The Manhattan Project (1986)

Director:

Marshall Brickman

Writers:

Marshall Brickman (written by) &
Thomas Baum (written by)

Release Date:

13 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Paul Stevens' high school science project has gotten a little out of hand. He just built an atomic bomb. Now he's got 11 hours to make sure it doesn't work.

Plot:

A teen and his girlfriend make an atomic bomb with plutonium stolen from a scientist dating his mother. |

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Plutonium | Atomic Bomb | Science Fair | Teen

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Lithgow	...	John Mathewson
Richard Council	...	Government
Robert Schenkkan	...	Government Aide
Paul Austin	...	General
Adrian Sparks	...	Scientist
Curt Dempster	...	Scientist
Bran Ferren	...	Lab Assistant
Christopher Collet	...	Paul Stephens
Jill Eikenberry	...	Elizabeth Stephens
Cynthia Nixon	...	Jenny Anderman
Gregg Edelman	...	Science Teacher
Abraham Unger	...	Roland (as Abe Unger)
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Max (as Robert Leonard)
David Quinn	...	Tennis
Geoffrey Nauffts	...	Craig
Katherine Hiler	...	Emma
Trey Cummins	...	Terry
Steve Borton	...	Local FBI
Harlan Cary Poe	...	Local FBI
Ned Schmidtke	...	Jenny's Parent
Sarah Burke	...	Jenny's Parent
Allen DeCheser	...	Jenny's Brother
Arthur De Cheser	...	Jenny's Brother (as Arthur DeCheser)
John Mahoney	...	Lt. Col. Conroy
Fred G. Smith	...	Conroy's Lieutenant
JD Cullum	...	Eccles (as John David Cullum)
Manny Jacobs	...	Moore
Charles Fields	...	Price (as Charlie Fields)
Eric Hsiao	...	Saito
Trevor Bolling	...	Halley's Comet Kid
Steve Blum	...	Laser Efficiency Kid (as Richard Cardona)
Heather Rose Dominic	...	Flirting Kid (as Heather Dominic)
Bruce Smolanoff	...	Flirting Kid
Joan Kendall	...	Registrar
John Doumanian	...	Cabbie
Tom Tarpey	...	Injection Doctor
Roger Caine	...	FBI (as Alec Massey)
Edward D. Murphy	...	FBI
Dee Ann McDavid	...	FBI
Joan Harris	...	Barbara Collins / TV Reporter
Kerry Donovan	...	Kerry Donovan / WBNG News
Ken Chapin	...	Command
Peter McRobbie	...	Electronics
Warren Keith	...	Computer
Bruce Jarchow	...	Interrogator
Stephen Markle	...	Interogator
Al Cerullo	...	Helicopter Pilot
Richard Jenkins	...	Radiation Controls Officer
Sully Boyar	...	Night Guard
Timothy Carhart	...	Relief Guard
Fred Melamed	...	Assay Technician
Warren Manzi	...	Day Attendant
Michael Telesco	...	Day Security Receptionist
Frank Ferrara	...	SWAT
Jimmie Ray Weeks	...	SWAT
William Weslow	...	SWAT
Dan Butler	...	SWAT (as Dan E. Butler)
Steve Zettler	...	SWAT
Richard Caselnova	...	SWAT
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Craig Austin	...	Bus Heckler (uncredited)
Deborah Gibson	...	Extra (uncredited)
Keith Howard	...	Science Fair Kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Marshall Brickman

Writing credits
Marshall Brickman		(written by) &
Thomas Baum		(written by)

Produced by
Marshall Brickman	....	producer
Jennifer Ogden	....	producer
Roger Paradiso	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Philippe Sarde

Cinematography by
Billy Williams

Film Editing by
Nina Feinberg

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Robert Guerra

Set Decoration by
Nina Ramsey
Philip Smith

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist
Tony Marrero	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Lois Kramer Hartwick	....	assistant unit manager
Jennifer Ogden	....	production manager
Roger Paradiso	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ronald M. Bozman	....	first assistant director (as Ron Bozman)
Judy Ferguson	....	dga trainee
Kyle McCarthy	....	second assistant director
David Sardi	....	additional second assistant director
Chris Stoia	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Sil Avallone	....	construction: laboratory
Carl Baldasso	....	construction: laboratory
Hank Bauer	....	construction foreman
Phillip Cullem	....	construction: laboratory
Tony Gamiello	....	property master
Kip Jackson	....	construction: laboratory
Harry Joyner	....	construction: laboratory
Robert Kohut	....	construction: laboratory
Alan Lampel	....	construction: laboratory
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist
Kevin McCarthy	....	set dresser
Ann Miller	....	props (as Annie Miller)
Robert 'Pete' Miller	....	head construction grip (as Pete Miller)
Lars Pederson	....	construction: laboratory
Richard Pirro	....	construction: laboratory
Paul Pratt	....	construction: laboratory
Jon Ringbom	....	master scenic artist
Siv Sandstrom	....	art department coordinator
Hans Swanson	....	props
Alan D. Webb	....	construction: laboratory (as Alan Webb)
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer
Peter Ydeen	....	construction: laboratory
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Christopher Nelson	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marjorie Deutsch	....	looping editor
Lee Dichter	....	re-recording mixer: Sound One
Michael DiCosimo	....	consultant: Dolby Stereo
Kathleen Earle Killeen	....	assistant sound editor (as Kathleen Kileen)
Vito L. Ilardi	....	recordist (as Vito Ilardi)
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Barbara Minor	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Moyse	....	sound editor (as Michel Moyse)
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith	....	sound editor (as Bitty O'Sullivan Smith)
Dan Sable	....	supervising sound editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor
Diane Schaub	....	assistant looping editor
Reilly Steele	....	adr engineer

Special Effects by
Connie Brink	....	special effects
Bran Ferren	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
John Alagna	....	optical line-up: Associates & Ferren
Myles Ambrose	....	electronics & robotics
Susan Coursey	....	assistant: Mr. Ferren, Associates & Ferren
Topher Dow	....	project coordinator: Associates & Ferren
Robert C. Francis	....	electronics & robotics (as Robert Francis)
John Frith	....	electronics & robotics
Charles Harrison	....	chief engineer: Associates & Ferren
Chester Hartwell	....	electronics & robotics
Martin Hill	....	acquisitions: Associates & Ferren
John C. Huntington III	....	electronics & robotics (as John Huntington)
Susan Le Ber	....	purchasing agent: Associates & Ferren (as Susan LeBer)
Jeffrey Lind	....	electronics & robotics
David McDonough	....	researcher: Associates & Ferren
Mark Napoletano	....	laser systems
Melissa Rice	....	electronics & robotics
Robert Rowohlt	....	optical cameraman: Associates & Ferren (as Bob Rowohlt)
Eric Schultz	....	laser systems
Steven Schultz	....	laser systems
James Shelly	....	general manager: Associates & Ferren (as James N. Shelly)
Caleb Weissberg	....	electronics & robotics
Marjorie Winslow	....	secretary: Associates & Ferren
Ken Wisner	....	mechanical engineer: Associates & Ferren

Stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stuntman
Frank Ferrara	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Russo	....	stuntman (as Michael C. Russo)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Connors	....	rigging gaffer (as Bobby Connors)
S. Karin Epstein	....	still photographer
Neil Fallon	....	video technician
James Finnerty	....	key grip (as Jim Finnerty)
John Finnerty	....	key grip
Richard C. Kratina	....	camera operator (as Dick Kratina)
Richard C. Kratina	....	director of photography: second unit (as Dick Kratina)
Gary Muller	....	second assistant camera
Hank Muller	....	first assistant camera
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator (as Thomas Priestley Jr.)
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer (as Dick Quinlan)
Joseph Trammell	....	video technician (as Joe Trammell)
Robert M. Volpe	....	dolly grip (as Bobby Volpe)
Lance Wandling	....	video technician

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting
Ellen Lewis	....	casting associate
Cynthia Neil	....	assistant extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Holly Hynes	....	assistant costume designer
Daniel P. Lomax	....	costume supervisor (as Dan Lomax)
Karen Whittaker	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kristina Boden	....	assistant editor
Bob Hagans	....	color timer
Bill Johnson	....	apprentice editor
Camilla Toniolo	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Billy Byers	....	orchestrator (as Bill Byers)
William Flageollet	....	music engineer
Orchestre de Paris	....	orchestra: music recorded by
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation coordinator (as Harry Leavey)
James Sweeney	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Michael Alatriste	....	production assistant
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist
Mary Bailey	....	script supervisor
Donna E. Bloom	....	location coordinator (as Donna Bloom)
Selma Brown	....	location auditor
Sam Bruskin	....	studio manager (as Samuel Bruskin)
Sarah Carson	....	production office coordinator
Betsy Gleysteen	....	production assistant
Jessica Gribetz	....	assistant: Mr. Brickman
Liza J. Harris	....	production assistant (as Liza Harris)
Donatella Hecht	....	production assistant
Maureen Hudson-Murari	....	assistant production office coordinator
Charles M. Lum	....	location coordinator (as Charles Lum)
Erin Quinn	....	assistant location auditor
George Sinski	....	location coordinator
Annie Spiegelman	....	production assistant
Jason Walsh	....	production assistant

Thanks
Jim Hensen	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Gladden Entertainment (presents)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cannon Screen Entertainment (198?) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cidif (198?) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Scotia-Cannon (198?) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Toho Company (198?) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cannon/VMP (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Filmayer Vídeo (1988) (Spain) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Lumière Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Video Medien Pool (VMP) GmbH (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Avon Book  book publisher
• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound editing
• Joe Dunton Cameras America  camera and lenses
• Lee Lighting America  location equipment
• Optical House, The  titles
• Sound One  re-recording mixing
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

"Deadly Game" - USA (video title)

Runtime:

117 min | West Germany:107 min (video)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Norway:12 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | UK:12 | Iceland:L | Spain:T | Netherlands:6 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Gladden Entertainment

Trivia:

Several technicians are seen wearing shirts reading "Cayuga" on the back. Cayuga Productions was the name of Rod Serling's company that produced "Twilight Zone" (1959).

Goofs:

Factual errors: Plutonium must be alloyed with another metal (usually gallium) in order to prevent forming allotropes which cause it to crack while cooling. Cracks in the pit would have significant impact in the weapon, and could result in a fizzle (non-nuclear explosion.)

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. John Matthewson:Now, the beta synchrotron sends the electrons through this magnet which bends the course of them down to the reaction vessel. Stay away from that elbow joint. All right. Bran, you want to get that? Now, this is a tunable excimer laser. It's tuned to the exact resonance of the plutonium-239 that's in the reaction vessel down at that end. Now, I think we're all set. Hit it.

Movie Connections:

Features The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975) (TV)

Can't suspend that much disbelief

If the beauty of film is that it encourages us to briefly suspend our disbelief and enjoy experiencing a different world, The Manhattan Project simply demands too much suspension of disbelief to make this possible.

Almost every plot point in The Manhattan Project is an absolute impossibility in real life, even though the dramatic power of this film ostensibly derives from the notion that something remotely like this could really happen. From nuclear radiation triggering detectors without hurting people, to a single rent-a-cop defending an entire nuclear weapons lab, to one teenager doing in a month what took Oppenheimer and company years, to the U.S. military letting national security breaches walk away into the sunset, there is just no way to focus on the story when faced with so many intellectual insults.

On the bright side, the science in the movie is presented well and seems fairly accurate, so it does seem like the filmmakers at least tried to make something special out of an insufficient screenplay. The Manhattan Project is not a terrible movie, but it does suffer from too many inexcusable lapses to be called good. Just like the most realistic character in the movie, this film is a bomb.