Walker (1987)

Director:

Alex Cox

Writer:

Rudy Wurlitzer (written by)

Release Date:

4 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

Before Rambo... Before Oliver North...

Plot:

An unconventional retelling of the life of William Walker, a 19th century American mercenary leader who became the president of Nicaragua.

Plot Keywords:

Nicaragua | Horse | Bullet Ballet | Slow Motion Scene | Cannon

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ed Harris	...	William Walker
Richard Masur	...	Ephraim Squier
Rene Auberjonois	...	Maj. Siegfried Hennington
Keith Szarabajka	...	Timothy Crocker
Sy Richardson	...	Capt. Hornsby
Xander Berkeley	...	Byron Cole
John Diehl	...	Stebbins
Peter Boyle	...	Cornelius Vanderbilt
Marlee Matlin	...	Ellen Martin
Alfonso Arau	...	Raousset
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Muñoz (as Pedro Armendariz)
Roberto López Espinoza	...	Mayorga
Gerrit Graham	...	Norvell Walker
William O'Leary	...	James Walker
Blanca Guerra	...	Yrena
Alan Bolt	...	Don Domingo
Miguel Sandoval	...	Parker French
René Assa	...	Doctor
Bennet Guillory	...	Achilles Kewen
Norbert Weisser	...	Prange
Bruce Wright	...	Anderson
Richard Edson	...	Turley
Karl Braun	...	Bruno von natzmer (as Charley Braun)
Linda Callahan	...	Mrs. Bingham
Milton Selzer	...	Judge
Richard Zobel	...	Lemuel
Renn Woods	...	Alta Kewen (as Ren Woods)
Frederick Neumann	...	Willy Marshall
David Hayman	...	Father Rossiter
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Doubleday
Joe Strummer	...	Faucet
Sharon Barr	...	Darlene
Kathy Burke	...	Annie Mae
Fox Harris	...	District Attorney
Enrique Beraza	...	Corral
Luis Contreras	...	Benito
Ed Pansullo	...	Major Angus
Jack Slater	...	Sanders
Spider Stacey	...	Davenport
Del Zamora	...	Padre Vigil
Biff Yeager	...	Max / Carpetbagger
William Utay	...	Fry
George Belanger	...	Deputy
Zander Schloss	...	Huey
William Rothlein	...	Dewey
David Chung	...	Lui
Paulino Rodriguez	...	Castellon
Dick Rude	...	Washburn
Rudy Wurlitzer	...	Morgan
Bob Tzudiker	...	Garrison
Nestor Mendez Garcia	...	Mendez
Rick Barker	...	Breckenridge
J.D. Silvester	...	Huston
Robert Dickman	...	Company Man
Joe Celeste	...	Jury Foreman
Martin Aylett	...	1st Reporter
Ramón Álvarez	...	2nd Reporter
Raymond Kettless	...	3rd Reporter (as Raymund Kettless)
Tom Collins	...	4th Reporter
Louis Mathews	...	Priest
Dexter Taylor	...	Liverpool
Michele Winstanley	...	Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Helene Farber	...	Streetwalker (uncredited)
Ronald Reagan	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Alex Cox

Writing credits
Rudy Wurlitzer		(written by)

Produced by
Debbie Diaz	....	associate producer
Angel Flores Marini	....	producer
Michael Flynn	....	associate producer
Lorenzo O'Brien	....	producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer
Carlos Álvarez	....	line producer

Original Music by
Joe Strummer

Cinematography by
David Bridges

Film Editing by
Alex Cox
Carlos Puente		(as Carlos Puente Ortega)

Casting by
Miguel Sandoval
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
Bruno Rubeo

Art Direction by
Cecilia Montiel
Jorge Sainz

Set Decoration by
Suzie Frischette
Bryce Perrin

Costume Design by
Theda DeRamus
Pam Tait

Makeup Department
Susan Mills	....	hair department head: USA
Susan Mills	....	makeup artist: USA
Morag Ross	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Chris Brigham	....	unit production manager
Jack N. Young	....	production manager (as Jack Young)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michelle Pinelli	....	assistant director
Miguel Sandoval	....	second unit director
Mary Ellen Woods	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ron Downing	....	property master

Sound Department
David Batchelor	....	sound
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Gary Clayton	....	sound effects editor
Joseph Geisinger	....	sound
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Tim Holland	....	sound effects editor
Mildred Iatrou	....	assistant sound designer (as Milly Iatrou)
Jeff Kliment	....	sound
John Pritchett	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Rocco Gioffre	....	matte artist

Stunts
Gerardo Albarrán	....	stunts (as Gerardo Moreno Flores)
Rick Barker	....	stunt coordinator
J.D. Silvester	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mel Cannon	....	grip
Kenny S. Christiansen	....	best boy electric
Denis Crossan	....	additional camera operator
Steven Fierberg	....	additional cinematographer
Frank Pineda	....	additional camera operator
Tom Richmond	....	additional photographer
Rafael Ruiz	....	additional camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marion Weise	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Chris Maybach	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Dick Bright	....	music arranger
Dick Bright	....	orchestrator
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer
Samuel Lehmer	....	music recordist
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	music editor
Vander Schloss	....	music arranger: guitar
Zander Schloss	....	music arranger: guitar music
Joe Strummer	....	music arranger
Joe Strummer	....	music producer
Joe Strummer	....	musician
Richard Zobel	....	vocal arranger

Transportation Department
Arturo Curiel	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Gary Gillingham	....	production accountant
Karen Mattingly	....	script supervisor: Tucson
Mike Rom	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• In-Cine Compañía Industrial Cinematográfica
• Northern
• Walker Films Limited

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures

Other Companies

• Virgin Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA | Mexico | Spain

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Denmark:15 (2003) | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R16 | France:U

Filming Locations:

Granada, Nicaragua

Company:

In-Cine Compañía Industrial Cinematográfica

Trivia:

Peter Boyle initially turned down the role of Cornelius Vanderbilt but later he accepted and volunteered to do the film free of charge.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: This film is littered with anachronisms (for example: modern cars, color printed magazines and coca cola bottles). However, these are clearly an artistic choice by the film-maker and cannot be considered true 'goofs'.

Quotes:

Cornelius Vanderbilt:No one will remember Walker. No one will remember men who lose.

Movie Connections:

References Sid and Nancy (1986)

Soundtrack:

Onward Christian Soliders

Alex Cox takes on the historic drama.

Walker was both a box office and critical failure upon its initial release, and even though it's not hard to see why (viewers expecting a historic drama played straight, by Cox of all directors, will be sorely disappointed), it certainly deserves to be rediscovered by a whole new audience. OK maybe Cox tries to be "cult" a little too hard for his own good, but that aside he pulls it off surprisingly well. Ed Harris is OK in the leading role but I would have LOVED to see Gary Oldman portray the semi-insane William Walker. If any role called for scenery consumption, it's this one. Watch it for the great Peckinpah-esquire shooting in slow motion, the amusing anachronisms (choppers, computers, Newsweek magazines, Coca-Cola bottles, Marlboros), the general air of absurdity and psychotronic charm, the comedic touches, the political commentary and the great cinematography. Walker is good exactly because it refuses to take itself overly serious.