Bad Boys (1983)

Director:

Rick Rosenthal

Writer:

Richard Di Lello (written by)

Release Date:

25 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In their world, if you're 17 and still alive you're a survivor [Video Australia]

Plot:

Chicago crime kid Mick O'Brien is sent to reform school after accidentally killing Paco Moreno's kid brother.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Revenge | Showdown | Murder | Gang

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Mick O'Brien
Reni Santoni	...	Ramon Herrera
Jim Moody	...	Gene Daniels
Eric Gurry	...	Horowitz
Esai Morales	...	Paco Moreno
Ally Sheedy	...	J. C. Walenski
Clancy Brown	...	Viking Lofgren
Robert Lee Rush	...	Tweety
John Zenda	...	Wagner
Alan Ruck	...	Carl Brennan
Tony Mockus Jr.	...	Warden Bendix (as Tony Mockus)
Erik Barefield	...	Terrell
Dean Fortunato	...	Perretti
Lawrence Mah	...	Ricky Lee
Jorge Noa	...	Carlos
Ray Caballero	...	Pablo
Martha De La Cruz	...	Mrs. Moreno
Ray Ramirez	...	Mr. Moreno
Eugene J. Anthony	...	Robert Walenski
Andrew Gorman	...	Detective Moran
Marco A. David	...	Pacito
Donald James	...	Black Gang Leader
Jane Alderman	...	Woman Victim
Rick Rosenthal	...	Judge (as Richard L. Rosenthal)
Fran Stone	...	Vicki O'Brien
Omar S. Saunders	...	Johnson
Kevin Springs	...	Roberts
Eric David	...	Lineup Boy #1
John San Juro	...	Lineup Boy #2
Adam Pelty	...	Teen Gun Dealer
Robin Coleman	...	Squad Car Cop
Marvin Townes	...	Bad Dude #1
Aaron Holden	...	Bad Dude #2
Bill Martin Jr.	...	Truck Driver
Myles O'Donnell	...	Worker
Edward Kearns	...	Lineup Sergeant
Brenda Joyce Minor	...	Policewoman
Richard Lee Padget	...	Guard
Peter Kirkpatrick	...	Mess Hall Supervisor #1
David Barrett	...	Mess Hall Supervisor #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Barrow	...	Bit
Sal Amato	...	Inmate On Rail (uncredited)
Jason Gedrick	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Peter Kobernik	...	Food Supervisor (uncredited)
Dick Sollenberger	...	Van Driver (uncredited)
Rob Wimberly	...	Bad Boy (uncredited)
Roderick Wimberly	...	Bad Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Rick Rosenthal

Writing credits
Richard Di Lello		(written by)

Produced by
Marty Hornstein	....	associate producer (as Martin Hornstein)
Robert H. Solo	....	producer (as Robert Solo)

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Bruce Surtees
Donald E. Thorin		(director of photography) (as Donald Thorin)

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs

Casting by
Jane Alderman
Mary Gail Artz
Howard Feuer
Jeremy Ritzer

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Art Direction by
Maher Ahmad

Set Decoration by
Richard Reams

Makeup Department
Jay Cannistraci	....	makeup artist
Kathe Swanson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Marty Hornstein	....	unit production manager (as Martin Hornstein)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William M. Elvin	....	second assistant director (as Bill Elvin)
Katterli Frauenfelder	....	second assistant director
Pat Kehoe	....	first assistant director
Thomas J. Mack	....	first assistant director (as Tom Mack)
Bob Roe	....	second assistant director (as Robert Roe)

Art Department
Maher Ahmad	....	set designer
Harry N. Haase	....	stand-by painter (as Harry Haase)
Aaron Holden	....	property master
Dennis Lindbergh	....	assistant property master
Gordon Meloeny	....	leadman
James Prerost	....	swing gang
Joel Prihoda	....	swing gang
Thomas Sedor	....	swing gang
Paul Stanley	....	stand-by painter
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
David Dockendorf	....	dubbing mixer (as Dave Dockendorf)
John Elizalde	....	sound editor
Don MacDougall	....	dubbing mixer (as Don Mac Dougall)
Art Rochester	....	sound mixer
Richard Thornton	....	boom operator
Richard Tyler	....	dubbing mixer
Jack S. Wiener	....	recordist (as Jack Wiener)

Special Effects by
Bob Shelley	....	special effects

Stunts
Dean Jeffries	....	stunt player
Gray Johnson	....	stunt player
Denver Mattson	....	stunt player
Ron Oliney	....	stunt player (as Ronald Oliney)
Walter Robles	....	stunt player
Chuck Waters	....	stunt coordinator
Chuck Waters	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Bales	....	dolly grip (as Kirk Bayles)
James F. Boyle	....	gaffer (as James Boyle)
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
Ted Churchill	....	panaglide operator
Bob Coyle	....	still photographer
Peter Davidian	....	best boy electric
Ronald Garcia	....	video playback coordinator
Brian C. Glover	....	assistant camera (as Brian Glover)
Rob Hahn	....	assistant camera
Daniel R. Jordan	....	key grip (as Danny Jordan)
Frank Miller	....	camera operator
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	assistant camera (as Bill Nielson)
Joe Pennella	....	director of photography: second unit
Jeffrey R. Renfrow	....	key grip: Chicago (as Jeff Renfrow)
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
Donald Schmitz	....	best boy grip
Mark Simon	....	second assistant camera
Don Smetzer	....	still photographer
Tom Stern	....	gaffer
Robert Swander	....	gaffer: Chicago (as Bob Swander)

Casting Department
Elizabeth Geddes	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mickey Antonetti	....	costumer
Jay Hurley	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
William Essary	....	assistant film editor
Aubrey Head	....	color timer

Music Department
Douglas M. Lackey	....	music editor (as Doug Lackey)
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Billy Martin	....	transportation captain (as William Martin Jr.)
Richard Padgett	....	transportation coordinator (as Richard Padget)

Other crew
Kathy Bitinas	....	first aid
Jeanne Caliendo	....	production assistant (as Jeannie Caliendo)
Nancy Froelich	....	production assistant
Rochell Linker Goodrich	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenthal (as Rochelle Linker)
Clayton Hartley	....	production assistant
Graham Henderson	....	production executive: EMI
Billy Higgins	....	location manager
Kevin Barry Howe	....	production assistant (as Kevin Howe)
Joan Merlo	....	production office coordinator
Stephanie Moore	....	location manager
Marsha Morgan	....	assistant production office coordinator
Paul Pascarella	....	title designer
Sioux Richards	....	script supervisor
Anne Strick	....	unit publicist
Michael Sudalnik	....	craft service (as Michael Sudalnick)
Marvin Towns Jr.	....	production assistant (as Marvin Townes)
Lynn Hendee	....	production executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Jane Byrne	....	the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them (as Hon. Mayor Jane M. Byrne)
James R. Thompson	....	the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them (as Hon. Governor James R. Thompson)

Production Companies

• EMI Films
• Solofilm (as Solofilm Company)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Associated Film Distribution (AFD) (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kinosto (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1995) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Video (1998) (Canada) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Arcade Movie Company (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Lumiere Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• R-Video (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Thorn EMI (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Astro Color Laboratories  color by
• City of Chicago Mayor's Film Office, The  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• Gomillion Sound  post production facilities
• Illinois Department of Corrections  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• Illinois National Guard  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by (as Panavision®)
• Pickwick/Maslansky/Koenigsberg Inc.  publicity (as Pickwick-Maslansky-Koenigsberg)
• St. Charles Youth Correctional Facility  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• State of Illinois Attorney General's Office  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• State of Illinois Film Office  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• State of Illinois Military and Naval Departments  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• Statesville Adult Correctional Facility  the producers would like to express their appreciation to: for the courtesy and cooperation extended to them
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

Runtime:

104 min | UK:123 min (original release) | Sweden:105 min | USA:123 min (original release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Astrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Netherlands:16 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Singapore:M18 | Canada:R (Canadian Home Video rating) | UK:18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (#26898) | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

During the scene where Sean Penn's character first enters the reform school and walks down the line in between the prisoners, Penn encouraged the actors to spit in his face and throw things at him. On the other hand, Esai Morales insisted that the actors who played the prisoners brush their teeth and use mouthwash before they spit in his face during his character's similar scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Paco's mother is packing her dead son's belongings away, Paco says to his mother "I have to do it!" It comes up as the same words on the screen twice. But when he says it the second time, he says something different in the language he is speaking.

Quotes:

Ramon Herrera: The only reason you're here is because there is no room for you anywhere else.
Paco Moreno: Well, why don't you get me a room at the Holiday Inn?
Ramon Herrera: Why don't you wise up?

Movie Connections:

References Rocky III (1982)

Soundtrack:

Too Hot To Be Cool

Sean Penn's best film next to Dead Man Walking

Sean Penn must have impressed audiences with his performance in this film after his first major role as a lovable goof and pothead in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, playing in his more familiar territory of sinister and brooding criminals. As film critic Roger Ebert stated for this movie, Sean Penn's character isn't just some misunderstood kid who's just lost and needs a little love and understanding (though he does seem to become a somewhat better person throught the movie). The first part of the movie opens with him robbing a woman breaking into her car, slugging a man trying to retrieve the womans purse, and then attempting an armed robbery from a fellow enemy of his selling drugs (with Spin City's Alan Ruck helping out). Anyway, I thought the movie was a very realistic and unexploitative film depicting inner-city youths of the early 1980's (though I think the film would do well today too and doesn't seem dated). All performances were great, but I thought the best performances came from unknowns Eric Gurry as Penn's brainy, but very crafty cellmate and Jim Moody and Reni Santoni as firm, but fair and compassionate counselors in the detention facility.