Blue Thunder

Year:

1983

Duration:

109 min

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

IMDB rate:

6.3

Director:

John Badham

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1983-05-13

Filming Locations: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant, Los Angeles, California, USA

Earnings

Gross: $42,300,000 (USA)SEK 4,741,822 (Sweden)

Cast

Actor

Character

Roy Scheider

Officer Frank Murphy

Warren Oates

Capt. Jack Braddock

Candy Clark

Kate

Daniel Stern

Officer Richard Lymangood

Paul Roebling

Icelan

David Sheiner

Fletcher

Joe Santos

Montoya

Malcolm McDowell

Col. F.E. Cochrane

Ed Bernard

Sgt. Short

Jason Bernard

Mayor

Mario Machado

Himself

James Murtaugh

Alf Hewitt

Pat McNamara

Matusek

Jack Murdock

Kress

Clifford A. Pellow

Allen (as Clifford Pellow)

Paul Lambert

Holmes

Phil Feldman

Col. Coe

John Garber

Tough Mechanic

Anthony James

Grundelius

Robin Braxton

Diane McNeely (as Robin Brantos)

Anna Forrest

Nudy Lucy

Ricky Slyter

Timmy

Reid Cruickshanks

Chief of Police

Billy Ray Sharkey

Air Controller

Fred Slyter

Air Controller

John Gladstein

Fighter Pilot

Ross Reynolds

Helicoper Pilot

Karl A. Wickman

Helicopter Pilot

James W. Gavin

Helicopter Pilot

Thomas H. Friedkin

Helicopter Pilot (as Tom Friedkin)

James Read

Policeman at Bridge

Mickey Gilbert

Policeman

William T. Lane

Policeman (as Bill Lane)

Lolly Boroff

TV Director

Patti Clifton

Hooker

Ernest Harada

John

Frances E. Nealy

Mayor's Aide

Jose Pepe R. Gonzales

Drive-In Custodian

Jerry Ziesmer

Pilot

Tom Lawrence

Observer

John Ashby

Thief

Tony Brubaker

Thief

Norman Alexander Gibbs

Man in Beanie

Bill M. Ryusaki

Vietcong Soldier (as Bill Ryusaki)

Gary Davis

Motorcycle Cop

Thomas Rosales Jr.

Thug (as Tom Rosales)

Larry Randles

Thug

Peter Miller

Detective

Mike H. McGaughy

Observer (as Mike McGaughy)

Calvin Bronx

Lucinda Crosby

Bel-Air Woman

John Badham

TV Director (uncredited)

Shaaron Claridge

Police Dispatcher (voice) (uncredited)

Eurlyne Epper

Girl with Bike (uncredited)

Ted King

Car Crash Rescuer (uncredited)

Terry Leonard

Assault Man (uncredited)

Frank Morriss

F-16 Pilot (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

At the beginning of the movie, when Murphy and Lymangood first take off (after Murphy asks "all set"), the camera is shooting up at the belly of the police JetRanger. Look closely at the registration number beneath the door. It reads "N2044C". This is the exact aircraft that would became "Santini Air" (the red-white-blue American Flag chopper) about 2 years later in Airwolf (1984).

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The helicopter used to portray Blue Thunder was a French-made Gazelle helicopter with bolt-on parts to change its appearance. Most notably the chin cannon assembly was too heavy, necessitating a weight attached to the tail to keep the nose from dipping forward in flight.

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Murphy drives a Black 1981 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am Special Edition

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Goofs

Near the end of the dogfight, smoke and dust from a tower that was in the line of fire has disappeared moments later in a reflection in a helicopter window.

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Lymangood's hands become untied when he trips over the bike, but are tied again later.

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As Murphy and Lymangood hover in Encino, the sky appears to be just after sunset. However Braddock later scolds Murphy for waking the residents at 10:30 PM while McNeely was being attacked in Brentwood. Later as Murphy arrives at home overlooking downtown L.A. with the sky illuminated, either just after sunset or pre-dawn. However moments later he scolds Kate for picking-up a blender at 3 in the morning. In summer months, the sun rises at 5:30 AM and sets at 8 PM at the latest.

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Quotes

Frank Murphy: Finally made Colonel, eh?

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Lymangood: [voice on the cockpit voice recorder] I found out what JAFO is. "Just Another Fucking Observer", huh?

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Kress: If it was me, I'd ground him.

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Faq

Q

What are the differences between the DVD Version and the VHS/Laserdisc Versions?

A

The DVD version differs in one scene compared to the tape version. The VHS is identical to the laserdisc and earlier TV broadcasts. On the DVD a chase at the end has been shortend and shows alternative material. The tape offers a car stunt whole the driver escapes a bit boring in the shorter version. A detailed comparison between both versions with pictures can be found here.

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