Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

Directors:

George Miller
George Ogilvie

Writers:

Terry Hayes (written by) &
George Miller (written by)

Release Date:

10 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Max is back...and Tina's got him!

Plot:

Mad Max becomes a pawn in a decadent oasis of technological society, and when exiled, becomes the deliverer of a colony of children.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Fight | Mad Max | Gladiator | Arena

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Mad Max Rockatansky
Bruce Spence	...	Jedediah the Pilot
Adam Cockburn	...	Jedediah Jr.
Tina Turner	...	Aunty Entity
Frank Thring	...	The Collector
Angelo Rossitto	...	Master
Paul Larsson	...	Blaster
Angry Anderson	...	Ironbar
Robert Grubb	...	Pig Killer
George Spartels	...	Blackfinger
Edwin Hodgeman	...	Dr. Dealgood
Bob Hornery	...	Waterseller
Andrew Oh	...	Ton Ton Tattoo
Ollie Hall	...	Aunty's Guard
Lee Rice	...	Aunty's Guard
Max Worrall	...	Aunty's Guard
Susan Leonard	...	Aunty's Guard
Robert Simper	...	Aunty's Guard
Virginia Wark	...	Aunty's Guard
Geeling Ng	...	Aunty's Guard (as Geeling)
Ray Turnbull	...	Aunty's Guard
Brian Ellison	...	Aunty's Guard
Gerard Armstrong	...	Aunty's Guard
Helen Buday	...	Savannah Nix
Mark Spain	...	Mr. Skyfish
Mark Kounnas	...	Gekko
Rod Zuanic	...	Scrooloose
Justine Clarke	...	Anna Goanna
Shane Tickner	...	Eddie
Toni Allaylis	...	Cusha
James Wingrove	...	Tubba Tintye
Adam Scougall	...	Finn McCoo
Tom Jennings	...	Slake
Gerry D'Angelo	...	Hunter
Travis Latter	...	Hunter
Miguel López	...	Hunter (as Miguel Lopez)
Paul Daniel	...	Hunter
Tushka Bergen	...	Guardian (as Tushka Hose)
Emily Stocker	...	Guardian
Sandie Lillingston	...	Guardian
Adam Willits	...	Mr. Scratch
Ben Chesterman	...	Gatherer
Liam Nikkinen	...	Gatherer
Dan Chesterman	...	Gatherer
Christopher Norton	...	Gatherer
Katharine Cullen	...	Gatherer
Heilan Robertson	...	Gatherer
Gabriel Dilworth	...	Gatherer
Hugh Sands	...	Gatherer
Rebekah Elmaloglou	...	Gatherer
Marion Sands	...	Gatherer
Shari Flood	...	Gatherer
Kate Tatar	...	Gatherer
Rachael Graham	...	Gatherer
Pega Williams	...	Gatherer
Emma Howard	...	Gatherer
Tarah Williams	...	Gatherer
Joanna McCarroll	...	Gatherer
Daniel Willits	...	Gatherer
Toby Messiter	...	Gatherer
Tonya Wright	...	Gatherer
Charlie Kenney	...	Little One
Amanda Nikkinen	...	Little One
Flynn Kenney	...	Little One
Luke Panic	...	Little One
William Manning	...	Little One
James Robertson	...	Little One
Adam McCreadie	...	Little One
Sally Morton	...	Little One
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Margaret Cardin	...	Woman on the Thunderdome
David Buchanan	...	Gatherer (uncredited)
Margaret Dupre	...	Barter Town Girl (uncredited)
James Napier Robertson	...	Little One (uncredited)

Directed by
George Miller
George Ogilvie

Writing credits
Terry Hayes		(written by) &
George Miller		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Amezdroz	....	associate producer
Marcus D'Arcy	....	associate producer
Terry Hayes	....	co-producer
George Miller	....	producer
Doug Mitchell	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Dean Semler

Film Editing by
Richard Francis-Bruce

Casting by
Alison Barrett

Production Design by
Graham 'Grace' Walker

Art Direction by
Anni Browning

Set Decoration by
Martin O'Neill

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Rosalina Da Silva	....	makeup artist (as Rosalina Silva)
Nik Dorning	....	prosthetics assistant
Helen Evans	....	makeup artist
Elizabeth Ann Fardon	....	key makeup artist
Marjory Hamlin	....	assistant makeup artist
Sherry Hubbard	....	assistant makeup artist
Cheryl Newton	....	wig maker

Production Management
Su Armstrong	....	executive in charge of production
Antonia Barnard	....	production manager
Annie Bleakley	....	production manager: model unit
Tim Callaghan	....	unit manager
Marcus D'Arcy	....	post-production supervisor
Edward Waring	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve E. Andrews	....	first assistant director (as Steve Andrews)
Ian Freeman	....	third assistant director
Stuart Freeman	....	first assistant director
Ian Kenny	....	second assistant director
Murray Robertson	....	third assistant director
Chris Webb	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Alan Armytage	....	scenic painter
Simon Baume	....	set builder
Tom Beavem	....	construction assistant
John Bell	....	construction assistant
Chris Bellet	....	set builder
Wayne Black	....	set builder
Peter Bower	....	set builder
John Buttimore	....	fibreglasser
Brendyn Byrnes	....	set builder
Toby Churchill-Brown	....	art department runner
Matthew Connors	....	set builder
Pauline Cotter	....	tent maker
Michael Davis	....	art department coordinator
Robert Fisher	....	set builder
John Friedman	....	construction runner
Chris Gibson	....	set builder
Errol Glassenbury	....	construction foreman
Marian Gorsky	....	construction assistant
Scott Gribble	....	set builder
Keron Hansen	....	construction foreman
Kate Highfield	....	art department coordinator
Tony Hunt	....	property buyer
Romaine Joseph	....	draughtswoman
Billy Kennedy	....	scenic painter
Ross Kens	....	tent maker
Steve King	....	set builder
Kirk Lovett	....	set builder
Nicholas Lyons	....	construction assistant
Steve Lyons	....	storyboard artist
Michael Makin	....	set builder
Billy Malcolm	....	head scenic artist
Paul McIver	....	set builder
Rod McKeown	....	set builder
Paul McKey	....	construction foreman
Karan Monkhouse	....	stand-by props
Ken Moore	....	art department assistant
Mark Morgan	....	set builder
Ron Morrison	....	tent maker
Anthony Moss	....	signmaker
Michael Patterson	....	set builder
Ray Pedler	....	scenic artist
Shane Pentland	....	set builder
Rob Ricketson	....	construction foreman
John Rowe	....	scenic painter
Carsten Schimmanowski	....	set builder
Dennis Smith	....	construction supervisor
Marcus Smith	....	set builder
Tom Spellman	....	set builder
John Sprowle	....	construction assistant
David Stack	....	set builder
Jennifer Towne	....	tent maker
Ed Verreaux	....	visual design consultant
Suzanne Wallen	....	tent maker
Daniel Webber	....	fibreglasser
Graham Wood	....	construction assistant
Max Worrall	....	construction foreman
Harry Zettel	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
Sue Blainey	....	assistant dialogue editor
Lloyd Carrick	....	production sound recordist
Craig Carter	....	sound effects editor
Tim Chau	....	sound effects editor
Philip Dickson	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Phil Dickson)
John Herron	....	dialogue re-recordist
Tim Jordan	....	dialogue editor
Phil Judd	....	additional sound
Doron Kipen	....	8-track operator
Bruce Lamshed	....	sound designer
Bruce Lamshed	....	sound mixer
Sue Lamshed	....	assistant sound effects editor
Frank Lipson	....	sound effects editor
Roger Savage	....	sound mixer
Roger Savage	....	sound supervisor
Annabelle Sheehan	....	dialogue editor
Joe Spinelli	....	boom operator
Andrew Steuart	....	foley editor
Yvonne Van Gyen	....	assistant sound effects editor
Rex Watts	....	assistant sound effects editor
Karin Whittington	....	dialogue editor
Steve Burgess	....	foley recordist (uncredited)
Steve Burgess	....	sound editor (uncredited)
James Mather	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steve Courtley	....	special effects coordinator
Brian Cox	....	special effects technician
Ray Fowler	....	special effects assistant
Doug Head	....	special effects assistant
Barrie Mackie	....	special effects assistant
Robert Podhadsky	....	special effects assistant
Brian Rallston	....	special effects assistant
Steve Volich	....	special effects assistant
David Ward-Fear	....	special effects assistant
Brian Wood	....	special effects assistant
Michael Wood	....	special effects supervisor (as Mike Wood)
David Young	....	special effects assistant
John Bowring	....	special effects armorer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Adams	....	model assistant
Ken Arlidge	....	camera operator: model unit
Eddie Blazkow	....	rigger: model unit
Geoff Brown	....	louma crane operator: model unit
Simon Butler	....	model assistant
Michael Chorney	....	scenic artist: model unit
Chris Cole	....	camera assistant: model unit
Roger Cowland	....	opticals
Paul Geros	....	model assistant
Petra Henniger	....	model maker
Kim Hilder	....	model maker
Romaine Joseph	....	model maker
Alan Maxwell	....	special effects coordinator: model unit
Suza Maybury	....	model maker (as Susan Maybury)
Suza Maybury	....	model painter (as SusanMaybury)
Bart Melocco	....	rigging assistant: model unit
Richard Merryman	....	camera operator: model unit
Roy Mico	....	grip: model unit
John Murch	....	model maker
Dennis Nicholson	....	model coordinator
Robert O'Keefe	....	model assistant
Andy Pollard	....	scaffold supervisor: model unit
Nui Russell	....	rigging assistant: model unit
Paul Shopis	....	model assistant
Peter Terakes	....	camera assistant: model unit
Jennifer Towne	....	model assistant
Walter Van	....	model assistant
Richard Weight	....	model maker
Guy Williams	....	assistant grip: model unit
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Russell Allan	....	stunts
Angry Anderson	....	stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunts (as Scott Ateah)
Kerry Blakeman	....	stunts
Glenn Boswell	....	key stunts (as Glen Boswell)
Phil Brock	....	stunts
Steve Brown	....	stunts
Spike Cherrie	....	stunts
Ros Chigjey	....	stunts
Jade Clayton	....	stunts
Danial Donai	....	stunts (as Danny Donai)
Brian Ellison	....	stunts
John Fogwell	....	stunts
Stephen Fyfield	....	stunts
Mel Gibson	....	stunts
Zenda Graves	....	stunts
Ollie Hall	....	stunts
Jeanot Lagarrigue	....	stunts
Claude Lambert	....	stunt safety supervisor
Olivier Lejus	....	stunts
Paul Lennon	....	stunts
Ian Lind	....	stunts
Fiona McConchie	....	stunts
Ken Moroney	....	stunts
Kevin Nagel	....	stunts
Rangi Nikora	....	stunts
Allan Oberholzer	....	stunts
Chris Olley	....	stunts
Grant Page	....	stunt coordinator
John Pasternak	....	stunts
Wayne Please	....	stunts
Michael Read	....	stunts (as Mike Read)
Arch Roberts	....	stunts
Robert Simper	....	stunts
Tamas Svegedi	....	stunts
David Thomas	....	stunts
Shane Tickner	....	stunts
Rikki Van Gyen	....	stunts
Don Vaughn	....	stunts (as Don Vaughan)
Fred Welsh	....	stunts
Dennis Williams	....	stunts
Vic Wilson	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Bosisto	....	camera crane operator
John Brock	....	additional focus puller
Dean Bryan	....	electrician
David Burr	....	additional camera operator
David Dunkley	....	camera maintenance
Alan Dunstan	....	best boy
Tex Foote	....	generator operator
Jon Goldney	....	additional assistant grip
Gary Hill	....	electrician
Neil Howell	....	assistant grip
Louis Irving	....	camera operator
Ian Jones	....	additional Steadicam operator
Jonas Juhanson	....	rigger
John Mahaffie	....	Steadicam focus puller
Darren McLaughlin	....	electrical apprentice
Irvine G. McLaughlin	....	key grip
Richard Merryman	....	camera operator
Robin Morgan	....	additional key grip
John Morton	....	gaffer
Pat Nash	....	grip
Toby Phillips	....	Steadicam operator
Toby Phillips	....	camera operator
John Platt	....	Steadicam clapper loader
Jim Sheldon	....	still photographer
Mark Sullivan	....	clapper loader
Jon Waller	....	camera crane assistant
Roydon Johnson	....	additional focus puller (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mike Fenton	....	casting: USA
Linda Pavilack	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lyn Askew	....	stand-by wardrobe
Jenni Bolton	....	costume supervisor
Susan Bowden	....	costume designer's assistant
Phil Eagles	....	stand-by wardrobe
Robyn Elliot	....	wardrobe assistant
Julie Frankham	....	seamstress
Lisa Meagher	....	wardrobe assistant
Anna Nolan	....	wardrobe assistant
Susan Pullen	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Arthur Cambridge	....	color grader
Miriam Cortes	....	negative matcher
Louise Innes	....	first assistant editor
Claire O'Brien	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Dick Lewzey	....	music recordist (as Dick Lewsey)

Transportation Department
Helen Folden	....	transportation
Jeff Reeder	....	transportation
David Thomas	....	action vehicle coordinator

Other crew
Billy Allen	....	additional personnel
Dale Aspin	....	animal coordinator
David Atkins	....	additional personnel
Gillian Bailey	....	additional personnel
Catherine Barber	....	financial controller (as Cathy Barber)
Ken Barnett	....	leatherworker
Catherine Bishop	....	production assistant
Tony Bremner	....	additional personnel
Jenny Brown	....	additional personnel
Richard Carroll	....	pig wrangler
Beverley Clarke	....	additional personnel
Robin Clarke	....	additional personnel
Lynda Collings	....	production accountant
Chantal Cordy	....	leatherworker
Peter Dons	....	assistant to accountant
Deidre Eagles	....	nurse
Justin Fitzpatrick	....	additional personnel
Catalina Forsyth	....	additional personnel
Bill Gooley	....	laboratory liaison
Nicole Gooley	....	additional personnel
Marguerite Grey	....	additional personnel
Ollie Hall	....	assistant: Angelo Rossitto
Cassie Hanlon	....	additional personnel
Alistair Jenkins	....	additional personnel
Hine Knapp	....	additional personnel
Ray Kubacki	....	mechanic
David Lee	....	additional personnel
Terry Lee	....	helicopter pilot
George Mannix	....	location manager
John May	....	additional personnel
Bob McCarron	....	prosthetics manufacture
Sue McKay	....	additional personnel
Garry McQuinn	....	production runner
Steve Michaelson	....	mechanic
Keiron O'Connell	....	bike builder
Christopher Palmer	....	assistant: Mr. Jarre
Daphne Paris	....	script supervisor
Margaret Pavletich	....	additional personnel
Anne Phillips	....	additional personnel
Jake Piggeries	....	pigs supplier
Richard Piorkowski	....	laboratory liaison
Jenny Quigley	....	additional personnel
Jason Rogers	....	additional personnel
Phillip Roope	....	tutor
Rick Simshauser	....	additional personnel
Chris Smith	....	caterer
David Smith	....	assistant to accountant
Warner Smith	....	mechanic
John Stark	....	monkey wrangler
Romana Toson	....	additional personnel
Alfonso Valencia	....	metro security
Rod Venables	....	air truck pilot
P.J. Voeten	....	unit runner
Jim Walker	....	pigs supplier
Irene Walls	....	additional personnel
Glen Walsh	....	mechanic
Jenny Wilson	....	assistant: Doug Mitchell
Elizabeth Wright	....	production secretary
Lyndie Wylie	....	additional personnel
Michelle Zeisel	....	assistant: George Miller
Barry Elliott	....	camel wrangler (uncredited)

Thanks
Stephen Hayes	....	thanks
Byron Kennedy	....	dedicatee
Ross Steele	....	thanks (as Professor Ross Steele)

Production Companies

• Kennedy Miller Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1999) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. (1999) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Elliniki Kinimatografiki Enosi (ELKE) (1985) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1985) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2001) (Greece) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Universal City Studios Matte Department (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• BT Australia Ltd.  financial advice
• Feast Film Catering  catering
• Film Australia  post-production sound mixed at
• Optical & Graphics  titling
• Sabemo Rural Services  veterinary consulting
• Soundfirm  post-production sound mixed at
• Transavia Division Pty. Ltd.  aircraft manufactured and supplied by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  sound post-production
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

"Mad Max III" - Philippines (English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1988) | Finland:K-18 (1985) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Italy:T | New Zealand:PG | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Portugal:M/6 | Chile:TE | Australia:M | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1985) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Trivia:

Originally, the film was supposed to be about a group of children living without parents in the wild. They were trying to decide what adult character would find them, when someone thought of Max. After that suggestion, it became a "Mad Max" film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the children see the record player, the put the record that they've tried to use as a radio on it. Max puts the needle on to show them it's a record made to emit sound. The needle move inside out - record needles actually move on a record from the outside in.

Quotes:

Aunty Entity:Do you know who I was? Nobody. Except on the day after, I was still alive. This nobody had a chance to be somebody.

Movie Connections:

References A Wild Hare (1940)

Soundtrack:

One of the Living

Underrated

When I first saw Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, I felt disappointed. It was a letdown from its amazing predecessor. I knew its reputation as an unworthy sequel, but I still realized there was something good about it, something I had never heard from other people's points of view.

It wasn't until some time later when I watched the series a second time that I noticed what it was.

Those who think MMBT is not as exciting as The Road Warrior would be right. But those that think MMBT sucks because it is not as exciting as The Road Warrior would be missing the point. What makes MMBT a worthy sequel is its way of establishing a greater scope of the setting the series takes place in. The dredges of civilization were what set the stage for the series in the original Mad Max. The barren world of desert wastelands and sparse outposts take the idea of a post-apocalyptic world one step further in The Road Warrior. A squalid setting such as Bartertown and an oasis where the tribe of children lived in MMBT once again builds on the elaborate fantasy that makes the series as popular as it is. The final, chilling realization of just what became of civilization in the closing moments of the movie are more than enough explanation as to why the the world the viewer sees in the trilogy is the way it is.

I was too young when I first saw MMBT to understand this. It wouldn't be until I saw it again some time later, with more movie-viewing experience under my belt that I realized that what makes Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome tick is not action set pieces, but a far more subtle approach of atmospheric setting.