The Ice Pirates (1984)

Director:

Stewart Raffill

Writers:

Stewart Raffill and
Stanford Sherman

Release Date:

16 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Action | Adventure

Tagline:

SEE A Universe on the rocks TREMBLE at the ferocious space possums! CATCH Space Herpie the Love Bug [Video Australia]

Plot:

In the far future water is the most valuable substance. Two space pirates are captured, sold to a princess...

Plot Keywords:

Explosion | Pirate | Space Pirate | Sword Fight | Sword

Cast

Robert Urich	...	Jason
Mary Crosby	...	Princess Karina
Michael D. Roberts	...	Roscoe
Anjelica Huston	...	Maida
John Matuszak	...	Killjoy
Ron Perlman	...	Zeno
John Carradine	...	Supreme Commander
Natalie Core	...	Nanny
Jeremy West	...	Zorn
Bruce Vilanch	...	Wendon
Alan Caillou	...	Count Paisley
Marcia Lewis	...	Frog Lady
Daryl Keith Roach	...	Fitzcairn / Prisoner (as Daryl Roach)
Robert Symonds	...	Lanky Nibs
Gary Brockette	...	Percy the Robot
Rockne Tarkington	...	Patch
Ian Abercrombie	...	Hymie
Dolores Albin	...	Old Karina
Hank Worden	...	Elderly Jason
Bonnie Campbell-Britton	...	Dara
Carmen Filpi	...	Vendor
John Gillespie	...	Dogbite
Patty Maloney	...	Waitress
Shane McCamey	...	Templar Crewman
Ralph Meyering Jr.	...	Templar Crewman (as Ralph Meyerling Jr.)
Myron Natwick	...	Karina's Father
Raymond Skipp	...	Doper
Debra Troyer	...	Blonde Girl
Diana Webster	...	Seamstress
Richard Young	...	Debs
Sander Johnson	...	Political Prisoner
Steffen Zacharias	...	Prisoner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Max von Sydow
Ira S. Rosenstein	...	The Monk (uncredited)
Ron Taylor	...	Pimp Robot (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Stewart Raffill

Writing credits
Stewart Raffill		and
Stanford Sherman

Produced by
John Foreman	....	producer
Dennis Lasker	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bruce Broughton

Cinematography by
Matthew F. Leonetti

Film Editing by
Tom Walls

Casting by
Paul Bengston

Art Direction by
Ron Foreman		(as Ronald Kent Foreman)
David M. Haber

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Costume Design by
Daniel Paredes

Makeup Department
Don Angier	....	makeup assistant (as Donald J. Angier)
Curry Bushnell	....	assistant makeup artist
Candida Conery	....	hair stylist (as Candida R. Conery)
Steve LaPorte	....	special makeup effects
Michael McCracken	....	special makeup effects
Lola 'Skip' McNalley	....	hair stylist
Jim Nielsen	....	makeup assistant
Rick Provenzano	....	hair stylist
Maurice Stein	....	makeup supervisor (as Maurice D. Stein)

Production Management
Fred Slark	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max W. Anderson	....	second unit director
Bill Carroll	....	first assistant director
Venita Ozols	....	second assistant director
Christopher Ryan	....	additional second assistant director (as Chris Ryan)

Art Department
Christopher Gilman	....	props
Steve Koch	....	props
Sam Moore	....	property master
Mark Poll	....	set designer
William Ladd Skinner	....	set designer (as Bill Skinner)
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker gangboss
Mark Shostrom	....	special props (uncredited)
John Sweeney	....	assistant propmaster (uncredited)

Sound Department
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Carlos deLarios)
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Maury Harris	....	sound mixer (as Morris Harris)
Paul Hochman	....	sound effects editor
Dean Hodges	....	sound mixer
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Riordan	....	sound editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Serafine	....	sound designer
Bill Voigtlander	....	adr editor
Arnie Anderson	....	sound (uncredited)
Duncan McEwan	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Dan Yale	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gary Brockette	....	robot choreographer
Gene Grigg	....	set operation: special effects
Russel Hessey	....	set operation: special effects (as Russ Hessey)
Steve LaPorte	....	robot contractor
Michael John McCracken	....	robot designer
Michael John McCracken	....	robot manufacturer
Michael Shawn McCracken	....	robot designer
Michael Shawn McCracken	....	robot manufacturer
Ray Raymond	....	family robots
Ray Raymond	....	garbage creature
Ray Raymond	....	inspector robot
Jonathan Seay	....	coordinator: special photographic effects
John R. Shourt	....	effects junior illustrator (as John Shourt)
Bill Cobb	....	special effects electronics foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Max W. Anderson	....	visual effects supervisor
Linda Fleisher	....	coordinator: computer and video graphics (as Linda Fleischer Blaine)
Judith Herman	....	consultant: computer graphics design
Paula A. Lumbard	....	coordinator: special visual effects
Chris Regan	....	optical supervisor
Louis Schwartzberg	....	time lapse photography
Jonathan Seay	....	coordinator: motion control
David Stipes	....	visual effects matte paintings: David Stipes Productions
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical compositor: Praxis Filmworks (uncredited)
David Emerson	....	optical camera (uncredited)
Gordon Garb	....	hyperspace effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Todd Allen	....	stunts
Johnny Atkinson	....	stunts
Billy Bates	....	stunts
Fernando Celis	....	stunt coordinator
Monty Cox	....	stunts
James I. Davis	....	stunts (as Jimmy Davis)
Gary DePew	....	stunts
Gardner Doolittle	....	stunt performer
Gardner Doolittle	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts
Dean Raphael Ferrandini	....	stunts (as Dean Ferrandini)
Alan Gibbs	....	stunts
John Gillespie	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Marian Green	....	stunt performer
Al Jones	....	stunts
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunts
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
Jean Malahni	....	stunt performer
Kent Maurer	....	stunts
Don McGovern	....	stunt double
Bob Ozman	....	stunts
Eddie Paul	....	stunts
Jonathan Pendragon	....	stunts (as Jonathan Yarborough)
Larry Charles White	....	stunts
Ray Saniger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Stunts	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Pat Blymyer	....	gaffer (as Pat Blymyer R.)
John J. Linder	....	key grip (as John J. Linder Jr.)
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tony Rivetti	....	steadicam

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dennis Fill	....	costumer: men
Barbara Lee Maccarone	....	costumer: women
G. Ann Mitschek	....	robot costuming

Editorial Department
William Hoy	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
Bruce Miller	....	conductor
Bruce Miller	....	music arranger
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Aaron Rochin	....	music mixer
Aaron Rochin	....	music recordist
William Saracino	....	music editor

Other crew
Mike Berro	....	video displays
Lloyd Gordon	....	dancer
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
Louise Jaffe	....	script supervisor
Eric Johnson	....	production associate
Carole A. Kenneally	....	production associate (as Carole Kenneally)
Kevin King	....	payroll accountant
Mark Knowles	....	choreographer
Brandon Pender	....	sword fighting choreographer
Brandon Pender	....	sword master
Ira S. Rosenstein	....	location manager
Pilar Stallworth	....	production associate

Production Companies

• JF Productions
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1984) (Greece) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Pictures (I)

Special Effects

• David Stipes Productions (matte photography)
• Digital Productions (digital scene simulation)
• Energy Productions (time-lapse photography)
• Pacific Electric Pictures (computer generated images)
• Praxis Film Works (animation)
• Praxis Film Works (motion control photography)
• Praxis Film Works (visual effects opticals)
• Zany Animated Productions Inc. (pimp robot)

Other Companies

• Compupro  equipment and technical advice
• Digital Graphics Systems  equipment and technical advice
• Electro Optical Information Systems  equipment and technical advice
• Fisher Corporation  equipment and technical advice
• Godboot Electronics  equipment and technical advice
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios  re-recorded at
• Ruxton Ltd.  video playback and synchronizing facilities
• Sharp Electronics  equipment and technical advice
• Showtime Video Ventures  equipment and technical advice
• Televideo Systems Inc.  equipment and technical advice

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG | UK:PG (theatrical release, cut) | UK:15 (video rating) | Germany:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:14 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Theatre - 615 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

JF Productions

Trivia:

Panoramic shots of the futuristic city, which much of the action takes place in, is actually footage of the Domed City from Logan's Run (1976).

Quotes:

Zeno:I hope no one minds but I have no intention of facing this sober.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (#8.3)" (1996)

If you liked Mars Attacks! and Buckaroo Banzai ....

This is the movie that killed Mary Crosby's career and nearly derailed Robert Urich's, Angelica Houston's and Ron Perlman's. It's one of those movies - like 1941 and Paint Your Wagon - that everyone knows is a total turkey, except for those who place what they see on the screen above what they read in the reviews. If you liked Mars Attacks! and Buckaroo Banzai, and laughed your ass off at Spaced Invaders and Killer Clowns from Outer Space, you'll love Ice Pirates.

The time is the distant future, where by far the most precious commodity in the galaxy is water. The idea that there were once ten planets whose surface was principally covered by water is considered a myth by most people, as is the story that the last surviving water planet was somehow removed to the unreachable center of the galaxy at the end of the galactic trade wars. The galaxy is ruled by your basic evil emperor (John Carradine) presiding over a trade oligarchy that controls all mining and sale of ice from asteroids and comets.

Robert Urich is Jason, leader of a band of ice pirates that includes Ron Perlman, John Matuzak and Michael D Roberts. Of course, the crew also prominently features the obligatory unbeatable master swordsman and latter-day samurai, but, in a blow for equality, the part is played to perfection by Angelica Houston. In the formulaic plot for outlaw space operas, our heroes attack an ice freighter, are captured, but escape with a princess (Mary Crosby) kidnapped by the evil emperor in tow. They rescue her, thread the perilous path to the center of the universe and the fabled tenth planet, and destroy the evil empire's stranglehold on the people.

Along the way, you are treated to some of film's oddest aliens, god-awful puns and excellent lampoons of space opera icons. It's full of bona fide toilet humor, from the pirates breaking through the hull of the ice freighter into a lavatory whose commode is occupied by a chickenman, to the standard reconditioning for outlaws and other deviants - castration by mechanical chompers, a lobotomy and a blond dye job, then sale as a soprano domestic slave.

Ice Pirates is the illegitimate child of Star Wars and Animal House. The jokes, both verbal and physical, range from the hackneyed to the truly brilliant - and most of both will have you rolling on the floor. It's a an hour-and-a-half of pure unadulterated fun. When I finally get the 6' x 8' screen for our light projector mounted, this will be one of the first movies we watch.