Assassination (1987)

Director:

Peter R. Hunt

Writer:

Richard Sale (written by)

Release Date:

9 January 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

They were reluctant running mates . . . in a race for their lives!

Plot:

Jay Killion (Charles Bronson) had been the presidential bodyguard, but for the inauguration of the recently elected president...

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Bodyguard | First Lady | Dark Comedy | Senator

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Jay Killion
Jill Ireland	...	Lara Royce Craig
Stephen Elliott	...	Fitzroy
Jan Gan Boyd	...	Charlotte Chong
Randy Brooks	...	Tyler Loudermilk
Erik Stern	...	Eddie Bracken
Michael Ansara	...	Sen. Hector Bunsen
James Staley	...	Briggs
Kathryn Leigh Scott	...	Polly Sims
James Acheson	...	Osborne Weems
Jim McMullan	...	The Zipper
Billy Hayes	...	Pritchard Young (as William Hayes)
William Prince	...	H.H. Royce
Charles Howerton	...	President Calvin Craig
Chris Alcaide	...	Chief Justice
Jack Gill	...	Kerry Fane
Mischa Hausserman	...	Danzig
Robert Axelrod	...	Finney
Peter Lupus	...	TV Announcer
Lori Stephens	...	Female TV Reporter
Beverly Thompson	...	June Merkel
Natalie Alexander	...	Claire Thompson
Linda Harwood	...	Sally Moore
Mihoko Tokoro	...	Reporter
Susan Thompson	...	Journalist (as Susan J. Thompson)
Arthur Handel	...	Barton
John Salvi	...	Platt
Frank Zagarino	...	Secret Service Driver
Tony Borgia	...	Bomb Squad Man
Paul McCallum	...	Sandy Ott
Robert Dowdell	...	Captain Ogilvie - Cappy
Vivian Tyus	...	Maid
Jason Scura	...	Captain Hammond
David L. Bilson	...	Wally Maine
Larry Sellers	...	Indian Joe
Elizabeth Lauren	...	Moonbeam
Lucille Bliss	...	Crone
John Hawker	...	Porter
J. Michael Patterson	...	Conductor
James Frank Clark	...	Locomotive Engineer (as James Clark)
Ed Levitt	...	FBI Agent
Michael Welden	...	FBI Agent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Pinkston	...	Barstow Team Member (uncredited)
Kyle J. Wood	...	Cameraman at White House (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Writing credits
Richard Sale		(written by)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	executive producer
Menahem Golan	....	executive producer
Pancho Kohner	....	producer

Original Music by
Valentine McCallum
Robert O. Ragland

Cinematography by
Hanania Baer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
James T. Heckert		(as James Heckert)
Charles Simmons		(uncredited)

Casting by
Perry Bullington

Production Design by
William Cruse

Art Direction by
Joshua Culp		(as Joshua S. Culp)

Set Decoration by
Patricia Hall

Costume Design by
Shelley Komarov

Makeup Department
Rom Peaker	....	hair assistant
Rom Peaker	....	makeup assistant
Claudia Thompson	....	hair supervisor
Claudia Thompson	....	makeup supervisor
Terri Trupp	....	makeup artist: second unit, Washington, D.C.

Production Management
Barbara Michaels	....	unit production manager: Washington, D.C.
Barbara Michaels	....	unit production manager: Washington, D.C.
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor
George Van Noy	....	unit production manager
Rony Yacov	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terence D. Buchinsky	....	second assistant director
Craig Huston	....	first assistant director
Robert C. Ortwin Jr.	....	second assistant director
Jack Gill	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edwin M. Brewer	....	property master (as Edwin Brewer)
Whitney Brooke Wheeler	....	set dresser (as W. Brooke Wheeler)
Mark Haskins	....	leadman (as Mark A. Haskins)
Mark Heiner	....	property assistant
John Kersey	....	construction superintendent (as John C. Kersey Jr.)
Rodger M. Pitts	....	set dresser
Catherine Schlesinger	....	art department coordinator
Bob Trojan	....	lead foreman
Sharon Viljoen	....	set dresser
Susan Weiss	....	props assistant: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Hala Gabriel	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gary Bourgeois)
Thomas Brandau	....	production sound mixer
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stanley B. Gill	....	sound recordist
Mike Le Mare	....	supervising sound editor (as Mike Le-Mare)
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Anthony Palk	....	dialogue editor (as Tony Palk)
Steve Schwalbe	....	assistant sound editor
Karola Storr	....	foley editor
Jerome R. Vitucci	....	boom operator
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Melbourne A. Arnold	....	special effects crew
John Hixson Jr.	....	special effects crew
Daniel H. Lott Jr.	....	special effects crew

Stunts
John Alden	....	stunt player (as John F. Alden)
Rick Avery	....	stunt player
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunt player (as Christine Baur)
Simone Boisseree	....	stunt player
Debbie Evans	....	stunt player
Donna Evans	....	stunt player
Andy Gill	....	stunt player
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Ed Hamilton	....	stunt player
Al Jones	....	stunt player
John F. McCarthy	....	stunt player
Matt McColm	....	stunt player
Spike Silver	....	stunt player
Charlie Skeen	....	stunt player
Steve W. Stricklin	....	stunt player (as Steve Stricklin)
Mike Tillman	....	stunt player (as Michael Tillman)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gale M. Adler	....	still photographer
Bernard Auroux	....	camera operator
Richard Beeman	....	electrician (as Richard E. Beeman)
Levon Besnelian	....	grip
Mark Buckalew	....	best boy electrician
Jack Cooperman	....	helicopter camera operator
John Dunkin	....	grip: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as John R. Dunkin)
Dan Elsasser	....	first assistant camera
Tommy Frimerman	....	additional first assistant camera
John Fruin	....	grip
William J. Gray	....	second assistant camera: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Michael E. Little	....	additional camera operator
Joe-Joe Presson	....	best boy grip (as Joseph A. Presson)
James Rosenthal	....	gaffer
David Rudd	....	first assistant camera (as Dave Rudd)
John Savka	....	key grip
Steve Seitz	....	dolly grip: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Randy Shanofsky	....	second assistant camera
Josh Spring	....	second grip: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as Joshua W. Spring)
Bob Waybright	....	best boy electric: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as Robert Waybright)
Jonathan Woolf	....	key grip

Casting Department
Dennis Hansen	....	extras casting: second unit, Washington, D.C.

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Abbott	....	costumer: male
Catherine Adair	....	wardrobe assistant: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as Kate Adair-Cowart)
Heidi Freundlich Gilles	....	costume supervisor
Marcie Olivi	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Dennis Brandt	....	first assistant editor
Julie Hall	....	second assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator
Angelo Russo	....	color timer
Andrew Silver	....	first assistant editor
Anne-Marie Vitello	....	negative cutter
Ron Vitello	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Paula Erickson	....	music supervisor
Ken Johnson	....	music editor
Steve Livingston	....	music editor
Bill Jenkins	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Kevin Haynes	....	transportation co-captain: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Jimmy Jones	....	transportation coordinator: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Mitch Masoner	....	transportation captain: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as Mitchell J. Masoner)
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator: second unit, Washington, D.C.

Other crew
Dawn-Leslie Allen	....	production assistant
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	title designer
Joe Benn	....	production assistant (as Joseph Benn)
Carol Flaisher	....	location manager: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Amy Grandrath	....	production assistant (as Amy L. Grandrath)
Mischa Hausserman	....	aerial coordinator
Helene Henderson	....	title designer
Karine Jonet	....	unit publicist (as Karine Joret)
Nicholas Kourtis	....	assistant: Mr. Hunt
John F. McCarthy	....	stand-in: second unit, Washington, D.C.
Jeanne Marie O'Brien	....	production coordinator (as Jeanne M. O'Brien)
Patricia G. Payró	....	assistant to producer
Larry Pearson	....	location manager
Judith A. Strow	....	production assistant
Susan Thompson	....	stand-in: second unit, Washington, D.C. (as Susan J. Thompson)
Mihoko Tokoro	....	stand-in: second unit, Washington, D.C.
C. Ransom Walrod	....	boat coordinator (as Ransom Walrod)
Brenda Weisman	....	script supervisor
Clay Wright	....	helicopter pilot (as Clayton D. Wright)
Deborah Moore	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Howard R. Schuster	....	financing (uncredited)
Bob Wishnefsky	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cannon Group
• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1987) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Future Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Krause & Schneider Multimedia (KSM) (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MTC Video (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)
• Nelonen (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1988) (Finland) (video)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video
• VMP (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1987) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Westlake Entertainment Group (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• World Film Magic Distribution (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• World Film Magic (1987) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pioneer FX

Other Companies

• Associated Film Productions  G.M. Cadillac cars supplied through
• Bell Helmets  thanks to
• Cypress Gardens Ski Equipment  thanks to (as Cypress Gardens Ski Equipment, Orlando, Florida)
• KC HiLites  thanks to (as K.C. Lites)
• Kawasaki  thanks to (as Kawasaki Jet Skis)
• Keylite Production Services  production services and equipment provided by
• Nevada Film Commission  special thanks to (as The Nevada Film Division)
• O'Neill Wetsuits  thanks to
• Regal Boats  thanks to (as Regal Boats, Inc., Orlando, Florida)
• TVC Laboratories  color (as TVC)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  re-recording (as Todd-AO/Glen Glenn)
• Vista Group  Oldsmobile cars supplied through (as The Vista Group)
• Washington D.C. Office of Motion Picture and Television Development  special thanks to (as The Washington, D.C. Office of Motion Picture and TV Development)
• Westheimer Company  main titles and opticals

Also Known As:

"The President's Assassin" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

105 min | 88 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Norway:15 | USA:PG-13 (No. 28296) | Iceland:12 | UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:15 (1987-2005) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) (VHS) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2005) (DVD) (self applied) | Singapore:NC-16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Finland:K-13 (re-rating) (2007) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Penultimate film for actress Jill Ireland. Her final movie would be Caught (1987).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious stunt-double (younger man, different face, darker/differently-styled hair and mustache, etc.) when Killy jumps off the bike to avoid a rocket round.

Quotes:

Charlotte Chong:Are those pants going on or coming off?
Jay Killion:Going on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blood Massacre (1991)

Soundtrack:

March

Unmemorable latter-day Bronson vehicle.

In the twilight years of his career, Charles Bronson forged long-running partnerships with several directors, most notably J. Lee Thompson and Michael Winner. He did two films for one-time Bond director Peter Hunt too - the first being the decent 1981 actioner Death Hunt, the second being this indifferent political chase thriller. Assassination is pretty dull if truth be known, and come the end you'll find yourself longing for something with a bit more passion and pace, like The Wilby Conspiracy for instance (which, plotwise, this film resembles).

Bronson sleepwalks through his role as bodyguard Jay Killian, whose assignment is to protect the American President's wife, Lara Royce Craig (Jill Ireland, real-life wife of Bronson). Killian believes that Mrs Craig has been targetted by assassins; she thinks he's an over-protective, paranoid pessimist. Turns out - surprise, surprise - that Killian was right all along and someone is indeed out to eradicate her. The pair of them go on the run, pursued by the assassins.

Everyone knows that the wife of an American President is known as The First Lady. For some reason, in this film they have renamed her "One Mama"! Quite what the point of this is is anybody's guess, but it's indicative of the film's pointlessness as a whole. Most of the film's performances are lazy, and the script takes a heck of a long time to get to where it's going. If I had to label Assassination within a specific genre, I'd say it is supposed to be a "thriller". I'd say that with some reservations, however, as to say that it's a thriller it has precious few thrills.