Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Richard Sapir (novel) &
Warren Murphy (novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

A hero who doesn't exist must save America from an enemy we never knew we had.

Plot:

An officially "dead" cop is trained to become an extraordinarily unique assassin in service of the US president.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Master | Korean | Military | Sinanju

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Fred Ward	...	Remo Williams
Joel Grey	...	Chiun
Wilford Brimley	...	Harold Smith
J.A. Preston	...	Conn MacCleary
George Coe	...	Gen. Scott Watson
Charles Cioffi	...	George Grove
Kate Mulgrew	...	Maj. Rayner Fleming
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Stone
Michael Pataki	...	Jim Wilson
Davenia McFadden	...	N.Y. Traffic Control Cop
Cosie Costa	...	Pvt. Damico
J.P. Romano	...	Boomer #1
Joel Kramer	...	Boomer #2 (as Joel J. Kramer)
Frank Ferrara	...	Boomer #3
Marv Albert	...	Sports Announcer (voice)
Ray Woodfork	...	Hood #1
Phil Neilson	...	Hood #2
Webster Whinery	...	Hood #3
Frank Simpson	...	Senior Police Officer
Dodi Kenan	...	Nurse
Reginald VelJohnson	...	Ambulance Driver
Jon Polito	...	Zack
Gene LeBell	...	Red
Michael Ryan	...	Sgt. Sullivan (as Michael M. Ryan)
Jeff Allin	...	Lt. Fox
Will Jeffries	...	Young Captain
Sebastian Ligarde	...	Pvt. Johnson
Roger Cudney	...	Captain Young
Duane Clark	...	Logger (as Duane B. Clark)
John Christianson	...	Logger
Phil Culotta	...	Soldier Driver
Tom McBride	...	'Jim' in soap opera
Andrew MacMillan	...	'Doctor' in soap opera
Wendy Gazelle	...	'Linda' in soap opera
Suzanne Snyder	...	'Nurse' in soap opera (as Suzy Snyder)
William Hickey	...	The Coney Island barker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pete Richardson	...	Construction Worker (uncredited)
John Sabol	...	Army Sargeant (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
Richard Sapir		(novel "The Destroyer") &
Warren Murphy		(novel "The Destroyer")
Christopher Wood		(written by)

Produced by
Mel Bergman	....	executive producer
Dick Clark	....	executive producer
Judy Goldstein	....	co-producer
Larry Spiegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Safan

Cinematography by
Andrew Laszlo

Film Editing by
Mark Melnick

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins
Amanda Mackey Johnson		(as Amanda Mackey)

Production Design by
Jackson De Govia

Set Decoration by
Frederic C. Weiler

Costume Design by
Ellen Mirojnick

Makeup Department
Frank Bianco	....	hair designer
Carl Fullerton	....	special makeup effects artist
Elvira Oropeza	....	makeup artist: Mexico
Mickey Scott	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Luis Bekris	....	unit production manager: Mexico
Christopher Dalton	....	production supervisor: Mexico (as Chris Dalton)
Jim Kessler	....	post-production supervisor
Jack Roe	....	unit production manager: Mexico
John H. Starke	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Espinoza	....	first assistant director: Mexico (as Richard L. Espinoza)
Alex Hapsas	....	first assistant director: U.S.
Bruce Moriarty	....	first assistant director: second unit, Mexico
Thompson O'Sullivan	....	second second assistant director
José Luis Ortega	....	first assistant director: Mexico (as Jose Luis Ortega)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	second unit director (as Glenn H. Randall Jr.)
Joseph Ray	....	second assistant director
Anna Roth	....	second assistant director: Mexico
David A. Starke	....	first assistant director: second unit, New York (as David August Starke)
Carol L. Vitkay	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Brandy Alexander	....	art director: Mexico
Cate Bangs	....	assistant art director
Benito Cano	....	props: Mexico
Dan Curry	....	computer graphics designer
Antonio Gómez	....	sculptor: Mexico (as Antonio Gomez)
Paul Halligan	....	construction grip (as Paul J. Halligan)
Helaine Head	....	assistant art director
Gerardo Hernández	....	set dresser: Mexico (as Gerardo Hernandez)
Agustín Ituarte	....	art director: Mexico (as Agustin Ituarte)
John R. Jensen	....	art director: Mexico
Woods Mackintosh	....	art director: New York
Juan José Martínez	....	sculptor: Mexico (as Juan Jose Martinez)
Antonio Mata	....	property master: Mexico (as Antonio Mata Duarte)
Tom McDermott	....	set dresser (as Thomas A. McDermott)
Michael Minor	....	art director: Mexico
Arne Olsen	....	construction grip
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Bruno Robotti	....	master scenic artist
Xavier Rodríguez	....	art director: Mexico (as Xavier Rodriguez Gonzalez)
Philip Saccio	....	props
Thomas Saccio	....	property master
Fortino Sanchez Suarez	....	head sculptor: Statue of Liberty, Mexico
Eric Stepper	....	props
Theresa Wachter	....	assistant set decorator: Mexico
Thomas K. Wright	....	set dresser
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	sound editor (as CJ Appel)
Tom Bellfort	....	sound editor
Juan Beltrán	....	sound assistant: Mexico (as Juan Beltran)
Valerie Bryce	....	sound re-recording technician
Scott Chandler	....	sound re-recording technician
David DeCoteau	....	sound editor (as Richard Chasen)
Melissa Dietz	....	assistant sound editor
David Dresher	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Finney	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Howie Hammerman	....	sound re-recording technician
Greg Hedgepath	....	sound re-recording technician
Richard Hymns	....	sound editor
Tom Johnson	....	sound effects recordist
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Kelly	....	sound re-recording technician
Efrén Marín Rojas	....	sound: Mexico (as Efren Marin)
Tim McGovern	....	sound re-recording technician
Michele Perrone	....	assistant sound editor
Priscilla Regalado	....	foley artist
Gary Rydstrom	....	foley artist
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (as James J. Sabat)
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Jim Schelter	....	sound re-recording technician
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Slusser	....	sound re-recording technician
Greg Smith	....	sound re-recording technician
Jenny Stein	....	assistant sound editor (as Jennifer Hodgson Stein)
Mary Sweeney	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Laurencio Cordero	....	special effects: Mexico (as Laurencio Cordero 'Choby')
Douglas A. Degrazzio	....	additional special effects (as Douglas A. DeGrazzio)
Jesus G. Duran	....	special effects: Mexico (as Jesus Duran)
Andy Evans	....	special effects
Harry Stewart	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Pedro Carrillo	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
Robin Grathwol	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts
Wayne King	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunts (as Steve Lambert)
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts (as Bernhard Pock)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (as Glenn H. Randall Jr.)
Walter Robles	....	stunts
Gary Tacon	....	stunts
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (as Michael Vendrell)
Jack Williams	....	stunts
Ray Woodfork	....	stunts
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ralph Brandofino	....	second assistant camera: second unit, New York
Michael Burke	....	electrician
Patrick Capone	....	first assistant camera: second unit, New York
Ken Connors	....	best boy electric (as Kenneth R. Conners)
James A. Contner	....	director of photography: second unit, New York
Don Cook	....	camera operator: second unit, Mexico (as Donald E. Cook)
Adger W. Cowans	....	still photographer
Douglas A. Degrazzio	....	video playback operator (as Douglas A. DeGrazzio)
Russell Engels	....	gaffer (as Russ Engels)
Johnathan Ercole	....	first assistant camera: second unit, New York (as Jonathan Ercole)
Jon Fauer	....	cinematographer: main title sequence
Jon Fauer	....	director of photography: second unit, New York
James W. Finnerty	....	grip
John Finnerty	....	grip
Michael Finnerty	....	grip (as Mike Finnerty)
Jay Fortune	....	electrician
Vincent Galindez	....	second assistant camera: second unit, New York (as Vinnie Galindez)
Ángel González	....	camera operator: Mexico (as Angel Gonzalez)
Juan Iniestra	....	head grip: Mexico
Gábor Kövér	....	first assistant camera (as Gabor Kover)
Adolfo Lara	....	head electrician: Mexico (as Adolfo Lara 'Santo')
Jeffrey Laszlo	....	camera operator (as Jeffrey A. Laszlo)
Jay Levy	....	first assistant camera: second unit, New York
Tommy Magglos	....	camera operator: second unit, Mexico (as Tom Magglos)
George Patsos	....	best boy grip
Antonio Ramírez 'Puma'	....	dolly grip: Mexico (as Antonio Ramirez 'Puma')
Scott Rathner	....	second assistant camera
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
John Smith	....	electrician
David Worth	....	director of photography: second unit, Mexico

Casting Department
Claudia Becker	....	casting agent: Mexico
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Michael Hirshenson	....	casting assistant
Marcia Perskie	....	extras casting assistant: Mexico
Diane Schneier	....	casting assistant
Bernie Styles	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William A. Campbell	....	wardrobe supervisor: Mexico (as Bill Campbell)
Ann Culotta	....	assistant costumer: Mexico
Sandra Culotta	....	costumer: Mexico
Ruth E. Doering	....	wardrobe: USA
Alfonso Govea	....	wardrobe head: Mexico (as Alfonso Govea Estrada)
William Loger	....	wardrobe supervisor: USA (as Bill Loger)
Molly Maginnis	....	assistant costume designer
Walter Rivera	....	wardrobe: USA
Guy Tanno	....	wardrobe: USA

Editorial Department
John A. Amicarella	....	assistant editor
Catherine Coombs	....	post-production coordinator (as Cate Coombs)
John Davidson	....	post-production coordinator
Sigfrido García Jr.	....	assistant editor: Mexico (as Sigfrido Garcia Jr.)
John Haggar	....	assistant editor (as John A. Haggar)
Doris Hellmann	....	post-production coordinator
Susan A. Leahy	....	post-production coordinator (as Susan Leahy)
Betsy Maturo	....	assistant editor
Sergio Ortega	....	assistant editor: Mexico

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor: Metrognome, Ltd.
Frank Capp	....	music coordinator
Lauren McGowan	....	assistant music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)

Transportation Department
Charles Enzen	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Alicia Anthony	....	post-production auditor
Edwin 'Itsi' Atkins	....	location manager
Linda Banarer	....	travel arrangements
Brett Botula	....	location assistant
Guillermo 'Memo' Carreno	....	production assistant: Mexico (as Guillermo Carreno)
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Mario Cisneros Jr.	....	script supervisor: second unit, Mexico
Duane Clark	....	production assistant (as Duane B. Clark)
Stanley J. Corwin	....	executive consultant
Patricia Anne Doherty	....	production assistant
Richard Ericson	....	dialect coach (as Rick Ericson)
Alejandro Ferrer	....	location manager: Mexico
Emily Gamboa	....	production coordinator: Mexico
Gail Geibel	....	production coordinator
Sam Gelerman	....	production assistant
Deren Getz	....	production assistant
Peter Greene	....	production assistant
Anne Gyory	....	script supervisor: second unit, New York
Maureen Hudson-Murari	....	assistant production coordinator
Edward Iacobelli	....	teamster captain
Harry Kopoian	....	airport liaison: Mexico
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal action
Carol Presti	....	production assistant
Ana Maria Quintana	....	script supervisor
Luis Reyes	....	unit publicist
Gene Ritchings	....	customs coordinator
Blanca Rodarte	....	production assistant: Mexico
Chris Ruppenthal	....	creative consultant
Rosalía Salazar	....	production secretary: Mexico (as Rosalia Salazar)
Mike Salisbury	....	title designer: main title sequence
Wendie Siford	....	assistant auditor
David A. Starke	....	location manager (as David August Starke)
Tan	....	martial arts consultant
Donald L. West	....	production auditor (as Donald West)
Wendy Zeitlan	....	travel arrangements
Emilia Arau	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tom Paolucci	....	production staff (uncredited)

Thanks
A.J. Anello	....	the producers wish to thank: Ellis Island site safety director
Robert Cook	....	the producers wish to thank: Burroughs Corporation
Steven-Charles Jaffe	....	the producers wish to thank
Michael Kelly	....	the producers wish to thank: Universal Builders Supply
Lindsley Parsons Sr.	....	the producers wish to thank: Film Finances, Inc.
Margaret Roiphe	....	the producers wish to thank
Paul Sammon	....	the producers wish to thank
Patricia Scott	....	the producers wish to thank: New York Film & Theater Broadcasting Office
Richard Soams	....	the producers wish to thank: Film Finances, Inc.
Kurt Woolner	....	the producers wish to thank: Film Finances, Inc.

Production Companies

• Dick Clark Productions (as Dick Clark Cinema)
• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• HBO Video (1985) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan for Orion)
• Constantin-Film (1986) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1986) (West Germany) (video)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Kabel 1 (2002-) (Germany) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Matte Effects (matte paintings)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  processing (as de luxe laboratories, inc., Hollywood, California)
• Precision Film Laboratories  processing (as Precision Film, New York, New York)
• Group IV Recording  music recording facilities
• Burbank Studios, The  music recording facilities
• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Kaleidoscope Films Group  main title sequence (as Kaleidoscope Films, Ltd.)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as de luxe®)
• Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation  the producers wish to thank (as Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.)
• Universal Builders Supply  the producers wish to thank: Michael Kelly
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the producers wish to thank: Patricia Scott (as New York Film & Theater Broadcasting Office)
• New York City Police Department, Movie and Television Unit  the producers wish to thank (as New York Police Department Movie/TV Unit)
• Film Finances  the producers wish to thank: Lindsley Parsons Sr., Richard Soams and Kurt Woolner (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• Burroughs Corporation  the producers wish to thank: Robert Cook
• Matrix One Fitness Complex  the producers wish to thank (as Matrix One Fitness Complex - Los Angeles)
• Koreana Art & Antiques  the producers wish to thank (as Koreana Art & Antiques - N.Y.C.)
• Puma of America  the producers wish to thank (as Puma USA, Inc.)
• Perseverance Records  soundtrack album
• Pro 7  legal services
• Toyota  sponsoring

Also Known As:

"Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins..." - USA (alternative title)
"Remo: The Adventure Begins..." - USA (poster title)
"Remo: The First Adventure" - USA (poster title)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 (original rating) (cut) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 (2012) (re-rating) (uncut) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dick Clark Productions

Trivia:

Although the Statue of Liberty was undergoing renovation in preparation for its centennial when the film was made, the filmmakers shot on and around the actual statue and its scaffolding as well as on a full-sized replica (from just below Liberty's book to the top of her torch) which was constructed in Mexico City. Because of weather and scheduling, the sequence required additional photography during the summer following the original mid-December (New York) and late-February (Mexico) shoots. Two different locations photographed during three separate time periods illustrates the value of storyboards and thorough pre-visualization.

Goofs:

Continuity: Remo's shoes change from sneakers to thin black slippers before crossing the high wire.

Quotes:

Remo Williams:Hey Macleary, can you dodge bullets?
Conn MacCleary:Only if they come real slow.

Movie Connections:

References Saboteur (1942)

Soundtrack:

Janet

The Greatest Action Flick of All Time!

Remo is the kind of hero this world needs. Dodging bullets, running on water, diving through sand piles, all the things we all wish we could do.

Joel Grey is delivers a stunning presentation of Chiun. A true capture of his character. Every master of shinanju should be as witty as Chiun.

A must see!