"The Incredible Hulk" The Incredible Hulk (1977)

Director:

Kenneth Johnson

Writer:

Kenneth Johnson (written by)
(more)

TV Series:

"The Incredible Hulk" (1978)

Original Air Date:

4 November 1977 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A scientist is exposed to a massive dose of gamma rays - and becomes a superhuman beast...

Plot:

A troubled scientist's accidental overexposure to gamma radiation curses him with the tendency to change into a bestial green brute under extreme emotional stress.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Frustration | Car Accident | Child In Peril | Super Strength

Cast

Bill Bixby	...	Dr. David Bruce Banner
Susan Sullivan	...	Dr. Elaina Marks
Jack Colvin	...	Jack McGee
Lou Ferrigno	...	The Incredible Hulk
Susan Batson	...	Mrs. Maier
Mario Gallo	...	Mr. Bram
Eric Server	...	Policeman
Charles Siebert	...	Ben
Terence Locke	...	Young Man (as Terrence Locke)
June Whitley Taylor	...	Woman
George Brenlin	...	Man at Lake
Jake Mitchell	...	Jerry
William Larsen	...	Minister
Olivia Barash	...	Girl at Lake
Eric Deon	...	B.J.
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kenneth Johnson	...	Scotty (voice) (uncredited)
Don Keefer	...	Mr. McIntire (uncredited)
Richard Kiel	...	The Hulk (one scene only) (uncredited)
Lara Parker	...	Laura Banner (uncredited)

Directed by
Kenneth Johnson

Writing credits
Kenneth Johnson		(written by)
Stan Lee		comic book & characters (uncredited)

Original Music by
Joseph Harnell

Cinematography by
Howard Schwartz		(director of photography)
John McPherson		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Alan C. Marks		(as Alan Marks)
Jack W. Schoengarth

Casting by
Mark Malis

Art Direction by
Charles R. Davis

Set Decoration by
Gary Moreno		(as Gary J. Moreno)

Costume Design by
Charles Waldo

Makeup Department
Norman T. Leavitt	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Sylvia Nava	....	hair technician (uncredited)
Elaina P. Schulman	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mark A. Burley	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Blank	....	assistant director (as Thomas Blank)

Art Department
Roger Apperson	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
James F. Rogers	....	sound
Kyle Wright	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)
Kevin Pike	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Don McGovern	....	stunt actor (uncredited)
Manny Perry	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Manny Perry	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)
Manny Perry	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent Contarino	....	electrician (uncredited)
Rick F. Gunter	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John C. Moulds	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry Herrin	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)
Gregory B. Peña	....	set costumer (uncredited)
Diana Wilson	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Steve Johnson	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Herbert D. Woods	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited) (1977-1978)

Other crew
Stan Lee	....	consultant
Marilyn Giardino	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978) (USA) (TV)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• MCA (video)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• Marvel Comics  character: "The Incredible Hulk" (as Marvel Comics Group)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min | Finland:105 min (uncut) | Finland:103 min (cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (1981) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (1979) (uncut) | UK:PG | Australia:G | Denmark:11 (2003) | France:U | Sweden:11 | UK:A (original rating) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

Shot in 18 days.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious "lady" stunt double for little girl, when she is in water on long shots.

Quotes:

Jack McGee:[holding a footprint of the Hulk] There's a girl and her father over at the lake who say that they saw the thing that made this.
Dr. Elaina Marks:Did they? Well what was it, Bigfoot?
Jack McGee:Sounds more like the Jolly Green Giant. Only I wouldn't call him too jolly. Big hulk, about seven feet tall. Greenish tinge to the skin. Pretty mean looking.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "The Incredible Hulk: Of Guilt, Models and Murder (#1.5)" (1978)

Excellent comicbook adaption

The original Hulk movie brings the gamma-ridden powerhouse from the pages of Marvel Comics to the screen with -gasp! - intelligence. Rather than focussing on the epic action and destruction of the comicbook, which it hasn't the budget for anyway, the movie concentrates on creating believable characters and as realistic a plot as possible. It suceeds admirably, thanks to a superb central performance from Bill Bixby and some assured direction from Kenneth Johnson. And no comic fan can argue that Lou Ferrigno isn't the Incredible Hulk. He bursts from the four-color pages with absolute fury and destroys whatever he comes across.

The cast all perform well, with none of the over-the-top clowning you get in so many comicbook adaptions. It's got some great 70's locations and a wonderful theme tune as well. Of the six Hulk movies around, this remains the best, and with another intelligent superhero flick, X-Men (2000) demolishing the box-office, hopefully people will take a look at the last good Marvel film. Yeah, Blade was a Marvel character but Blade, in reality, is complete and utter shash.