| Lethal Weapon | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Donner |
| Produced by | Richard Donner Joel Silver |
| Written by | Shane Black |
| Starring | Mel Gibson Danny Glover Gary Busey Mitchell Ryan Tom Atkins Darlene Love |
| Music by | Michael Kamen Eric Clapton David Sanborn Bruce Babcock (uncredited) |
| Cinematography | Stephen Goldblatt |
| Editing by | Stuart Baird |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | March 6, 1987 (USA) |
| Running time | 110 min. Richard Donner (born April 24, 1930) is an American Film director, and also a Film producer through the production company Richard Donner (born April 24, 1930) is an American Film director, and also a Film producer through the production company Joel Silver (born July 14, 1952) is an American Hollywood Film producer and inventor of the sport of Ultimate. Shane Black (born December 16, 1961) is an American Actor, Screenwriter and Film director. Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, AO (born January 3 1956 Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22 1946 is an American Actor, Film director, and Political activist. William Gareth Jacob "Gary" Busey (born June 29, 1944) is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award -nominated American Mitchell Ryan (born January 11, 1928) is an American actor most recently known for playing Edward Montgomery (Greg's father on the sitcom Dharma & Thearon "Tom" Atkins of Cincinnati Ohio, was a television news anchorman and politician of the Republican party Darlene Love ( née Wright; born July 26, 1941) is an American Popular music Singer. Michael Kamen ( April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American Composer (especially of Film scores Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. Stephen Goldblatt, ASC, BSC (b South Africa 1945 is an Oscar nominated cinematographer noted for his work on high-profile action films as well Stuart Baird (born 30 November 1947) is an Academy Award nominated English Film editor, producer, and director Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 117 min. (director's cut) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 US (est. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States ) |
| Followed by | Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) |
| Official website | |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Lethal Weapon is a 1987 action film, the first in a series of American movies that were released in 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1998, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives. Lethal Weapon 2 is a 1989 Action film directed by Richard Donner, and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago Illinois, to Lethal Weapon 2 is a 1989 Action film directed by Richard Donner, and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci Lethal Weapon 3 is a 1992 buddy cop action - Comedy film directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 buddy cop action - Comedy film directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, Richard Donner (born April 24, 1930) is an American Film director, and also a Film producer through the production company Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, AO (born January 3 1956 Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22 1946 is an American Actor, Film director, and Political activist. These movies fall into the action-comedy, thriller genre (though the first is less of a comedy), and are generally considered to typify the "buddy cop" plot device. Action movies are a Film genre where action sequences such as fights, Shootouts Stunts Car chases or explosions either take precedence Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and The thriller is a broad Genre of Literature, Film, Gaming and Television. The " buddy cop " subgenre of Buddy films are Crime films with plots involving two men of very different and conflicting personalities who are forced to work
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Academy Award for Sound Mixing is an Academy Award that recognizes the finest or most euphonic Sound mixing or recording
Contents |
Plot
The story begins on the night of December 14, 1987 with the apparent suicide of Amanda Hunsaker (Jackie Swanson), the daughter of Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), an old friend and former army buddy of LAPD Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Jackie Swanson (born June 25, 1963) is an American actress She is best known for her role on the American sitcom Cheers as Kelly Gaines Tom Atkins (born November 13, 1935) is an American television and film Actor. Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Roger Murtaugh (born December 15, 1937) is a fictional character in the Lethal Weapon films played in all four by Danny Glover Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22 1946 is an American Actor, Film director, and Political activist. A veteran cop of 20 years, Roger Murtaugh gets stuck with a new partner on his 50th birthday. That partner is 37-year-old Detective-Sergeant Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife was killed in a car accident three years earlier. Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Martin Riggs (born October 16, 1950) is a fictional police officer from the Lethal Weapon franchise Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson, AO (born January 3 1956 As a result, Riggs is a suicidal, borderline alcoholic, who has become so reckless and violent that he is considered a "lethal weapon". Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions Sergeant Murtaugh first believes that his new partner is "trying to draw a psycho pension" and is horrified to learn that he genuinely is "crazy. " However, he is soon indebted to his new partner for saving his life.
While investigating Amanda Hunsacker's death, the two uncover a heroin-smuggling operation run by Vietnam War special forces troops, known as 'Shadow Company' (see Air America). Heroin ( INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from Morphine, a derivative The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA from 1950 to 1976 The scheme is masterminded by a ruthless retired General, Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) - the former commander of Shadow Company - and his chief enforcer, Mr. Mitchell Ryan (born January 11, 1928) is an American actor most recently known for playing Edward Montgomery (Greg's father on the sitcom Dharma & Joshua (Gary Busey). William Gareth Jacob "Gary" Busey (born June 29, 1944) is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award -nominated American Murtaugh and Riggs - also Vietnam War veterans - discover that Michael Hunsacker was laundering the profits through his bank. Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial Transactions in order to conceal the Identity, source and/or destination of Money, McAllister had ordered the murder of his daughter to keep his laundryman under control. As Riggs and Murtaugh confront Michael Hunsacker, Mr. Joshua makes a surprise appearance in a helicopter and shoots him in the back with a sniper rifle. In Military and Law enforcement terminology a sniper rifle is a Rifle used to ensure Accurate placement of Bullets at longer
As Riggs and Murtaugh discover more about Shadow Company's network, the increasingly violent members of Shadow Company make an attempt to kill Riggs, then kidnapping Murtaugh's daughter (Rianne) after Riggs and Murtaugh discover her boyfriend was killed by Shadow Company. Despite their best attempt to free Rianne by using Riggs presumed dead status to their advantage, the three are captured. Using Rianne, Joshua pressures Murtaugh to reveal which of their drug shipments have been compromised. Riggs, though initially captured by McAllister and brutally tortured with electric shocks, frees himself and then liberates both Murtaugh and Rianne. The pair then declare war on Shadow Company, gunning down most of its members. McAllister is caught in a car accident by Murtaugh and is blown up by a live hand grenade (along with his heroin shipment). Both Riggs and Murtaugh shoot Mr. Joshua after Riggs beats him with a Triangle Choke in an unarmed combat fight on Murtaugh's front lawn. This article is about triangle chokes using the legs for usage of the arms in a similar manner see Arm triangle choke.
Murtaugh and Riggs are now solid friends, and Riggs spends Christmas Day at the Murtaugh home with Roger's family; Riggs brings his dog Sam to be a friend to the Murtaugh family cat, Burbank. Riggs also gives Murtaugh a symbolic gift, the unfired hollow point bullet which he had been saving to commit suicide. A hollow point is a Bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip generally intended to cause the bullet to expand upon entering a target in order to decrease
Production
Development
Recent UCLA graduate Shane Black wrote the screenplay in mid-1985. The University of California Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public research university located in Westwood Los Angeles, California, United Shane Black (born December 16, 1961) is an American Actor, Screenwriter and Film director. His agent sent it to producer Joel Silver, who loved the story and worked with Black to further develop the script. Joel Silver (born July 14, 1952) is an American Hollywood Film producer and inventor of the sport of Ultimate. After they took it to Warner Bros. in early 1986, studio production executives offered it to director Richard Donner, who also loved it. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Leonard Nimoy was one of the choices considered for directing, but he didn't feel comfortable doing action movies, and he was working on Three Men and a Baby at the time. Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American Actor, Film director, Poet, Musician and Three Men and a Baby is a 1987 Comedy film starring Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. With those key elements in place, the search began for the right combination of actors to play Riggs and Murtaugh.
Casting director Marion Dougherty first suggested teaming Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. She arranged for Gibson to fly in from his home in Australia, while Glover was flown in from Chicago, where he was appearing in a play, to read through the script. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. According to a June 2007 Vanity Fair article, Bruce Willis was considered for the Riggs role. Vanity Fair A Novel without a Hero is a Novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847-48 that satirizes society in early Walter Bruce Willis (March 19 1955 is an American actor and Singer-songwriter.
According to Donner, "It took about two hours and by the time we were done, I was in seventh heaven. They found innuendoes; they found laughter where I never saw it; they found tears where they didn't exist before; and, most importantly, they found a relationship -- all in just one reading. So if you ask about casting. . . it was magical, just total dynamite. "
Explains Gibson, "This particular story was a cut above others I had passed on, because the action is really a sideline which heightens the story of these two great characters. I picture Riggs as an almost Chaplinesque figure, a guy who doesn't expect anything from life and even toys with the idea of taking his own. He's not like these stalwarts who come down from Mt. Olympus and wreak havoc and go away. Mount Olympus (Όλυμπος also transliterated as Ólympos, and on Greek maps Óros Ólimbos) is the highest Mountain in Greece He's somebody who doesn't look like he's set to go off until he actually does. "
The draw for Danny Glover was equally strong. Fresh from his success as Mister in The Color Purple, he felt the role of Roger Murtaugh offered a whole new range of character expression and experience. The Color Purple is an acclaimed 1982 Epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. "Aside from the chance to work with Mel, which turned out to be pure pleasure, one of the reasons I jumped at this project was the family aspect. The chance to play intricate relationships and subtle humor that exist in every close family group was an intriguing challenge, as was playing a guy turning 50. Murtaugh's a little cranky about his age until everything he loves is threatened. His reawakening parallels Riggs'. "
Danny Glover's character, Sergeant Roger Murtaugh, is 50 years old in the movie, but Glover was actually 40 years old when the movie was filmed in 1986. Martin Riggs was 37 years old in the movie, while Mel Gibson was 30 during filming.
Both actors were signed by early spring, '86. Gibson and Glover then flew home to pack, and, returning to Los Angeles, began an intensive two months of physical training and preparation. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Meanwhile, the crucial role of the ruthless Joshua was settled when Gary Busey asked for a chance to read for the part. William Gareth Jacob "Gary" Busey (born June 29, 1944) is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe Award -nominated American An established star since his Oscar-nominated performance in The Buddy Holly Story, Busey hadn't auditioned for longer than he could remember. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. For the Buddy Holly album see The Buddy Holly Story (album For the musical about Holly see Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story "I had butterflies," he realized. "I'd never played a bad guy. And no one had seen me since I'd lost 60 pounds and got back into shape. But I decided to take the initiative in order to have the opportunity to work with Dick, Joel, Mel and Danny. I'm constantly looking for someone to pull the best performance out of me and any of those guys could. They even talked me into dying my hair!" In his E! True Hollywood Story bio, Gary Busey says he was hired to play Joshua because they were looking for someone big and menacing enough to be a believable foe for Mel Gibson. E! True Hollywood Story is a TV documentary series on the E! Entertainment Television cable and DBS channel that deals with famous Busey also credits the film for reviving his failing movie career.
Stunt coordinator Bobby Bass planned and supervised all phases of Gibson's and Glover's intense pre-production training; physical conditioning, weight workouts, and weapons handling and safety. Bobby Bass (occasionally Bob Bass) ( August 6, 1936 in California – November 7, 2001) was an American actor Stunt Bass administered the latter category according to the strict guidelines of the National Rifle Association. The National Rifle Association, or NRA, is a non-profit ( 501(c(4) group dedicated to the protection of the Second Amendment of the Bass also used his own military experiences to bring a greater depth of understanding to the Riggs character. To familiarize the actors with the specialized skills and sensibilities acquired by undercover cops, arrangements were made for Gibson and Glover to spend time in the field accompanying working L. A. P. D. police officers. Throughout filming, technical advisors from the L. A. P. D. as well as the Sheriff's Department worked closely with Donner and the actors to ensure authenticity.
Filming
Lethal Weapon began principal photography on August 6, 1986, shooting on locations throughout the Los Angeles area, as well as on the backlot facilities of Burbank Studios. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Filming began in Long Beach, with helicopter camera work that would set the tone for the opening title sequence and the first spectacular stunt of the movie. The company then moved to Palos Verdes, Santa Monica, Studio City, West Hollywood, and Inglewood with one week out-of-town in El Mirage, an enormous dry lake bed outside Victorville, California. Studio City is a four-square-mile district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. West Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984. Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California, US
From the early pre-production stages of Lethal Weapon, Richard Donner wanted Mel Gibson's final fight sequence to be unique, yet also to make a strong statement about the characters involved. Coincidentally, assistant director Willie Simmons had an avid interest in unusual forms of martial arts, and he invited several practitioners to the set to demonstrate for Donner. The result was the hiring of three technical advisors, each a master of a particular martial arts style.
Cedric Adams was the first expert brought in. "Adams thought the best possible way to show just how lethal Riggs really is -- is to show his mastery of a form of martial arts never before seen onscreen," said Donner. Adams taught the actors the movements of Capoeira. Capoeira (kapuˈejɾɐ is a brazilian art form that ritualizes movement from Martial arts, Games, and Dance. A second technical advisor, Dennis Newsome, brought Jailhouse rock to the fight sequence. The third technical advisor was Rorion Gracie, who specialized in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Rorion Gracie is a Martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ( BJJ) is a Martial art and Combat sport that focuses on Grappling and especially Ground fighting with the goal
The filming was spread over four complete nights, shooting from dusk to dawn, resulting in an edited sequence that would last minutes on screen. Principal photography was completed in mid-November 1986. Hollywood city officials hung Christmas decorations on Hollywood Blvd. a few months early so that the scenes shot for this film, particularly the action scenes near the end of the picture, looked like they happened at the end of the year. Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood Los Angeles California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest
Legendary stunt man Dar Robinson was killed in a motorcycle accident shortly after principal photography was finished. Dar Allen Robinson ( March 26, 1947 &ndash November 21, 1986) was an American film Stuntman and film Actor. Director Richard Donner dedicated the film to him. Jackie Swanson performed the high fall on her own. She was trained by Dar Robinson. Richard Donner's directing credit appears after Amanda Hunsacker leaps to her death. This is a reference to a joke that Richard Donner films often has sequences of people falling in his films (Lee Remick in The Omen and Margot Kidder in Superman (film)). Lee Ann Remick ( December 14, 1935 – July 2, 1991) was an Academy Award - and Tony Award -nominated American film and The Omen is a 1976 suspense / horror Film directed by Richard Donner. Margot Kidder (born October 17, 1948) is a Canadian-American Film and Television actress best known for playing Lois Superman (also known as Superman The Movie) is a 1978 Superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the
One sequence shows a theatre marquee advertising The Lost Boys, a film Richard Donner was producing at the time. The Lost Boys is a 1987 American comedy - Horror film about two young Arizonans who move to California
Music
Michael Kamen, who just completed work on Highlander, composed the score for Lethal Weapon. Michael Kamen ( April 15, 1948 – November 18, 2003) was an American Composer (especially of Film scores Highlander is a 1986 fantasy Action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. The guitar, part of Riggs' theme, was performed by Eric Clapton. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer The saxophone, part of Murtaughs' theme, was performed by David Sanborn. David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. The Christmas song, "Jingle Bell Rock", is played during the film's opening credits. "Jingle Bell Rock" is the name of a popular Christmas song. Honeymoon Suite's song, "Lethal Weapon," is played during the film's end credits. Honeymoon Suite are a Canadian rock band based out of Niagara Falls Ontario that formed in 1982
Reception
Released on March 6, 1987, Lethal Weapon was #1 at the box office for three weeks before Blind Date supplanted it. Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of Events January 31 - The Cure for Insomnia premieres at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago Illinois, to Blind Date is a 1987 comedy/romance film directed by Blake Edwards. It grossed $120 million worldwide and was nominated for an Academy Award for Sound. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The Academy Award for Sound Mixing is an Academy Award that recognizes the finest or most euphonic Sound mixing or recording It is widely considered to be one of the best buddy cop films of all time, influencing numerous "buddy cop" films such as Tango & Cash, Bad Boys and the Rush Hour series. Tango & Cash is a 1989 American action / Comedy film directed by Andrei Konchalovsky ( Albert Magnoli took over Bad Boys is a 1995 action Comedy Film, directed by Michael Bay, produced by Don Simpson
Franco Zeffirelli reportedly decided to offer Mel Gibson the role of Hamlet after seeing his suicide contemplation scene in this film. Franco Zeffirelli, KBE (born Gianfranco Corsi on February 12, 1923) is an Italian Film director. Hamlet is a 1990 Film based on the Shakespearean play of the same name.
In 2007, Entertainment Weekly named it the #24 greatest action movie of all time. Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated as EW) is a Magazine published by Time Inc It scores 89% at Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies.
Alternative versions
An alternate opening and ending were both filmed and are available on the Lethal Weapon 4 DVD. Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 buddy cop action - Comedy film directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, The alternate opening featured Martin Riggs drinking alone in a bar where he is accosted by a couple of thugs who want his money. Riggs claims all of his is in the bank and tells the thugs "not to fuck with him. " The thugs attack him, but Riggs easily subdues them. He is then allowed to take a free bottle of booze from the bar in exchange for never returning. Director Richard Donner felt the movie should open with a brighter look at Riggs and filmed the scene with Riggs awakening in his trailer to replace it. The alternate ending featured Riggs and Murtaugh saying good-bye to one another. Murtaugh tells Riggs he's thinking of retiring, but Riggs tells him not to.
In addition to the theatrical release of the film, an extended "Directors Cut" version was released later on DVD. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is The Directors Cut version is longer (117 minutes) than the original theatrical release version (110 minutes), and features additional scenes. One notable extended scene is where Riggs confronts a sniper who has been shooting at children in a playground. Riggs walks into the playground, seemingly without any fear, and shoots the sniper who is hiding inside a building.
See also
- Lethal Weapon – soundtrack album
- Lethal Weapon – video game
- Lethal Weapon 2
- Lethal Weapon 3
- Lethal Weapon 4
External links
- Official Website
- Lethal Weapon at the Internet Movie Database
- Lethal Weapon at Rotten Tomatoes
- Lethal Weapon at Box Office Mojo
| Preceded by A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors | Box office number-one films of 1987 (USA) March 8, 1987 – March 29, 1987 | Succeeded by Blind Date |
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