Dale Mayeda	....	visual effects 3D animator
William J. Meshover	....	visual effects editor
Thomas J. Smith	....	senior visual effects compositor (as Thomas Smith)
Peter Sternlicht	....	digital film compositor
Chris Holmes	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
Seth Arnett	....	stunts
John Bennett	....	stunts
Martez Covington	....	stunts
Malcolm Ian Cross	....	stunts
Mike De Luna	....	stunts (as Michael De Luna)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts
Lanier Edwards	....	stunts
Paul Eliopoulos	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt coordinator
John Escobar	....	stunts
Jeff Evans	....	stunts
Dane Farwell	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunts
Marian Green	....	stunts
Randy Hall	....	stunts
Steve Hart	....	stunts
Freddie Jin	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunts
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunts (as Maria Kelly)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
Irving E. Lewis	....	stunts
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts
Eric Mansker	....	stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts
Lisa McCullough	....	stunts
Bob Minor	....	stunts
George Palmiero	....	stunts
Pee Wee Piemonte	....	stunts (as Richard Piemonte)
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
Robby Robinson	....	stunts
Troy Robinson	....	stunts
Scott Rogers	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunts (as Patrick Romano)
Gilbert Rosales	....	stunts
Paul Sherrod	....	stunts
Matt Sigloch	....	stunts
Renaud Veluzat	....	stunts
Roger Wells	....	stunts
Lee Whittaker	....	stunts
Gene Williams	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Bothwell	....	rigging electrician
Jeffrey N. Civa	....	second assistant camera
Douglas S. Johnson	....	camera loader
Scott Medcalf	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Alexandre Naufel	....	set lighting
Kevin Nenonen	....	rigging electrician
David Parker	....	best boy grip
Steven Rogers	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Steven Rogers	....	steadicam assistant
Andrew Rowlands	....	camera operator
Andrew Rowlands	....	steadicam operator
Dylan Rush	....	rigging electrician
Amy Schulenberg	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Bubba Sheffield	....	key rigging grip
Charles M. Smallwood	....	key grip
Don Spiro	....	rigging electrician
Timothy Tillman	....	additional assistant camera
Gary Katsuya Ushino	....	first assistant camera
Troy White	....	rigging gaffer
Jay W. Yowler	....	chief lighting technician (as Jay Yowler)
Robert Zuckerman	....	still photographer
Troi Horton	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Todd Liggitt	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Patriq Luo	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Erin Wright	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Benevente-Notaro	....	specialty costume designer
Jana-Marie Bonar	....	specialty costume designer
Yvonne Kubis	....	costumer
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer
Maureen O'Heron	....	costumer
Susan Roberts	....	costumer (as Sue Roberts)
Buffy Snyder	....	costume supervisor
Keith VanderLaan	....	specialty costume creator: Cannom Creations (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Brett Carroll	....	assistant editor (as Brett D. Carroll)
Gina M. Carroll	....	assistant editor (as Gina Carroll)
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
David Mann	....	assistant editor
Sharidan Sotelo	....	assistant editor
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Antonina Armato	....	music consultant
George A. Martin	....	music editor
Nicholas Oddo	....	conductor
Nicholas Oddo	....	orchestrator
Steven Scott Smalley	....	orchestrator (as Scott Smalley)
Kim Strand	....	assistant music editor
Jeanette Surga	....	assistant music editor
Mervyn Warren	....	music producer
Frank Wolf	....	music mixer
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor (uncredited)
Bobby Muzingo	....	additional orchestrator: score (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Hobart Lundt	....	transportation coordinator
Griff Ruggles	....	transportation coordinator
Krister C. Johnson	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)
David Oppenheim	....	driver: production van (uncredited)

Other crew
Michelle Archer	....	assistant: Mr. Simon
Mary Aymar	....	assistant: Mr. Salzman
Lisa Blok-Linson	....	location manager
Corey Burton	....	adr loop group
Wayne Campbell	....	staff assistant
Greg Cannom	....	suit designer: Mr. Steel
Gail Compeau	....	assistant production accountant
Steve Cook	....	assistant location manager
Richard Davis Jr.	....	location manager (as Richard Davis)
Helen de Vivien	....	staff assistant (as Helen Devivian)
Debra Enriquez	....	staff assistant
Karen Farfan	....	staff assistant
Debbie Foreman	....	assistant: Mr. Jones (as Deborah Foreman)
Leslie Godfrey	....	production associate
Brenda Griffin	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
Damani Johnson	....	staff assistant
Michael Johnson	....	staff assistant
Petra Jorgensen	....	script supervisor
Carol Keith	....	production associate
Frank Lieberman	....	unit publicist
Ben Martin	....	dialogue coach
Victoria Brown McCready	....	assistant location manager (as Victoria Brown)
Jadi McCurdy	....	staff assistant
Tal Meirson	....	production accountant
Elena Pedersen	....	staff assistant
Steve Prouty	....	mold shop supervisor
Peter Rathje	....	first aid
Charlie Scott	....	craft service
Stephanie Snow	....	assistant: Mr. Allan
J. Marc Strachan	....	location manager (as Marc Strachan)
Michael Vorndran	....	production secretary
Sesha K. Walker	....	production assistant
Sesha K. Walker	....	staff assistant (as Sesha Walker)
Patrick Wenz	....	staff assistant
John 'Magic' Wright	....	craft service
Christine Zavala	....	production associate
Terrie Nettles	....	staff assistant (uncredited)
Stephanie Shayne	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Inter Video  computer and video playback

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some superhero action violence.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Canada:PG | UK:PG (video premiere) | USA:PG-13

Company:

Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment

Trivia:

During the scene at the railroad where John Henry Irons chases after a thug, a broken down fence has graffiti that resembles the written alien language from Alien Nation (1989) (TV). Kenneth Johnson, who directed this movie, also directed several Alien Nation TV movies.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Steel's armor is supposed to be made from steel which he's forged himself. Despite this the armor and helmet flexes as if made from painted rubber throughout the movie.

Quotes:

Uncle Joe: Look-it here, boy! You ain't Superman! And you damn sure ain't gettin' paid!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Justice League: The New Frontier (2008) (V)

One of the worst movies I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few.

James Berardinelli gave this 2/4 stars - more than he gave "Trees Lounge." I find that hard to believe. This is one of the worst films I have ever seen in my entire lifetime, and I've seen quite a few.

It's yet another comic-book-adaptation based on a series that was unpopular to begin with. Shaq does his Attack as Steel, a superhero who runs around very slow in a heavy metal suit.

Whereas Spidey and Batman, et al, all have their special powers, Steel really just has a bulletproof metal suit - the "wire shooter" is a rip-off of the device used by Michael Keaton in "Batman." It attaches itself to a building and up, up and away he goes! However, the device moves at an astonishingly slow pace. Why didn't the cops just shoot him instead of standing there for over thirty seconds (yes, I counted) watching him pulled up into the air by a thin thread?

No matter. This movie is awful. Not even Richard Roundtree can save it.

And what's with the wheelchair lady?

Why, Bender, why?