K-9 (1989)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Rod Daniel

Writers (WGA):

Steven Siegel (written by) &
Scott Myers (written by)

Release Date:

28 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Meet the two toughest cops in town.

Plot:

To stop an elusive criminal, a maverick detective enlists the aid of a police dog who's an unusually intelligent smart alec.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Partner | Friend | Police Dog | Police

Cast

James Belushi	...	Dooley
Mel Harris	...	Tracy
Kevin Tighe	...	Lyman
Ed O'Neill	...	Brannigan
Koton	...	Jerry Lee (as Jerry Lee)
James Handy	...	Byers
Daniel Davis	...	Halstead
Cotter Smith	...	Gilliam
John Snyder	...	Freddie
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Benny the Mule
Sherman Howard	...	Dillon
Jeff Allin	...	Chad
David Haskell	...	Doctor
Alan Blumenfeld	...	Rental Salesman
William Sadler	...	Salesman Don (as Bill Sadler)
Marjorie Bransfield	...	Receptionist
Mark Mooring	...	Cop
Jerry Levine	...	Ernie
Rick Cicetti	...	Waiter
Dan Castellaneta	...	Maitre D'
Wendel Meldrum	...	Pretty Girl with Dog
John Castellanos	...	Man in Rolls Royce
Colleen Morris	...	Woman in Rolls Royce
McKeiver Jones III	...	Sergeant
J.W. Smith	...	Pimp
Dean Hill	...	Butler
Gary Combs	...	Sculley
Steve Artiaga	...	Latino Employee
Lucy Butler	...	Nurse
Vic Cuccia	...	Security Guard
Ralph Elias	...	Officer

Directed by
Rod Daniel

Writing credits (WGA)
Steven Siegel		(written by) &
Scott Myers		(written by)

Produced by
Charles Gordon	....	producer
Lawrence Gordon	....	producer
Lloyd Levin	....	associate producer
Steven Siegel	....	co-producer
Donna Smith	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Miles Goodman

Cinematography by
Dean Semler

Film Editing by
Lois Freeman-Fox

Casting by
Judith Weiner

Production Design by
George Costello

Art Direction by
Jay Burkhardt

Set Decoration by
Maria Rebman Caso

Costume Design by
Eileen Kennedy

Makeup Department
Karoly Balazs	....	makeup artist (as Charles Balasz)
Jeanne Van Phue	....	hair stylist
Meherwan Kandawalla	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
James D. Brubaker	....	unit production manager
Kimberly Cooper	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Brachman	....	second second assistant director
Doug Metzger	....	first assistant director
Don Wilkerson	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Peter Allen	....	set painter
Rance Barela	....	set designer
Nadja Brost	....	art department assistant
John Bucklin	....	swing gang key
Alvin Caldwell	....	labor foreman
Richard Cobian	....	construction foreman
Damon Dennis	....	art department assistant
Jose Escalona	....	laborer
Richard Evans	....	carpenter
Gary Frutkoff	....	assistant art director
William Guest	....	propmaker
William Jones	....	assistant property master
Ron Koch	....	art department assistant
Carlos Kotkin	....	art department assistant
Teri Lane	....	second assistant props
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
Bill Luckey	....	construction coordinator (as William Luckey)
Don Maskovich	....	art department manager
John Maskovich	....	lead man
Douglas McKay	....	swing gang
Damon Medlen	....	assistant set decorator
Cynthia C. Rebman	....	set dresser (as Cindy Rebman)
Mike Reynolds	....	carpenter (as Michael Reynolds)
Woodward Romine Jr.	....	set painter (as Woody Romine)
Gary Towers	....	swing gang
Gregory R. Wolf	....	property master (as Gregory Wolf)
Peter Flynn	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Jay Koiwai	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Michael C. Casper	....	supervising sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Casper)
James Christopher	....	sound editor
Burness Dembrowski	....	sound editor (as Bunny Speakman)
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
Ezra Dweck	....	sound effects recordist
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Donald Flick	....	sound editor
Gil Haimsohn	....	assistant sound editor
Eileen Horta	....	adr editor
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound recordist
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Daniel Leahy)
Andy MacDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer
David R. Poole	....	assistant sound editor
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Curt Schulkey	....	vocals editor: dog
George Simpson	....	sound editor
Steve Sollars	....	boom operator
Don Summer	....	sound mixer (as Donald Summer)
Lee Tinkham	....	foley mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley walker
Sherman Waze	....	sound editor
Cathie Speakman	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Ahmanson	....	effects key: Image Engineering, Inc.
Peter Chesney	....	mechanical effects coordinator: Image Engineering, Inc.
Lenny Dalrymple	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc.
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	special effects coordinator: Image Engineering, Inc.
Bruce D. Hayes	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc. (as Bruce Hayes)
Joe Heffernan	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc.
Emmet Kane	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc.
Dean W. Miller	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc. (as Dean Miller)
Lise Romanoff	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc.
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc. (as Sandy Stewart)
Kevin Swigert	....	special effects technician: Image Engineering, Inc.

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts (as Mike Adams)
Ray Bickel	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts (as Janet S. Brady)
Greg Brickman	....	stunts
Blair Burrows	....	stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunts
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Combs	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gilbert Combs)
Gary Davis	....	stunts (as Gary Charles Davis)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts (as Justin DeRosa)
Jesse J. Donnelly	....	stunts (as Jesse Donnelly)
Richard L. Duran	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts
John Escobar	....	stunts
Cliff Fleming	....	stunts
Ramiro González	....	stunts (as Ramiro Gonzalez)
Allan Graf	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts (as Henry M. Kingi)
Cliff McLaughlin	....	stunts
Gene McLaughlin	....	stunts
Karl Lewis Miller	....	stunts
Bob Minor	....	stunts
Wayne Montanio	....	stunts
Bennie Moore	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts
Chris Saunders	....	stunts (as Christopher B. Saunders)
Steve Vandeman	....	stunts (as Steve H. Vandeman)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Scott Wilder)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Bahara	....	second assistant camera
Levon Besnelian	....	dolly grip (as Levon 'China' Besnelian)
Marsha Blackburn	....	still photographer
Cindy Clark	....	second assistant camera
Don Devine	....	camera operator
Anthony DeVito	....	grip (as Anthony A. DeVito)
Jonathan D. Guerra	....	electrician (as Jon Guerra)
Kim Heath	....	best boy grip
Gary Knight	....	grip
Andre Martinez	....	film loader
Brian McEachen	....	electrician
Kevin McKnight	....	first assistant camera
Eddie Paul	....	grip
William 'Bear' Paul	....	key grip
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	gaffer (as Ray Peschke)
Frank Scheidbach	....	best boy electric
Randy Shanofsky	....	assistant camera
John Shoemaker	....	electrician
Scott E. Steele	....	first assistant camera (as Scott Steele)

Casting Department
Betsy Cohen	....	casting associate
Tina Real	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dayna Cussler	....	costume assistant
Leslie Weir	....	costume supervisor
Karen Keech-Swerling	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Dennis Brookins	....	negative cutter
Harold F. Burke Jr.	....	assistant film editor
Thomas Calderon	....	first assistant film editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Michael Jablow	....	additional editor
Mary Morrisey	....	assistant film editor
Kelly J. Quinn	....	assistant film editor
Frederick Wardell	....	assistant film editor (as Fred Wardell)

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	assistant music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Nancy Fogarty	....	music editor
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Andrew Silver	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Armstrong	....	driver
Ed Arter	....	transportation coordinator
Michael W. Broomer	....	driver (as Mike Broomer)
Vic Cuccia	....	driver: Mr. Belushi
Louis Dinson	....	driver (as Lou Dinson)
Ronald B. Dinson Sr.	....	driver (as Ronald Dinson)
William 'Sonny' Dinson	....	driver
Bob Fish	....	driver
Andrew Mendez	....	driver
Rick Mercier	....	driver
Dan Riportella	....	driver
Mike Shannon	....	driver
Randall A. Small	....	driver: shotmaker (as Randall Allen Small)
Anthony C. Steere	....	transportation captain (as Anthony Steere)
Steve Steere	....	driver
Robert C. Vos	....	driver: Mr. Belushi (as Robert Voss)
Billy G. Arter	....	unit transportation coordinator (uncredited)
Lyle Christensen	....	shotmaker driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Tina M. Arter-Duquette	....	production secretary (as Tina Arter)
Mark Bakunas	....	assistant accountant
Stacey Basoff	....	assistant: Lawrence Gordon
Lisa A. Becker	....	assistant: Rod Daniel
Arthur Betz	....	animal handler
Jason Bloom	....	production assistant
Eric Burdett	....	production assistant
Scott Buzz	....	production assistant
Wally Caddow	....	production assistant
Traci Ching	....	assistant: Lloyd Levin
Barbara L. Decker	....	accounting production assistant (as Barbara Decker)
Mary Delaney	....	production utility
Danny Dempsky	....	caterer
Ward Emling	....	location manager
Zachary Feuer	....	assistant: Charles Gordon
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Christina Fong	....	extras coordinator
David Fulton	....	unit publicist
Gary Gillingham	....	production controller
George Gordon	....	production assistant
John Murry Hastings	....	craft service
Laura Hoffman	....	production coordinator
Robert H. Lemer	....	promotional coordinator (as Robert Lemer)
Bruce C. Lengarcher	....	caterer
Joseph Margiotta	....	production assistant
Hank McGill	....	first aid
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal action
Teresa Ann Miller	....	assistant animal trainer
Phil J. Minsky	....	caterer
Mark Mooring	....	technical advisor: k-9
Steven O'Brien	....	production utility
Thomas Prince	....	assistant: Donna Smith
Lynda Recht	....	production assistant
Steven Reich	....	promotional assistant
Cristine Reynolds	....	caterer (as Christina Reynolds)
Annie Saunders	....	assistant: Charles Gordon
Quentin Schierenberg	....	projectionist
Robin Sheldon	....	production liaison
Bert Shepley	....	location assistant
Rhonda Smith	....	production utility
Steve Sorkin	....	production assistant
Eric P. Steckler	....	production accountant (as Eric Steckler)
Iva Thompson	....	assistant craft service
Kellett Tighe	....	assistant: Lawrence Gordon
Jolie Von Suhr	....	production assistant
Kathryn Weygand	....	script supervisor
Cyndie Williams	....	location assistant
Robert Zides	....	animal handler
R. Ruddell Weatherwax	....	assistant dog trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gordon Company
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1990) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (video rating) (cut) | Germany:12 (re-rating) (uncut) | Sweden:15 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-14

Filming Locations:

Coronado Beach, Coronado, California, USA

Company:

Gordon Company

Trivia:

At the dinner party given by the gangster, there is a butler walking across a room behind a doorway. The butler was Michael J.R. Gill who was working with the catering staff hired for the film. After the filming, he actually served the food used in the scene to the cast and crew. Gill was not an actor, but was actually a real English butler and for seven years was butler to British actor Laurence Harvey, prior to his death.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dooley is chasing the man on the roof of the building, you can see the man's hand on the letter "C" before he attacks Dooley.

Quotes:

Dooley: Alright, let's get one thing straight: The woman is mine! Now we're both members of the animal kingdom. You know that and I know that. And we both know that this thing is really primal. So if you think you're such a badass you just try that one more time and you're gonna end up in a pet cemetary! You remember the movie Old Yeller? You remember when they shot him in the end? I didn't cry! Now come on!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Resident Alien (1990)

Soundtrack:

IKO IKO

An great buddy flick about an man and his new found friend... a dog.

Narcotics Cop Thomas Dooley(James Belushi) is an unusual off-beat person... who loves to work alone. One day, his boss (Cotther Smith) wants Dooley find an new partner. He decides to use an K-9 named Jerry Lee (Koton), who has the best nose for the drug-busting business. At first, Dooley and Jerry Lee don't get along until they share a few things in common. At the same time, Dooley does his best with his love life (Mel Harris) and trying to bust a prominent socialite (Kevin Tighe). Thomas and his new partner are in for a wild ride.

Directed by Rod Daniel (Beethoven's 2nd, Like Father Like Son, Teen Wolf) made an enjoyable if silly cop between an relationship with a man and a dog. Belushi and especially Koton are good in the film. There's some hilarious moments, which this movie is aimed at kids but there's some violent scenes as well.

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an good Dolby Surround 2.0 Sound. DVD features are basically like the original theatrical trailer and cast & filmmakers' bios. "K-9" was an surprise box office hit. But the relationship between a man and a dog came out months earlier in 1989, which it has some of the same premise titled "Turner & Hooch". But i feel that "K-9" is the better film than the other one. But that's up to the viewer to decide. There's some familiar faces in "K-9" in bit parts like Ed O'Neill, Alan Blumenfeld, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Dan Castellaneta (Best Known as the voice of Homer Simpson on "The Simpsons") and William Salder. "K-9" was so popular on video, there was two Direct to Video movies produced... starring James Belushi. "K-9" is a good cop comedy with some genuine laughs. Worth seeing. (****/*****).