The Blood of Heroes (1989)

Director:

David Webb Peoples

Writer (WGA):

David Webb Peoples (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Sport

Tagline:

When juggers play there is only one way to live - THE HARD WAY! - [Australia Theatrical] [Title as Salute of the Jugger]

Plot:

A Mad Max-esque post apocalyptic world provides the backdrop for a brutal, futuristic game resembling football...

Plot Keywords:

Game | Blood | Hand To Hand Combat | Mixed Martial Arts | Skull

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	Sallow
Delroy Lindo	...	Mbulu
Anna Katarina	...	Big Cimber
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Young Gar (as Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio)
Gandhi MacIntyre	...	Gandhi
Justin Monjo	...	Dog Boy (as Justin Monju)
Aaron Martin	...	Samchin Boy
Joan Chen	...	Kidda
Casey Huang	...	Kidda's Father
Quang Dinh	...	Samchin Head Elder
John Doumtsis	...	Samchin Timekeeper
John Biro	...	Samchin Peasant #1
Brian Cawley	...	Samchin Peasant #2
Gino Terranova	...	Samchin Peasant #3
Cecilia Wong	...	Kidda's Mother
David Bookalil	...	Enforcement Officer #1
John Samaha	...	Enforcement Officer #2
Honie Robbinson	...	Kolkan Blond Daughter (as Honie Robinson)
Max Fairchild	...	Gonzo
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Lord Vlle
Lia Francisa	...	Mara
Richard Norton	...	Bone
Basil Clarke	...	Red City Overlord
Jack Clayborne	...	Red City Juggermaster
Dale Brown	...	Caillat
Doug Mealing	...	Red City Timekeeper
Adam Zammitt	...	Red City Street Urchin
Greg Jordan	...	New Qwik
Frank Coorey	...	Samchin Jugger
James Webb	...	Samchin Jugger
Steve Rackman	...	Samchin Jugger
Don Vaughn	...	Samchin Jugger
Stephen Stauber	...	Samchin Jugger
Kerryn Jackson Hyming	...	Kolkan Jugger
Warren Shellback	...	Kolkan Jugger
Lee Rice	...	Kolkan Jugger
Chris Peters	...	Red City Jugger
Josef Schwaiger	...	Kolkan Jugger
Rick Adams	...	Red City Jugger
Jeff Jensen	...	Red City Jugger
Mark Warren	...	Red City Jugger
Guy Norris	...	Red City Jugger
Domonique Gimondi	...	Samchin Musician
Arthur Spinks	...	Samchin Musician
Bruce Wormal	...	Samchin Musician
Barry Canham	...	Samchin Musician
Sunil De Silver	...	Samchin Musician
Trevor Frost	...	Samchin Musician
Ron Jemmott	...	Junk Miner Musician
Trevor Rippingdale	...	Junk Miner Musician
Harry Harman	...	Junk Miner Musician
John Colborne Veal	...	Junk Miner Musician

Directed by
David Webb Peoples		(as David Peoples)

Writing credits (WGA)
David Webb Peoples		(written by) (as David Peoples)

Produced by
Brian Rosen	....	executive producer
Charles Roven	....	producer

Original Music by
Todd Boekelheide		(music by)

Cinematography by
David Eggby		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard Francis-Bruce

Production Design by
John Stoddart

Art Direction by
John Wingrove

Costume Design by
Terry Ryan

Makeup Department
Robyn Austin	....	makeup artist
Nik Dorning	....	makeup artist
Marjory Hamlin	....	makeup artist
Brita Kingsbury	....	hair: second unit
Kerrie MacFarlane	....	makeup assistant
Bob McCarron	....	special makeup designer
Debbie Nathan	....	makeup assistant
Wendy Sainsbury	....	makeup artist
Yvonne Savage	....	hairdresser
Sonja Smuk	....	makeup artist
Lesley Vanderwalt	....	makeup artist
Michael Westmore	....	special makeup designer
Paul Williams	....	hairdresser
Michael Burnett	....	special makeup effects assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Tic Carroll	....	unit manager
Marty Hornstein	....	executive in charge of production (as Martin Hornstein)
Carol Hughes	....	unit production manager
Kelley Smith-Wait	....	post production supervisor (as Kelley M. Smith)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Keith Heygate	....	first assistant director
Greg Jordan	....	fourth assistant director
Guy Norris	....	second unit director
Maria Phillips	....	third assistant director
Adrian Pickersgill	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Adrien Pickergill)
P.J. Voeten	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Ashton	....	carpenter
Michael John Burgess	....	prop maker
Warren Field	....	concept model maker
Justin Fitzpatrick	....	art department assistant
Alan Fleming	....	construction manager
Colin Gibson	....	standby props
Donni Gonzales	....	assistant standby props
Adam Grace	....	model maker
Pauline Grebert	....	prop maker
Paul Jones	....	art department assistant
Fiona Kemp	....	scenic artist
Steve Lyons	....	storyboard artist
Helen Macaskill	....	props buyer
Gerald Marr	....	carpenter
Bob McCarron	....	props design: special animal
Frances McDonald	....	art department coordinator
Jock McLachlan	....	props buyer
Jock McLachlan	....	props dresser
Warwick Miller	....	carpenter
Julieanne Mills	....	model maker assistant
Gillian Nicholas	....	prop maker
Brian Nickless	....	assistant art director
Michael O'Kane	....	scenic artist
Bob Paton	....	construction foreman
Luigi Pittorino	....	draughtsperson (as Luigi Pittorina)
Robert Podhadsky	....	carpenter (as Robert Podhajsky)
David Rutherford	....	model maker
David Scott	....	carpenter
David Stenning	....	carpenter
Michael Tolerton	....	props buyer
David Tremont	....	model maker
Bill Undery	....	scenic artist
John D. Williams	....	props assistant
Michael Wood	....	brushhand
Norman Wray	....	standby carpenter

Sound Department
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Jay Boekelheide	....	sound designer
Jay Boekelheide	....	supervising sound editor
Todd Boekelheide	....	re-recording mixer
Lloyd Carrick	....	production sound mixer
Kim Cascone	....	additional apprentice sound editor
Scott Chandler	....	foley engineer
Cherilene Chen	....	additional apprentice sound editor
Luis Colina	....	foley editor
Clare C. Freeman	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Clare Freeman)
Kristen Gerstner	....	additional apprentice sound editor
Chris Goldsmith	....	boom operator
Danny Kopelson	....	re-recording mixer
Barbara McBane	....	dialogue editor
Devon Miller	....	first assistant sound editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor
David Parker	....	re-recording mixer
Michael Rosen	....	foley engineer
Paige Sartorius	....	dialogue editor
Michael Semanick	....	foley engineer
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Matthew White	....	apprentice sound editor
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Neville Maxwell	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Danny Baldwin	....	stunts
Peter Chen	....	stunts
Mitch Deans	....	stunts
Ollie Hall	....	stunts
Jeff Jensen	....	stunts
Rocky McDonald	....	stunts
Guy Norris	....	stunt coordinator
Richard Norton	....	stunts
Chris Peters	....	stunts
Steve Rackman	....	stunts
Lee Rice	....	stunts
Glenn Ruehland	....	co-stunt coordinator
Glenn Ruehland	....	double: Sallow
Josef Schwaiger	....	stunts
Greg Stuart	....	stunts
Don Vaughn	....	stunts
Mark Warren	....	stunts
James Webb	....	stunts
Sue Baldwin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Yuen	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Breslin	....	clapper/loader: main unit
Gary Carden	....	first assistant grip
Katrina Crook	....	clapper/loader: second unit
Phil Cross	....	camera operator (as Philip M. Cross)
Phil Cross	....	steadicam operator (as Philip M. Cross)
Ian Dewhurst	....	gaffer
Derry Field	....	focus puller: main unit
Martin Forster	....	third assistant grip
Paul Gantner	....	assistant electrician (as Paul J. Gantner)
Frank Hammond	....	director of photography: second unit
Guy Hancock	....	assistant electrician
Grahame Litchfield	....	key grip
Lex Martin	....	best boy
Nick Mayo	....	focus puller: camera b (as Nicholas Mayo)
Robert McFarlane	....	still photographer
Nick Payne	....	third electrician
Mark Ramsey	....	second assistant grip
Adrien Seffrin	....	clapper/loader: camera b (as Adrien Quinn Seffrin)
Lewis Sparkes	....	assistant electrician
Peter Terakes	....	camera assistant: second unit
Peter Stott	....	camera maintenance (uncredited)

Casting Department
Alison Barrett	....	casting: Australia
Nicky Barrett	....	casting assistant
Jeff Block	....	casting assistant
Judith Cruden	....	extras casting
Suzanne Ryan	....	casting assistant
Bonnie Timmermann	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Peter Bevan	....	wardrobe buyer
Tom Collins	....	wardrobe assistant
Kate Green	....	machinist: #1
Kathy James	....	wardrobe supervisor
Helen Mather	....	machinist: #2
Devina Maxwell	....	wardrobe assistant
Kerri Mazzocco	....	stand-by wardrobe (as Kerri Barnett)
Lisa Meagher	....	wardrobe assistant
Liz Neate	....	machinist: #3
Shane Phillips	....	wardrobe assistant
Andrew Short	....	stand-by wardrobe
Peter Thonasson	....	wardrobe assistant
Steven Vella	....	wardrobe assistant
Ross Wallace	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Luis Colina	....	second assistant editor: U.S.
Patricia A. Galvin	....	first assistant editor: U.S. (as Patricia Galvin)
David Grusovin	....	second assistant editor: Australia
Louise Innes	....	first assistant editor: Australia
Richard Ritchie	....	color timer (as Dick Ritchie)

Music Department
Mark Adler	....	conductor: orchestral ensembles
Mark Adler	....	orchestrations
Todd Boekelheide	....	music recorded by
Todd Boekelheide	....	orchestrations
Danny Kopelson	....	music recorded by
Larry London	....	musician liaison
David Luke	....	music recorded by

Other crew
Penny Attfield	....	production secretary
Melanie Brown	....	continuity: second unit
Penny Carl	....	production accountant
Mandy Carter	....	accounts assistant
Evanne Chesson	....	animal handler
Andy Clarke	....	safety officer
Robin Clifton	....	location manager
Anna Deakins	....	production assistant
Gabrielle Dunn	....	production liaison: Sydney
Lee Elliott	....	masseuse
John Faithful	....	caterer: Sydney (as Johnny Faithfull)
Kathleen Herd	....	production liaison: Los Angeles (as Kathleen C. Heard)
David Hutchinson	....	masseuse
Maggie Lake	....	production coordinator
Steve Marcus	....	caterer: Coober Pedy
Maggie McKay	....	nurse (as Maggie MacKay)
Gill McKinlay	....	production accountant
Annie O'Halloran	....	nurse: second unit
Annette Piggot	....	accounts assistant (as Annette Piggott)
Kate Roach	....	caterer: second unit
Alison Robb	....	unit assistant
Ken Robb	....	unit assistant
Arch Roberts	....	safety officer
Salvador Rovero	....	assistant: Mr. Roven
Kelley Smith-Wait	....	production coordinator: L.A. (as Kelley M. Smith)
Dougal Thompson	....	unit assistant
Neal Thompson	....	main title designed by
Jo Weeks	....	continuity
Reel Wheels	....	unit assistant
Valerie Williams	....	supervising accountant
Annie Wright	....	unit publicist
Paulie Zink	....	personal trainer: Joan Chen
Mason Curtis	....	assistant unit manager (uncredited)
Peter Stott	....	projectionist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Kings Road Entertainment (presents)
• Handistom Investment
• Kamisha Corporation

Distributors

• Filmpac Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Metropol-Filmverleih (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Virgin Vision (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmpac Home Video (1990) (Australia) (VHS)
• First Release Home Entertainment (1990) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• VPS Video (1990) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Sidéral Films (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Hopscotch Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (2006) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Moneypenny Services  production accountant
• Tanner, Mainstain & Hoffer  production accountant: U.S
• Body by Jake Inc.  personal training
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  re-recorded at

Also Known As:

"Salute of the Jugger" - UK (video title), UK (DVD title), USA (working title)

Runtime:

90 min | Japan:104 min | UK:99 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 (nf) | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Kings Road Entertainment

Quotes:

Sallow:Play hard, you'll forget the fear.

A forgotten masterpiece

"The juggers are coming!" is a shout that strikes both fear and excitement into the hearts of the villagers. These wretched people, living in the Mad Maxesque world of post-nuclear devastation will now have to defend the honor of their village by playing against a wandering band of Juggers.

This game is the centerpoint of the movie. It's a brutal match of American football and medieval warfare. Both teams will try to get a dog skull on a stake at the opposite ends of a small playing field. Only problem is that only a small, lightly padded player (the Qwik) can touch the skull, and all other players are armed with clubs, chains, mallets and bad attitudes.

Needless to say, the game can get brutal, broken bones and gouged eyes are common enough. But once the game is over, the real insights into the world this movie creates are made. There is no brutal rivalry outside the playing field, only a camaraderie that can stem from knowing what you both have been through. The winners are treated to a feast, no matter how poor the village, for the player's blood has brough some exitement into their otherwise dreary and hopeless lives.

I will not spoil the plot here, but needless to say, the young elements of the wandering band of Juggers, which is led by Sallow (Rutger Hauer), will not long be content to fight in backwater villages for little money and poor entertainment (a village of starving peasants can only provide so much).

On the technical side, this is not a brilliant movie, clearly made on a low budget, most of which was probably spent on actors. But movie itself is a great masterpiece, showing more and more of the "world" in which the Juggers live with every time you watch it. Small things will speak volumes and prove true the old saying: A picture speaks more than a thousand words.

Also the action scenes, while they do not contain the speedy cars and flashy wrecks of Mad Max, are still full of adrenalin and will leave thinking about why the game of Jugging is not played already.