Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

David Morrell (characters)
Kevin Jarre (story)
(more)

Release Date:

22 May 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller | War

Tagline:

What most people call hell, he calls home.

Plot:

John Rambo is released from prison by the government for a top-secret covert mission to the last place on Earth he'd want to return - the jungles of Vietnam.

Plot Keywords:

Rambo | Vietnam | Prison | Rescue | Jungle

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. June 2	4:44 PM	SPIKETV
Sun. June 3	2:00 PM	SPIKETV

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Rambo
Richard Crenna	...	Col. Samuel Trautman
Charles Napier	...	Marshall Murdock
Steven Berkoff	...	Lt. Col. Podovsky
Julia Nickson	...	Co
Martin Kove	...	Ericson
George Cheung	...	Tay (as George Kee Cheung)
Andy Wood	...	Banks
William Ghent	...	Captain Vinh
Voyo Goric	...	Sergeant Yushin (as Vojo Goric)
Dana Lee	...	Captain Kinh
Baoan Coleman	...	Gunboat Captain
Steve Williams	...	Lifer
Don Collins	...	P.O.W. #1
Christopher Grant	...	P.O.W. #2
John Sterlini	...	P.O.W. #3
Alain Hocquenghem	...	P.O.W. #4
William Rothlein	...	P.O.W. #5
Tony Munafo	...	Prison Guard
Tom Gehrke	...	Russian Pilot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roger Cudney	...	Chief Radio Operator (uncredited)
John Pankow	...	POW #6 (uncredited)
John Sabol	...	Radio Operator (uncredited)

Directed by
George P. Cosmatos

Writing credits
David Morrell		(characters)
Kevin Jarre		(story)
Sylvester Stallone		(screenplay) and
James Cameron		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mel Dellar	....	associate producer
Buzz Feitshans	....	producer
Mario Kassar	....	executive producer
Andrew G. Vajna	....	executive producer (as Andrew Vajna)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Jack Cardiff		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Larry Bock
Mark Goldblatt
Mark Helfrich
Gib Jaffe
Frank E. Jimenez

Casting by
Rhonda Young

Production Design by
Bill Kenney

Set Decoration by
William Ladd Skinner		(as William Skinner)
Sig Tingloff

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Bertha Chiu	....	hair stylist: Mexico
Kay Cole	....	hair stylist
Leonard Engelman	....	makeup creator (as Leonard Engleman)
Elvira Oropeza	....	makeup artist: Mexico
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist (as Pamela Westmore)

Production Management
Anuar Badin	....	production manager: Mexico
Fred Rollin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mario Cisneros	....	first assistant director: Mexico (as Mario Cisneros Rivera)
Patrick Kinney	....	second assistant director
Fred Rollin	....	first assistant director
Peter MacDonald	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Roy Barnes	....	assistant art director
Dennis Butterworth	....	greensman
Martín Cárdenas Moreno	....	prop master: Mexico (as Martin Cardenas Moreno)
Enrique Estévez	....	set decorator: Mexico (as Enrique Estevez Labastida)
Howard Hester	....	construction coordinator
Agustín Ituarte	....	art director: Mexico (as Augustin Ituarte Salazar)
Fred Lucky	....	illustrator
Dennis J. Parrish	....	prop master (as Dennis Parrish)
Ward Welton	....	set painter
Moises Pineda	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fred J. Brown	....	supervising sound editor (as Frederick J. Brown)
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr editor
David W. Gray	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as David Gray)
Denise Horta	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist (as Margie Denecke)
Michelle Pleis	....	assistant sound editor
Michele Sharp	....	sound editor
Rob Young	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Federico Farfán	....	special effects man: Mexico (as Federico Farfan)
Thomas L. Fisher	....	special effects coordinator (as Thomas Fisher)
Jay King	....	special effects (as Jay Bee King)
William Purcell	....	special effects
Cliff Wenger Jr.	....	special effects

Stunts
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts (as Simone Michelle Boisseree)
Brad Bovee	....	stunts (as Bradley Bovee)
Phil Chong	....	stunts
Yukio Collins	....	stunts
Danny Costa	....	stunts (as Daniel Costa)
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunts
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunt coordinator (as Richard 'Diamond' Farnsworth)
George Fisher	....	stunts (as George Jury Fisher)
Joseph Hieu	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunts (as Jeffrey Imada)
Loren Janes	....	stunt coordinator: helicopter unit
Robert Jauregui	....	stunts
Mike Johnson	....	stunts (as John Michael Johnson)
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
Eric Lee	....	stunts
Harry Mok	....	stunts
Dan Munson	....	stunts
Vernon Rieta	....	stunts (as Vernon Paul Rieta)
Bill M. Ryusaki	....	stunts (as Bill Ryusaki)
Ben Scott	....	stunts (as Benjamin Raymond Scott)
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts (as John Wendall Clay Scott)
Daniel Wong	....	stunts (as Daniel Thompson Wong)
Anthony Cecere	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt double: Sylvester Stallone (uncredited)
Jay King	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Franco Bruni	....	camera operator
Mariano Garcia Cabrera	....	gaffer: Mexico
John Cardiff	....	camera operator
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip (as Aldo Colonzi)
Bruno Colanzi	....	best boy grip (as Bruno Colonzi)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer
Luciano Leoni	....	chief gaffer
Peter MacDonald	....	director of photography: helicopter unit
Fiorangelo Plocco	....	best boy
Massimiliano Sano	....	first assistant camera
Salvador 'Apache' Serrano	....	dolly grip: Mexico (as Salvador Serrano Perez)
Salvador Vázquez	....	chief grip: Mexico (as Salvador Vazquez)
Stan McClain	....	camera operator: aerial unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jesús Guerrero	....	casting: Mexico (as Jesus Guerrero)
Donna Rosenstein	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Shelley Brown	....	assistant editor
Sergio Ortega	....	assistant film editor: Mexico
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)
Florent Retz	....	assistant editor (as Danny Retz)
Hilarie Roope	....	assistant editor
Ron South	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruce Botnick	....	music recording consultant
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Kenny Hall)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Moe Blay	....	driver
John Cahill	....	driver
Jon Carpenter	....	driver captain
Donald Collis	....	driver
Terry Collis	....	transportation coordinator
Vic Cuccia	....	driver
Bob Dewitt	....	driver (as Bob DeWitt)
Joe Dugan	....	driver
Russell H. Hoverson	....	driver captain (as Russell Hoverson)
Kendall A. Reed	....	driver (as Kendall Reed)
Michael Stevenson	....	driver

Other crew
Teri Abastado	....	accounting assistant
Frank Batt	....	crew: helicopter unit
John Campbell	....	crew: helicopter unit
Mario Cisneros	....	crew: helicopter unit
Franco Columbu	....	body building coach
Gary Compton	....	security officer
Violet Crane	....	production secretary
Charlie Davidson	....	production controller
Jim Davidson	....	production accountant
Bruce Eidahl	....	mechanic: helicopter unit
Joe Ellithorpe	....	archery consultant
Erick Feitshans	....	production assistant
Hugh Forn	....	crew: helicopter unit
Tom Gehrke	....	pilot: helicopter unit
Kevin Griffith	....	crew: helicopter unit
Steve Harding	....	crew: helicopter unit
Harry Hauss	....	pilot: helicopter unit
Jeanne Joe	....	assistant to executive producer
Mario Kassar	....	presenter
Steve Kilfoy	....	production assistant
Linda Lawrence	....	assistant to executive producer
Richard Liebegott	....	production coordinator
Jimmy Lile	....	knife designer
Norah Lozano	....	production accountant: Mexico
Peter MacDonald	....	director: helicopter unit
Tony Maffatone	....	technical advisor
Robert Mickey	....	mechanic: helicopter unit
Tony Munafo	....	security officer
Edwin L. Perez	....	accounting assistant (as Edwin Perez)
Susan Persily	....	assistant: Mr. Stallone
Juan Clemente Prosper	....	location manager (as Juan Clemente)
Ross Reynolds	....	pilot: helicopter unit
Nigel Rick	....	production assistant
Frank Rousseau	....	weapons specialist
Jeanne Scott	....	script supervisor
Steve Stephenson	....	mechanic: helicopter unit
Ken Sylvia	....	unit publicist
Concepcion Taboada	....	production secretary: Mexico
Ceci Vajna	....	assistant to executive producer
Marichu Walker	....	accounting assistant
Barry Wall	....	mechanic: helicopter unit
Karl A. Wickman	....	pilot: helicopter unit
Anna Zappia	....	production coordinator
Frans J. Afman	....	financial services (uncredited)
Bill Cody	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Cliff Wenger Jr.	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Anabasis N.V.

Distributors

• Adams Filmi (1985) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Concorde Film (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (1985) (UK) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (1985) (Japan) (theatrical)
• TriStar Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Ízaro Films (1985) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2002) (Greece) (DVD)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Carolco Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Delta Vidéo Diffusion (19??) (France) (VHS)
• Fuji TV (1993) (Japan) (TV)
• Gativideo (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• Guild Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Live Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1989) (Japan) (TV)
• Pioneer LDC (1995) (Japan) (VHS)
• Pioneer (1992) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• TV Asahi (1995) (Japan) (TV)
• Thorn EMI Video (198?) (USA) (video) (Beta)
• Thorn EMI/HBO Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (1990) (Japan) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (HD-DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (as Chapman)
• Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V.  special thanks: for making it all possible
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Fred Griggs & Company  titles and opticals
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  sound re-recorded at
• Hoyt/Easton, USA  bow maker
• Patsa Productions S.A.  mexican production services
• Stembridge Gun Rental Inc.  firearms provided by
• Yamaha  digital keyboards

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Vietnamese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #27558) | West Germany:18 (video rating) (cut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (video release) (cut) (1989) | Finland:K-16 (video release) (uncut) (1998) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) (cut) (1985) | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Germany:Not Rated (uncut) | Argentina:13 (re-rating) | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:18 (re-rating) (uncut) (2011) | West Germany:16 (f) | Italy:T | Argentina:16 (original rating) | Australia:M | Chile:18 | France:U | Norway:18 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Anabasis N.V.

Trivia:

Lee Marvin was originally to play Marshall Murdock but changed his mind.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Russian troops are wearing camouflage-style jungle uniforms adorned with brightly-colored insignia. In fact, Russian soldiers, like those of most other nations, wear subdued insignia on their cammos in order to minimize their visibility.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Prisoner guard:Let's keep those hammers working!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Operation Dance Sensation (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Peace in Our Life

Dragon Fly. Wolf Den..colorful names.....You may scream, there is no shame.

First Blood and Rambo are completely different movies. They have same two characters bu that is where the similarity ends. First Blood was a tightly wound excellent action picture directed very well by Ted Kotcheff. Rambo is an action extravaganza that is not to high on the psychological element the way the first one was. They are both excellent films but I find them entertaining for different reasons. One of the reasons that I find Rambo so damn entertaining is because I enjoy that Rambo is now larger than life. He is the ultimate fighting machine who's only desire is to win a war that someone else lost, and if winning means he has to die then he'll die, no fear, no regrets. That is what makes Rambo the ultimate fighting machine and the ultimate movie character.

I love this movie. I love how far fetched it is. I love that Rambo can withstand hours of torture and then have enough energy to escape into the jungle and take on the whole Vietnemese and Russian army. That is what makes this movie so damned entertaining. When I was 14, this was my favourite movie, and it took a great many films and years before it was dethroned. I think I can enjoy and appreciate movies like Apocalypse Now and JFK better than when I was 14, but my love for Rambo and films of its kind will never diminish. This movie is amazing from start to finish.

Rambo's mission in this film is to go back to Vietnam and see if he can find a certain camp that may be harbouring POW's. But if he finds these men, he can only take pictures. He has a problem with that and when he does find one he is left behind by the "stinkin bureaucrat" named Murdoch who orders the mission aborted before Trautman can pick him up. It is while Rambo is captured that the movie becomes tight, tense and incredibly entertaining. Rambo is also fun to watch on a physical level. Stallone was in the best shape of his life in 1985 as he simultaneously made Rambo and Rocky IV. He is huge, ripped and strong as hell in this movie and it is his psychical presence that adds to his persona. He single handedly goes through a whole army and lives to go get the bastards that left him behind. Rambo is one of the old school feel good summer type movies.

Rambo does not claim to be JFK or Mississippi Burning in the sense that it wants you to leave the theater with a message. It has its own beliefs that is for certain, but what Rambo does just like Raiders does is, it entertains. It has you rooting and cheering for Rambo and dissing and swearing at the bad guys for 90 minutes. It is so much fun that I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes to be entertained. Leave your politics for some other movie, that is not what Rambo is about. It is about being entertained and wearing your emotions on your sleeve. That is what is beautiful about this movie. It doesn't apologize for being a bit over the top. Neither should you, for enjoying the film. It is a true wonder. A great piece of entertainment.