Masters of the Universe (1987)

Director:

Gary Goddard

Writer:

David Odell (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A Battle Fought In The Stars. Now... Comes To Earth.

Plot:

A life-action feature film based on the popular cartoon kids show about a prince turned warrior named He-Man.

Plot Keywords:

Key | Castle | Planet | Sorceress | Warrior

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	He-Man
Frank Langella	...	Skeletor
Meg Foster	...	Evil-Lyn
Billy Barty	...	Gwildor
Courteney Cox	...	Julie Winston
Robert Duncan McNeill	...	Kevin Corrigan
Jon Cypher	...	Duncan (Man-at-Arms)
Chelsea Field	...	Teela
James Tolkan	...	Detective Lubic
Christina Pickles	...	Sorceress of Castle Grayskull
Tony Carroll	...	Beastman
Pons Maar	...	Saurod
Anthony De Longis	...	Blade
Robert Towers	...	Karg
Barry Livingston	...	Charlie
Jessica Nelson	...	Monica
Gwynne Gilford	...	Mrs. Winston
Walter Scott	...	Mr. Winston
Walter Robles	...	Carl the Janitor
Cindi Eyman	...	Gloria
Peter Brooks	...	Narrator
Richard Szponder	...	Pigboy

Directed by
Gary Goddard

Writing credits
David Odell		(written by)
Donald F. Glut		characters (uncredited)
Gary Goddard		uncredited
Stephen Tolkin		uncredited

Produced by
Michael Flynn	....	associate producer
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Evzen Kolar	....	associate producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer
Elliot Schick	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Hanania Baer

Film Editing by
Anne V. Coates

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
William Stout

Art Direction by
Robert Howland

Set Decoration by
Daniel Gluck
Mike Johnson
Kathe Klopp

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Robin Beauchesne	....	makeup artist
Lori Benson	....	hair stylist
Angelo Di Biase	....	hair stylist for Mr. Lundgren
Lauren Hartigan	....	body makeup
James Kagel	....	makeup lab sculptor
Todd McIntosh	....	makeup department head
Zandra Platzek	....	hair stylist
Gerald Quist	....	makeup lab foreman
June Westmore	....	makeup artist (as June Haymore-Pipkin)
Michael Westmore	....	makeup designer
Michael Burnett	....	special makeup effects assistant (uncredited)
Lisa Rocco	....	makeup effects lab technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael Alden	....	post-production supervisor
Alan Gershenfeld	....	production manager
Alain Jakubowicz	....	post-production supervisor
Leslie Levine	....	production supervisor (as Leslie M. Levine)
Joe Morrison	....	production supervisor
Elliot Schick	....	production manager
John Weems	....	production supervisor
Rony Yacov	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frederic B. Blankfein	....	first assistant director
Barbara Bruno	....	second second assistant director
John Eyler	....	second assistant director
Gere LaDue	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Nancy Booth	....	set dresser
Lynn Christopher	....	assistant art director
Sharlene Ciraolo	....	lead scenic painter
Edward Eyth	....	concept designer (as Edward C. Eyth)
Ellen Freund	....	property manager
Jean Giraud	....	special designer (as Jean 'Moebius' Giraud)
Joe Griffith	....	concept designer
Allan Johnson	....	carpenter
Andrew Kennedy	....	set dresser
Douglas E. Maxwell	....	lead man
John Hammer Maxwell	....	set dresser
Claudio Mazzoli	....	concept designer
Jimy Murphy	....	set dresser
David J. Negron	....	storyboard illustrator (as David Negron)
Josh Olson	....	art department production assistant
Mary K. Perko	....	art department coordinator
Michael Reinhart	....	construction foreman
Leo Rijn	....	lead sculptor
Rachel Rosenthal	....	production design coordinator
Benjamin Stuart Thompson	....	carpenter (as Benjamin Thompson)
David Touster	....	property assistant
Douglas Turner	....	armour construction coordinator
Ron Woods	....	assistant property master
Curtis Yackel	....	carpenter
Patrick K. Coppinger	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
Anna Behlmer	....	sound recordist
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Steve Borne	....	assistant sound editor
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Callahan	....	sound editor
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mick D'Andrea	....	assistant sound editor
Mary Jo Devenney	....	boom operator
John P. Fasal	....	special sound effects
Stanley B. Gill	....	sound recordist
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Tommy Goodwin	....	adr mixer
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
Doug Kent	....	assistant sound editor (as Douglas Kent)
Elliott Koretz	....	sound editor
John A. Larsen	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Martel	....	foley editor
Marilyn McCoppen	....	adr editor
Harry B. Miller III	....	sound editor
Ed Novick	....	sound designer
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Pettijohn	....	sound editor
Barry Rubinow	....	supervising foley editor
Robert R. Rutledge	....	supervising sound editor
Peter Michael Sullivan	....	adr assistant
Jenny Weyman-Cockle	....	adr editor
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor (as John S. Wilkinson Jr.)

Special Effects by
Arthur Brewer	....	special effects lead
R.J. Hohman	....	special effects technician
Robert Hohmen	....	special effects crew
Daniel Hutten	....	assistant special effects foreman
Ellen Kitz	....	special effects supervisor
Karl G. Miller	....	special effects crew
Malton Right	....	special effects crew
Larry Roberts	....	special effects crew
Paulette Smook Marshall	....	special effects supervisor
Leo Leoncio Solis	....	special effects assistant
Joe Viskocil	....	pyro technician (as Joseph Viskocil)
Yancy Calzada	....	creature mechanics (uncredited)
Edward J. Franklin	....	prop shop (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Susan Alpert	....	model shop coordinator
Maura Alvarez	....	visual effects animation production assistant
Larz Anderson	....	visual effects project leader: swords
Michael Backauskas	....	visual effects editor
Don Baker	....	visual effects camera
Mat Beck	....	visual effects camera
Brent Boates	....	visual effects art director
Laura Buff	....	visual effects special consultant
Mark Cane	....	visual effects grip
Anjelica Casillas	....	visual effects animation production assistant
Glenn Chaika	....	visual effects animator
Dave Chamberlain	....	model shop production assistant
Charles Cowles	....	visual effects optical camera
Philip Crescenzo	....	visual effects: technical supervisor
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects optical line-up
Richard Edlund	....	executive visual effects supervisor: Boss Film Studios
Leslie Ekker	....	model maker
Leslie Ekker	....	visual effects project leader: flying disks
Robert Eyslee	....	visual effects chief lighting technician
Leslie Falkinburg	....	visual effects optical coordinator
Donald Fly	....	visual effects chief financial officer
Meg Freeman	....	visual effects animation production assistant
Deborah Gaydos	....	visual effects animator
Alan Harding	....	visual effects optical camera
Adam Hill	....	moldmaker/caster/fabricator/body impressions: weapons, stunt suit, Boss Films
Robert Hippard	....	visual effects production supervisor
George Jenson	....	visual effects illustrator
Lisa Krepela	....	visual effects animation production assistant
Neil Krepela	....	visual effects matte department supervisor
Mauro Maressa	....	visual effects animator
Mary Mason	....	visual effects production coordinator
Pat McClung	....	visual effects project leader: weapons
Rexford L. Metz	....	visual effects director of photography: second unit
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects editor
Virgil Mirano	....	visual effects still photographer
Michele Moen	....	visual effects matte artist
Thaine Morris	....	visual effects foreman
Bill Neil	....	visual effects director of photography (as William Neil)
Lisa Neil	....	visual effects animation coordinator
James Nelson	....	visual effects production advisor
Eric Peterson	....	visual effects first assistant photographer
Samuel E. Recinos	....	visual effects technical animator (as Samuel Recinos)
Chris Regan	....	visual effects optical supervisor
Pat Repola	....	visual effects head lab technician (as Patrick Repola)
Eugene P. Rizzardi	....	visual effects project leader: battle station
Jon Schreiber	....	visual effects special projects assistant
Nick Seldon	....	visual effects project leader: puppets
James Sleeper	....	visual effects optical camera
Mark Stetson	....	visual effects model shop supervisor
Michael Sweeney	....	visual effects optical line-up
Eusebio Torres	....	visual effects animator
George Trimmer	....	model maker
Patrick Van Auken	....	visual effects grip
Paul Van Camp	....	software programmer
Michael Van Himbergen	....	visual effects coordinator
Garry Waller	....	visual effects supervisor
Gene Whiteman	....	visual effects chief engineer
Terry Windell	....	visual effects art director
Stefanie Wiseman	....	visual effects first assistant photographer
Debra Wolff	....	visual effects editorial production assistant
Matthew Yuricich	....	visual effects chief matte artist
Stuart Ziff	....	visual effects project leader: cosmic key
Jon Macht	....	animation camera operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Bobby Bell	....	stunts (as Robert N. Bell)
Brad Bovee	....	stunts (as Bradley J. Bovee)
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts
Brian Burrows	....	stunts
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts
Danny Costa	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunts
Anthony De Longis	....	stunt double: Mr. Langella
Loren Janes	....	stunt choreographer
Kent Jordan	....	stunts
Clint Lilley	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Brian Smrz	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Buckalew	....	best boy electric
Skip Cook	....	key grip
Rick Davis	....	dolly grip
Dan Elsasser	....	camera operator
Christopher Fenney	....	electrician
Michael Hofstein	....	additional cinematographer
Warren Kroeger	....	best boy
Richard Kuhn	....	best boy grip
Michael E. Little	....	first assistant camera
Robert W. McCarty	....	grip
Ron McCausland	....	key rigging grip
Bob Myers	....	grip
Vince Onken	....	grip
David M. Rakoczy	....	electrician
Brian H. Reynolds	....	key grip
Mark Roemmich	....	grip
James Rosenthal	....	gaffer
Ken Sax	....	still photographer
David Schmalz	....	videographer
Randy Shanofsky	....	assistant camera
Mark A. Shelton	....	grip
Don Tomich	....	electrician
Ric Urbauer	....	best boy grip
John E. Vohlers	....	electrician (credit only)

Casting Department
Renee Milliken	....	casting assistant
Sally Pearle	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Allan A. Apone	....	co-special costume supervisor
John Franzblau	....	wardrobe production assistant
Carol Kunz	....	costumer
Lisa Lovaas	....	costumer
Marcie Olivi	....	costumer
Maurice Palinski	....	costumer (as Frank Palinski)
Joseph A. Porro	....	costumes
Lawrence Richter	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sharon Swenson	....	costumer
Isabella B. Van Soest	....	assistant wardrobe
Mira Zabadowski	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Christopher Cibelli	....	assistant editor
Sam Citron	....	second assistant editor
Helen Hahn	....	negative cutter
James D.R. Hickox	....	apprentice editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator (as Omneya Mazen)
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer

Music Department
Corrie Behrhorst	....	music coordinator
Bill Conti	....	orchestrator
Paula Erickson	....	music supervisor
Ralph Ferraro	....	orchestrator
Stephen A. Hope	....	music editor
William Kidd	....	music supervisor
William Kidd	....	orchestrator
Stephanie Lee	....	music coordinator
Bruce Miller	....	conductor
Bruce Miller	....	music arranger
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor
Joel Rosenbaum	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Rick Winquest	....	music mixer assistant

Transportation Department
John Conte	....	transportation co-captain
Edward Flotard	....	transportation co-captain
Jimmy Jones	....	transportation manager
H. William Miller	....	transportation captain
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Stephen Milburn Anderson	....	location manager (as Steve Anderson)
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	title designer
Denise Ballantyne	....	assistant: Mr. Kolar (as Denise Lanzetta)
Fern Baum	....	development assistant
Arthur Borman	....	production assistant
Bea Ellen Cameron	....	intern
Terri Cardinali	....	design maquettes
Craig Caton	....	creature crew
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Joe De Reis	....	design maquettes
Edward J. Franklin	....	skeletor armory crew
David Gamburg	....	creative advisor: Mr. Lundgren (as David Gamberg)
Brian Gaughan	....	production assistant
Lillian Glass	....	dialog coach: Mr. Lundgren
Adrienne Hamalian-Mangine	....	script supervisor
Bart Heimburger	....	location manager
Michael Hood	....	design maquettes
Michael Hosch	....	lead puppet sculptor
Gretchen Iverson	....	assistant production coordinator
Karine Jonet	....	unit publicist
Laine Liska	....	design maquettes
James D. McGeachy	....	armour supervisor
Rick Nathanson	....	production executive
Robert Pederson	....	unit accountant
Joseph Poma	....	trainer: Mr. Lundgren (as Josef Poma)
Brent Scrivener	....	speciality prop builder
Kyle Seidenbaum	....	title designer
Barbara Slifka	....	armour production executive
Susan Lee Smith	....	production assistant
Joe Straw	....	production accountant
Merie Weismiller Wallace	....	assistant: Mr. Goddard
Claire Wilson	....	assistant: Mr. Edlund
Cynthia R. Woodard	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Golan-Globus Productions
• Edward R. Pressman Film (in association with) (as Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation)
• Cannon Group
• Cannon Group, The

Distributors

• Cannon Group, The (1987) (USA) (theatrical) (as The Cannon Group, Inc.)
• Cannon International (1987) (Non-USA) (theatrical)
• Cannon Film Distributors Ltd. (1987) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cannon Film Distributors (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cannon France (1987) (France) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (2010) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm Print)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1987) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Italian International Film (1987) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (1987) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Scotia-Cannon (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Transmundo Films (1988) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1987) (France) (theatrical)
• Ízaro Films (1987) (Spain) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (1988) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Cannon Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Editora D+T (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• IDA films (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• MTC Video (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (20??) (USA) (all media) (except video rights)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (1988) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Winkler Film (2009) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Boss Film Studios (visual effects)
• Robert Short Productions Inc. (Trooper, Warlord and Centurion armor)

Other Companies

• Blue Light Sound  sound post-production
• Colosseum  soundtrack (Germany) (1987)
• Future Fonts Inc.  titles rendered by
• General Cameras West  lenses and Panaflex supplied by
• Keylite Production Services  production services and equipment provided by
• La-La Land Records  soundtrack (remastered version) (complete score) (2008)
• Lorimar Opticals  opticals
• Mark Baron Company, The  marketing
• Silva Screen Records  soundtrack (extended edition) (1992)
• Title House  titles
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound re-recording
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack (original album release) (1987)

Also Known As:

"Masters of the Universe: The Motion Picture" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:10 | Portugal:M/6 | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Beastman's prosthetic teeth were so large that performer Tony Carroll was unable to close his mouth when in costume. After a while he would begin to drool, filling his chin-piece with saliva and weighing it down.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: A "stone" statue bounces on the floor when pushed over.

Quotes:

Skeletor:The people of Eternia will see you kneel before me, JUST before you die!
He-Man:I'll NEVER kneel to you!
Skeletor:Yes, you will! Yes, you will! Or I shall wreak unforgettable harm upon you!

Movie Connections:

References Ms. Pac-Man (1981) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Waitin' Up

Cheesy but Enjoyable Sci Fi Adventure!

I feel a bit guilty, reading some of the other reviews posted, but I liked MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE! Perhaps because I was never 'into' the cartoon series, I am more forgiving of characters or plot devices left out, and I certainly recognize that it is derivative of both STAR WARS and FLASH GORDON (particularly in Bill Conti's bombastic musical score), but there is so much energy in the film, such abundant confidence in the ultimate victory of Good versus Evil, and such a wonderfully campy performance by Frank Langella as rubber-masked Skeletor that I get a kick out of it, whenever it airs.

Physically, no actor could be more perfect as the hero, He-Man, than ROCKY 4's Dolph Lundgren. At 6'6" (that's two inches taller than JOHN WAYNE, trivia fans!), with flowing blond hair and blue eyes, the 30-year old Swedish actor combined a Herculean physique (if Marvel Comics' "The Mighty Thor" is ever filmed, he would be perfect as the Thunder God), with a knack for weapons that would earn him the future title of 'King' of 'B' action flicks. True, his English was so poor at the time of filming that his dialog was kept to a minimum, but who watches this kind of film for dialog, anyway?

Supporting Lundgren's He-Man is crusty veteran soldier, Duncan (Man-at-Arms), played by character actor Jon Cypher, who makes up for He-Man's taciturn nature by reminiscing constantly about a life in the military (with observations EVERY soldier has made, through history), and his daughter, Teela (pretty Chelsea Field, one of the busiest actresses of the decade), serving as a "Xena Lite" for the proceedings.

Opposing the Forces of Good with the irreplaceable Langella is one of my favorite actresses, Meg Foster, as the sublimely wicked Evil-Lyn, using her piercing green eyes and barely suppressed sexuality to great advantage. With an array of the cartoon's more colorful villains in support of Skeletor and Evil-Lyn, He-Man has his hands full!

The plot involves a tonal 'key', created by a dwarf, Gwildor (screen legend Billy Barty, in an initially irritating, but eventually endearing role), that can transport individuals wherever they desire. Stolen by Evil-Lyn, Skeletor uses it to capture He-Man's Castle Greyskull and it's resident Sorceress ("St. Elsewhere" alum Christina Pickles). With a hidden prototype 'key', Gwildor leads our heroes into the castle...where they are nearly captured by Skeletor, before the dwarf throws together some random numbers, and transports our heroes...to Earth.

The 'key' is lost, as the four arrive on our planet, to be found by aspiring musician Kevin Corrigan ("Star Trek: Voyager" star Robert Duncan McNeill) who thinks it's a Japanese musical instrument! With girlfriend Julie Winston (future "Friends" superstar Courteney Cox, looking young and gorgeous), the pair are astonished by the musical complexities of the device, unaware that each time it is 'played', Skeletor is getting a better 'fix' of it's location. Eventually, our planet is pinpointed, and Skeletor leads an army of villains to subdue us, and capture He-Man.

With great comic support by bald character actor James Tolkan (BACK TO THE FUTURE), as a bewildered police detective, some spectacular 'set' pieces (Skeletor's invasion force, backed by 'Darth Vader'ish music, is a highlight), and an ending that concludes that "ANYTHING is possible", MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE is great cheesy fun!

Certainly, the film is not a classic, but if you accept it on it's own terms, I think you might find it to be a lot of fun!