Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer:

Shane Black (written by)

Release Date:

6 March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

If these two can learn to stand each other... the bad guys don't stand a chance.

Plot:

A veteran cop, Murtaugh, is partnered with a young suicidal cop, Riggs. Both having one thing in common; hating working in pairs. Now they must learn to work with one another to stop a gang of drug smugglers.

Plot Keywords:

Suicidal | Police | Drugs | Death | Vietnam

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Martin Riggs
Danny Glover	...	Roger Murtaugh
Gary Busey	...	Joshua
Mitch Ryan	...	The General (as Mitchell Ryan)
Tom Atkins	...	Michael Hunsaker
Darlene Love	...	Trish Murtaugh
Traci Wolfe	...	Rianne Murtaugh
Jackie Swanson	...	Amanda Hunsaker
Damon Hines	...	Nick Murtaugh
Ebonie Smith	...	Carrie Murtaugh
Bill Kalmenson	...	Beat Cop
Lycia Naff	...	Dixie
Patrick Cameron	...	Cop #1
Don Gordon	...	Cop #2
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Drug Dealer #1
Jason Ronard	...	Drug Dealer #2
Blackie Dammett	...	Drug Dealer #3
Gail Bowman	...	Cop
Robert Fol	...	Cop
Selma Archerd	...	Policewoman
Richard B. Whitaker	...	Police Officer
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Psychologist
Steve Kahan	...	Capt. Ed Murphy
Jack Thibeau	...	McCaskey
Grand L. Bush	...	Boyette (as Grand Bush)
Ed O'Ross	...	Mendez
Gustav Vintas	...	Gustaf
Paul Tuerpe	...	Mercenary
Chad Hayes	...	Mercenary
Chris D. Jardins	...	Mercenary
Sven-Ole Thorsen	...	Mercenary (as Sven Thorsen)
Peter DuPont	...	Mercenary
Gilles Kohler	...	Mercenary
Cedric Adams	...	Mercenary
Jim J. Poslof	...	Mercenary (as James Poslof)
Al Leong	...	Endo
Michael Shaner	...	McCleary
Natalie Zimmerman	...	Patrol Cop
Deborah Dismukes	...	Blonde on Bike
Cheryl Baker	...	Girl in Shower #1
Terri Lynn Doss	...	Girl in Shower #2
Sharon K. Brecke	...	Girl in Shower #3
Donald Gooden	...	Alfred
Alphonse Philippe Mouzon	...	Alfred's Friend #1
Shaun Hunter	...	Alfred's Friend #2
Lenny Juliano	...	Patrol Cop
Henry Brown	...	Plainclothes Cop
Brian Strohm	...	Family Friend
Teresa Kadotani	...	Hooker
Frank Reinhard	...	Beat Cop
John O'Neill	...	Police Officer in Car #1
Tom Noga	...	Police Officer in Car #2
Burbank the Cat	...	Burbank the Cat
Sam the Dog	...	Sam the Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Larry Clardy	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Renée Estevez	...	Underage Hooker (uncredited)
Mic Rodgers	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Joan Severance	...	Girl in Black Playsuit (uncredited)
Norman D. Wilson	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Donner

Writing credits
Shane Black		(written by)

Produced by
Richard Donner	....	producer
Jennie Lew Tugend	....	associate producer (as Jennie Lew)
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Clapton
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Stephen Goldblatt		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Mary Malin

Makeup Department
Paul Abascal	....	hair stylist
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup artist (as Scott Eddo)
K.G. Ramsey	....	hair style creator: Mel Gibson (as Ramsey)

Production Management
Steve Perry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Miller	....	second assistant director (as Terry Miller Jr.)
Benjamin Rosenberg	....	first assistant director
Willie E. Simmons Jr.	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Eva Anna Andry	....	assistant art director (as Eva Bohn)
Mario Castillo	....	swing gang
Oscar Delgadillo	....	swing gang
Jack Eberhart	....	lead person
Joyce Gordon	....	swing gang
Jaymes Hinkle	....	standby painter (as Jimmie J. Hinkle)
Ron Morales	....	labor foreman
Erik L. Nelson	....	property master (as Erik Nelson)
James F. Orendorff	....	construction foreman (as James Orendorff)
Virginia L. Randolph	....	assistant art director
Bob Santaella	....	swing gang
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
Leslie Warren-Smith	....	art department researcher
Michael Denering	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Sherrie Bayer Burke	....	assistant sound editor
Milton C. Burrow	....	sound editor
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
Gordon Davidson	....	sound editor
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr editor
Jay Engel	....	supervising adr editor
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Barbara Gandolfo-Frady	....	assistant adr editor (as Barbara Gandolfo)
Dee Dee Goldner	....	assistant sound editor (as Deedee Goldner)
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert Henderson)
David M. Horton	....	sound editor (as D. Michael Horton)
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Bill Nelson	....	production sound mixer
Richard Oswald	....	sound editor (as Richard L. Oswald)
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mychal Smith	....	cable man
Jim Sparks	....	assistant sound editor
Jules Strasser	....	boom man (as Jules Strasser III)
Scott D. Jackson	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Greg John Callas	....	special effects
Joe Day	....	special effects foreman
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects coordinator
Elmer Hui	....	special effects
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects
Bruce Robles	....	special effects
Harold Selig	....	special effects
Jeffrey A. Wischnack	....	special effects (as Jeff Wischnack)
Dick Wood	....	special effects (as Richard Wood)

Stunts
John Alden	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Gregory Barnett)
Bobby Bass	....	stunt coordinator
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Kelly C. Collins	....	stunts (as Kelly Collins)
Monty Cox	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Mike De Luna	....	stunts (as Mike DeLuna)
Steve DeFrance	....	stunts (as Steve M. deFrance)
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (as David Ellis)
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Miller Ellis)
Donna Evans	....	stunts
James W. Gavin	....	stunt pilot (as Jim Gavin)
Diane Hetfield	....	stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Hank Hooker)
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Mark Lonsdale	....	stunts
Dana Mackey	....	stunts
R.W. Martin	....	stunt pilot
Bennie Moore	....	stunts (as Bennie E. Moore Jr.)
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stunts (as Jim Nickerson)
Mary Peters	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Dar Robinson	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ron Rondell)
Keith Tellez	....	stunts
Elliott S. Valderrama	....	stunts (as Elliott Valderrama)
Karl A. Wickman	....	stunt pilot (as Karl Wickman)
Randell Dennis Widner	....	stunts (as Randy Widner)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Annie Ellis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Noga	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Snegoff	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Bales	....	dolly grip
Richmond G. Cogswell	....	video assist (as Rich Cogswell)
Frank M. Holgate	....	aerial photographer (as Frank Holgate)
Frank M. Holgate	....	underwater photographer (as Frank Holgate)
Bill King	....	electrical best boy
Tim McArdle	....	rigging gaffer
Geary McLeod	....	first assistant camera
Ron Peebles	....	grip best boy
Calmar Roberts	....	first assistant camera (as Cal Roberts)
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (as John Shannon)
Stephen St. John	....	panaglide operator
Mike Strong	....	gaffer (as Michael Strong)
Ronald Vidor	....	underwater photographer (as Ron Vidor)
Richard Walden	....	camera operator
Rick Whitesman	....	second assistant camera
Bess Wiley	....	second assistant camera
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Michael Hofstein	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Jeffrey Norvet	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Scott Papenfus	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barry Francis Delaney	....	costume supervisor (as Barry Delaney)
Dallas D. Dornan	....	costumer (as Dallas Dornan)
Paki Wolfe	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Michael Greenfeld	....	assistant editor
William J. Meshover	....	assistant editor (as Billy Meshover)
Bernard Weiser	....	post-production

Music Department
Bruce Babcock	....	additional orchestrator
Chris Boardman	....	additional orchestrator
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Stephen Chase	....	music producer (as Steve Chase)
Eric Clapton	....	musician
Robert Fernandez	....	orchestral recordist (as Bobby Fernandez)
Philip Giffin	....	additional orchestrator
James Guthrie	....	music producer
Michael Kamen	....	music producer
Michael Kamen	....	musician
Michael Kamen	....	orchestra arranger
Michael Kamen	....	orchestra conductor
David Sanborn	....	musician
David A. Stewart	....	music producer (as Manu Guiot)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson	....	musician: tuba (uncredited)
William Ross	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jim Barbarino	....	transportation captain
Don Cannon	....	driver
Vernon Dautenhahn	....	driver (as Vern Dautenhahn)
Cliff Hill	....	transportation captain
Myra Hill	....	transportation coordinator
Ron Kelley	....	driver
Paul Tampourlos	....	driver
Dennis Junt	....	driver: honeywagon (uncredited)

Other crew
Cedric Adams	....	special technical advisor: 'Capoeira'
Julie Adams	....	dialogue coach
Gordon Antell	....	unit runner
Matthew Baer	....	production office aide
Rod Bernsen	....	technical advisor
Lauren B. Caplan	....	production office aide (as Lauren Caplan)
Leah Dunatchik	....	production office aide
Art Fransen	....	technical advisor
Jan Garner	....	production accountant
Rorion Gracie	....	special technical advisor: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Lindsay Hirsch	....	production office aide
Laura Hoffman	....	production secretary
David Israel	....	location manager
Michael Alan Kahn	....	unit runner (as Michael Kahn)
George Luis	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Tom Maslow	....	unit runner
Alvin Mears	....	animal trainer
Katherine Ann Moore	....	unit publicist (as Katherine Moore)
Dennis Newsome	....	special technical advisor: 'Jail-House-Rock'
John Panzarella	....	location manager
Michael Papac	....	weapon specialist
Jim Porter	....	first aid
Spencer Quinn	....	liaison
Jean Paul Riva	....	production office aide
Laurie Ryan	....	assistant: Jennie Lew
Ron Saffold	....	craft service
Tatum Share	....	production office aide
Paula Shaw	....	location manager
Debby Shively	....	production office aide (as Debbie Shively)
Tamara Smith	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Susan Stern	....	production office aide
Michael Thau	....	associate to producer (as Michael Benjamin Thau)
Elaine K. Thompson	....	production associate
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Richard Whitaker	....	technical advisor
Ellen Wolff	....	production office aide
Allison Caine	....	additional voice (uncredited)
Riley Kathryn Ellis	....	development executive (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	dispatcher (uncredited)

Thanks
Dar Robinson	....	dedicated to the memory of

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. (presents) (as Warner Bros.)
• Silver Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• ELKE (1987) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (1987) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Entertainment Canada Inc.)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1996) (1997) (2002) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nelonen (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrews (1999) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• SubTV (2002) (2007) (2010) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (Germany)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1992 ) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories (uncredited)

Other Companies

• TAJ Soundworks  foley
• Tony's Food Service  caterer
• Sequoia  production equipment
• Pacific Title  opticals
• R/Greenberg Associates  main and end titles
• Vista Group  special thanks
• City of Los Angeles  cooperation and assistance
• BT Industrial Supply  expendables (uncredited)
• Bacchus Media Group  score album released by (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min | Germany:108 min (cut version) | USA:117 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | South Korea:18 (director's cut) | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R (Approved #28496) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | West Germany:16 (director's cut) | West Germany:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) | Finland:K-18 (uncut 1987) | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (1987) | Brazil:16 (1999 re-rating) | Brazil:18 (original rating) | New Zealand:M | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 | Sweden:15 (uncut) (1993) | Peru:18 | Canada:R (Ontario) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2010) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

2817 Via Segovia, Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

According to a June 2007 Vanity Fair article, Bruce Willis was considered for the Riggs role.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the desert, the door on Murtaugh's car is slightly open. When the chopper arrives, the door is blown fully open, but in the next shot it is closed again.

Quotes:

Martin Riggs:What did he mean when he said you owed him?
Roger Murtaugh:We served together in '65. Ia Drang Valley. Saved my life. Took a bayonet in the lungs.
Martin Riggs:That was nice of him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Richard Roeper & the Movies: Edge of Darkness (#1.14)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bell Rock

One of the greatest cop movies of all time!

I've seen Lethal Weapon over 100 times and it just keeps getting better! Mel Gibson plays a crazed cop who teams up with a family cop (Danny Glover). At first, they can't stand each other, but as the movie rolls along, they end up with this type of bond. I'm sure that most people or everyone has seen this wonderful movie. It has plenty of action and violence. I love the chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. And who could forget, Gary Busey, Mr. Joshua, a VERY fitting role for the wonderful actor. He couldn't have been replaced for that role. No one could have done a better job than Busey. Go Gary! I love the end! One of the best fitting scenes in film history. I also admire Gibson and Busey doing their own stunts, and studying martial arts, just to make 4 nights of filming a cult fighting scene for this excellent movie. This one is definitely a winner! If you haven't seen this superb film, then I STRONGLY recommend that you do! Great film!