The Terminator (1984)

Director:

James Cameron

Writers:

James Cameron (written by) and
Gale Anne Hurd (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

In the Year of Darkness, 2029, the rulers of this planet devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by changing the Past. The plan required something that felt no pity. No pain. No fear. Something unstoppable. They created 'THE TERMINATOR'

Plot:

A robotic assassin from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to eliminate a waitress, whose son will grow up and lead humanity in a war against machines.

Plot Keywords:

The Terminator | Future | Skynet | Soldier | Cyborg

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Terminator
Michael Biehn	...	Kyle Reese
Linda Hamilton	...	Sarah Connor
Paul Winfield	...	Lieutenant Ed Traxler
Lance Henriksen	...	Detective Hal Vukovich
Rick Rossovich	...	Matt Buchanan
Bess Motta	...	Ginger Ventura
Earl Boen	...	Dr. Peter Silberman
Dick Miller	...	Pawn Shop Clerk
Shawn Schepps	...	Nancy
Bruce M. Kerner	...	Desk Sergeant
Franco Columbu	...	Future Terminator
Bill Paxton	...	Punk Leader
Brad Rearden	...	Punk
Brian Thompson	...	Punk
William Wisher Jr.	...	Policeman
Ken Fritz	...	Policeman
Tom Oberhaus	...	Policeman
Ed Dogans	...	Cop in Alley
Joe Farago	...	TV Anchorman
Hettie Lynne Hurtes	...	TV Anchorwoman
Tony Mirelez	...	Station Attendant
Philip Gordon	...	Mexican Boy (long shots)
Anthony Trujillo	...	Mexican Boy (close-ups) (as Anthony T. Trujillo)
Stan Yale	...	Derelict
Al Kahn	...	Customer
Leslie Morris	...	Customer
Hugh Farrington	...	Customer
Harriet Medin	...	Customer
Loree Frazier	...	Customer
James Ralston	...	Customer
Norman Friedman	...	Cleaning Man (as Norma Friedman)
Barbara Powers	...	Ticket Taker
Wayne Stone	...	Tanker Driver
David Pierce	...	Tanker Partner
John E. Bristol	...	Phone Booth Man
Webster Williams	...	Reporter
Patrick Pinney	...	Bar Customer
Bill W. Richmond	...	Bartender
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Truck Driver
Greg Robbins	...	Motel Customer (as Gregory Robbins)
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Wrong Sarah
John Durban	...	Sentry
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
J. Randolph Harrison	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Darrell Mapson	...	Bar Patron at Pay Phone with Sarah (uncredited)
John Stuart West	...	MacDougal (uncredited)

Directed by
James Cameron

Writing credits
James Cameron		(written by) and
Gale Anne Hurd		(written by)
William Wisher Jr.		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
John Daly	....	executive producer
Derek Gibson	....	executive producer
Gale Anne Hurd	....	producer

Original Music by
Brad Fiedel

Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mark Goldblatt

Casting by
Stanzi Stokes

Art Direction by
George Costello

Set Decoration by
Maria Caso		(as Maria Rebman Caso)

Costume Design by
Hilary Wright

Makeup Department
Jeff Dawn	....	makeup department head (as Jefferson Dawn)
Kyle Sweet	....	hair stylist: second unit (as Kyle Tucy)
Kyle Sweet	....	makeup artist: second unit (as Kyle Tucy)
Peter Tothpal	....	hair stylist
Melissa Street	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist: Stan Winston Studios (uncredited)

Production Management
Bruce M. Kerner	....	executive in charge of production
Donna Smith	....	post-production supervisor
Donna Smith	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomas A. Irvine	....	additional first assistant director (as Thomas Irvine)
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Jean-Paul Ouellette	....	second unit director: action
Robert Roda	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Shay Austin	....	assistant art director
John S. Curran	....	construction supervisor (as John Curran)
Tommy Estridge	....	property master
Mark Freedman	....	carpenter
Kerry Jennings	....	assistant property master
Amy McGary	....	scenic artist
Kristen McGary	....	scenic artist
Kurt Meisenbach	....	art assistant
Jewel Myrow	....	art assistant
Joe Rainey	....	assistant to the art director
Cynthia C. Rebman	....	set dresser (as Cindy Rebman)
David Reece	....	carpenter
Stephen Reece	....	carpenter
Stephen Rinehart	....	art assistant
Jennie Ryan	....	art assistant
Gary Schoeneck	....	lead man
Linda Schoeneck	....	art assistant
Gregory R. Wolf	....	set dresser (as Greg Wolf)
Christopher Gilman	....	property maker (uncredited)
Jay Koiwai	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Elizabeth Barnard	....	assistant sound editor
Ken Brocious	....	boom operator (as Kenneth Brocious)
David Campling	....	supervising sound editor
Gordon Daniel	....	foley artist
Greg Dillon	....	sound effects editor
James Fritch	....	sound effects editor (as Jim Fritch)
Robert Garrett	....	synthesized sound effects
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
James J. Klinger	....	sound effects editor (as Jim Klinger)
Mike Le Mare	....	sound effects editor (as Mike Le-Mare)
Richard Lightstone	....	production sound mixer
Horace Manzanares	....	sound effects editor
Gilbert D. Marchant	....	sound effects editor (as Gil Marchant)
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rob Miller	....	sound effects editor
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Post	....	foley artist
Gary Shepherd	....	sound effects editor
Karola Storr	....	sound effects editor
Gabriel Cubos	....	sound utility (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jack Bricker	....	terminator special effects
Ellis Burman Jr.	....	terminator mechanical effects
Frank DeMarco	....	special effects
Ernest D. Farino	....	special effects coordinator
Roger George	....	special effects
Richard J. Landon	....	terminator special effects (as Richard Landon)
Ron Macinnes	....	terminator mechanical effects assistant
Shane Mahan	....	terminator special effects
David B. Miller	....	terminator special effects (as David Miller)
John Rosengrant	....	terminator special effects
Brian Wade	....	terminator special effects
Bob Williams	....	terminator mechanical effects
Stan Winston	....	special terminator effects creator
Tom Woodruff Jr.	....	terminator special effects (as Tom Woodruff)
Roger Kelton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
R. Bruce Steinheimer	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Doug Beswick	....	stop motion terminator model: Fantasy II Film Effects
Don Bland	....	production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Steven Fagerquist	....	technical assistant: process photography
Ernest D. Farino	....	graphic animation effects
Phil Huff	....	optical effects: Image 3
John Huneck	....	camera operator: Fantasy II Film Effects
Leslie Huntley	....	production supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Michael Joyce	....	model shop supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Paul Kassler	....	model maker: Fantasy II Film Effects
Pete Kleinow	....	terminator stop motion: Fantasy II Film Effects (as Peter Kleinow)
Laurel Klick	....	optical effects: Image 3
Ken Marschall	....	matte artist: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gerald McClain	....	rear screen projectionist: process photography
Austin McKinney	....	cinematographer: process photography
Jane A. Pahlman	....	production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Eric Peterson	....	camera assistant: process photography
Gary Rhodaback	....	model maker: Fantasy II Film Effects
Mark Sawicki	....	special optical consultant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Joe Viskocil	....	pyrotechnics and fire effects: Fantasy II Film Effects (as Joseph Viskocil)
Gene Warren Jr.	....	special effects supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Kris Brown	....	visual effects engineer (uncredited)
Sam Longoria	....	stop-motion electronics (uncredited)
Bret Mixon	....	animation assistant (uncredited)
Ted Rae	....	stop motion terminator model: Fantasy II Film Effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Anthony Cecere	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeff Dashnow)
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunts (as Hill Farnsworth)
J. Suzanne Fish	....	stunts
Ken Fritz	....	stunt coordinator
Ken Fritz	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Ken Fritz	....	stunt double: Michael Biehn
Marian Green	....	stunts (as Marion Green)
Tom Hart	....	stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Jean Malahni	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Jim Stern	....	stunts
Pete Turner	....	stunts (as Peter Turner)
Cynthia Brannon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Monty Jordan	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Peter Kent	....	stunt double: Arnold Schwarzenegger (uncredited)
Rob King	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean Malahni	....	stunt double: Linda Hamilton (uncredited)
Lee Waddell	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernard Auroux	....	focus puller
Dennis Bishop	....	gaffer
Bruce Byall	....	grip
Anne S. Coffey	....	camera operator: insert photography (as Anne Coffey)
Chuck Colwell	....	director of photography: second unit
Mario Davis	....	grip and equipment: second unit
Mark Ellensohn	....	best boy
Alec Hirschfeld	....	additional camera operator
Sean McLin	....	camera operator: second unit
David Michels	....	dolly grip
Mark Morton	....	electrician
Tim Morton	....	best boy electric
Elliot Nachbar	....	grip
Mark Peterson	....	electrician
Vance Piper	....	camera assistant
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
Roger Schweitzer	....	video playback operator
Dylan Shephard	....	key grip
Gary Wagner	....	camera assistant: insert photography
Rick A. West	....	electrician (as Rick West)
Tim Collins	....	grip (uncredited)
Donald G. Jackson	....	additional cinematographer (uncredited)
John Janusek	....	grip (uncredited)
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tracy Neftzger	....	grip (uncredited)
Barry Seybert	....	electrician (uncredited)
Mark A. Shelton	....	electrician (uncredited)
Philip Sloan	....	best boy grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Greg Robbins	....	extras casting coordinator (as Gregory Robbins)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Everton	....	costume supervisor
Julia Gombert	....	costumer: second unit
Virginia Hartman	....	costume production assistant

Editorial Department
Lorna Anderson	....	first assistant editor
Michael Bloecher	....	associate editor
Spike Allison Hooper	....	assistant editor
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein	....	negative cutter (as Mary Nelson)
Peter Silverman	....	color consultant

Music Department
Budd Carr	....	music consultant
Robert Randles	....	music post-production coordinator
Emilie Robertson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Wayne Nelson	....	transportation captain
Wayne Stone	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Polly Apostolof	....	assistant to producer
Jo Barnett	....	assistant production accountant
Terry Benedict	....	production assistant: second unit
Kathy Breen	....	production coordinator
Ernest D. Farino	....	title designer
J. Randolph Harrison	....	assistant to producer (as Randy Harrison)
J. Randolph Harrison	....	assistant to producer
Deborah Hebert	....	set production assistant (as Deborah A. Hebert)
Scott Javine	....	production assistant
Sharon Kirkpatrick	....	script supervisor: second unit
Joseph A. Liuzzi	....	location manager
Andy Marx	....	publicist (as Andrew Marx)
Pattison Newberry	....	first aid
George Parra	....	set production assistant
Kevin E. Patterson	....	utility man (as Kevin Patterson)
Eric Rasmussen	....	craft service
Michael Thomas Slifkin	....	talent coordinator
Lisa Sonne	....	assistant to producer (as T. Elizabeth Sonne)
Anne St. Johns	....	assistant production coordinator
Marilyn Tasso	....	production accountant
Brenda Weisman	....	script supervisor
Frans J. Afman	....	financial services (uncredited)
Lisa S. Girolami	....	extras wrangler (uncredited)

Thanks
Harlan Ellison	....	acknowledgment to the works of

Production Companies

• Hemdale Film
• Pacific Western
• Euro Film Funding
• Cinema 84 (as Cinema '84, A Greenberg Brothers Partnership)

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmverlag der Autoren (1985) (Germany) (theatrical)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1985) (UK) (theatrical)
• Kinosto (1985) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (1985) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Hemdale Home Video (1985) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Thorn EMI Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV)
• Hemdale Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nordic Video (198?) (Finland) (VHS)
• TV3 (1991) (Finland) (TV)
• Alliance Home Video (1995) (USA) (video)
• Artisan Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• TF1 Vidéo (1996) (France) (video) (laserdisc)
• VTC-Video (198?) (Finland) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• VCL Communications (1998) (Germany) (DVD)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2001) (Italy) (DVD)
• FS Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc special edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• FS Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc ultimate edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (The Definitive Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray Disc)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1980s) (USA) (VHS) (for Weintraub Entertainment)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• Nelonen (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Orion Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Sub (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• Thorn EMI (19??) (UK) (VHS)
• Virgin Vision (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Weintraub Entertainment Group (1980s) (USA) (video)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1999) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Fantasy II Film Effects (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals provided by
• Christal Blue Casting  extras casting
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  post-production services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Ellison Machinery Co.  GMF robots supplied and operated by
• Film Finances  completion services
• Image 3  optical effects
• Laser Products  laser guns
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Mayflower Recording  sound effects
• Ray Mercer & Company  opticals
• Skywalker Sound  audio restoration and re-mixing (restored version)
• Studio Picture Vehicles  vehicles provided by
• Yaskawa Electric America  Motorman robots supplied and operated by

Also Known As:

"Terminator" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Alberta) (re-rating) (1999) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2001) | France:U | Japan:R-15 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Poland:15 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (No. 27336) | West Germany:16 (cut) (198?-2010) | West Germany:18 (uncut version) (SPIO/JK) (198?-2010) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1984) (1991) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Italy:T (re-rating) (1991) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) (1984) | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2005) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1991) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1996) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Ireland:15 (re-rating) (2007) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2001) | Ireland:18 (1985-2006) | UK:18 (1985-2000) | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Malaysia:U | Chile:14 (DVD re-rating) | Australia:MA (Definitive Edition DVD) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2010) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

212 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hemdale Film

Trivia:

In the original script the Terminator was supposed to steal a car at the beginning of the film. The scene involved the Terminator observing an elderly woman getting into a car and as she saw the Terminator she panicked and put it into reverse hitting a trash can then correcting herself put it into drive and sped off. The Terminator then enters the car, puts it into reverse then into drive mimicking the woman's actions. This was cut from a later script.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the police station massacre, the camera is positioned on the floor, and shows the Terminator shooting through a door on the left. As he fires his gun, the supposedly dead cop in the foreground can be seen to jump.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[the garbage truck's engine stops]
Truck Driver:What the hell? Goddamn son of a bitch...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Principal Charming (#2.14)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Intimacy

An excellent film, highly original

Terminator is an extremely low budget movie. In fact, just about everything used in it didn't cost much at all, but it is a very effective movie. Back in the '70's and 80's, movies could be very low budget, but still be great(think of John Carpenter's Halloween).

The Terminator is a story about how nuclear war causes the end to mankind and the end result could be the start of an even greater tragedy than the war its self. The entire message of The Terminator is an anti nuclear war message.

Many people think that a few parts in the beginning of the movie are just some random things thrown in. I can understand why, but these seemingly random scenes actually do have a lot to do with the story.

Arnold does a great job as the cyborg who is programmed to kill without mercy or remorse. For those who don't know, this is the movie where the line "I'll be back" was spoken. The other actors do a good job in this. Linda Hamilton made a great choice doing this movie and she really improved her career through it(the movie she made before this was the horrible Children Of The Corn).

This is better than Terminator 2(which is still great by the way), because this movie has more of a story and is more involved. I would recommend watching this movie at any time, it is very well paced and never gets boring, and if you have the time, watch T2 right after this.