Air America (1990)

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers (WGA):

Christopher Robbins (book)
John Eskow (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 August 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Tagline:

The Few. The Proud. The Totally Insane.

Plot:

A young pilot finds himself recruited into a covert and corrupt CIA airlift organization operating in Vietnam War Era Laos.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | CIA | Soldier | Vietnam | Vietnam War

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Gene
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Billy
Nancy Travis	...	Corinne Landreaux
Ken Jenkins	...	Major Donald Lemond
David Marshall Grant	...	Rob Diehl
Lane Smith	...	Senator Davenport
Art LaFleur	...	Jack Neely (as Art La Fleur)
Ned Eisenberg	...	Pirelli
Marshall Bell	...	O.V.
David Bowe	...	Saunders
Burt Kwouk	...	General Lu Soong
Tim Thomerson	...	Babo
Harvey Jason	...	Nino
Sinjai Plengpanit	...	Gene's Wife (as Sinjai Hongthai)
Natta Nantatanti	...	Gene's Daughter
Purin Panichpan	...	Gene's Son
Yani Tramod	...	Gene's Brother-in-Law
Chanarona Suwanpa	...	Kwahn
Chet Vimol	...	Tribal Warrior
Wasun Uttamayodhin	...	Nightclub Singer
Meesak Nakarat	...	Nightclub Singer (as Meeson Macakharat)
Ernie Lively	...	Truck Driver
Burke Byrnes	...	Recruiter
Greg Kean	...	D.J.
Roger Welty	...	Ambassador
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Dudikoff	...	General Lee (uncredited)
John Ladalski	...	Air America Pilot (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Spottiswoode

Writing credits (WGA)
Christopher Robbins		(book)
John Eskow		(screenplay) and
Richard Rush		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Eskow	....	co-producer
Michael J. Kagan	....	line producer
Mario Kassar	....	executive producer
Daniel Melnick	....	producer
Allen Shapiro	....	co-producer
Andrew G. Vajna	....	executive producer (as Andrew Vajna)
Jon Jashni	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Gross

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Bloom
Lois Freeman-Fox

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Allan Cameron

Art Direction by
Lek Chaiyan Chunsuttiwat

Costume Design by
John Mollo

Makeup Department
Lois Burwell	....	makeup department head
Tricia Cameron	....	hair stylist

Production Management
David Hamburger	....	unit production manager: Los Angeles
Richard Lair	....	assistant unit manager: aerial unit
Paul Lawrence	....	aerial unit manager
Gerry Levy	....	unit production manager
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor
Gregory J. Smith	....	assistant unit manager: aerial unit (as Greg Smith)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vic Armstrong	....	third director
Ronald Chong	....	dga trainee (as Ronnie Chong)
Garth Craven	....	second unit director
Marcia Gay	....	second assistant director: second unit
Mark Hansson	....	dga trainee
Mike Katzin	....	second assistant director: second unit (as Michael Katzin)
Terry Madden	....	assistant director: second unit
Callum McDougall	....	key second assistant director
Artist W. Robinson	....	first assistant director (as Artist Robinson)
Albert M. Shapiro	....	first assistant director
Sompol Sungkawess	....	assistant director
Marc Wolff	....	director: aerial unit

Art Department
Andrew Ackland-Snow	....	draughtsman
Leon Apsey	....	carpenter
Mickey Bacon	....	props: second unit
Marc Beros	....	painter
Gary A. Brostrom	....	standby painter: Los Angeles
David Bubb	....	carpenter
Penchan 'Pet' Buranasamut	....	assistant property master
Prapan Chamangpan	....	props assistant: second unit
Sanong Chomta	....	props assistant: second unit
Preeda Chuenchorn	....	construction assistant
David Edwards	....	carpenter: UK
Woradej Emlam	....	chargehand dressing props
Ellen Freund	....	property master: USA
Michael Hayward	....	carpenter
Reginald Hayward	....	carpenter
Allan Hayzelden	....	painter (as Alan Hayzelden)
Anukul Hongjaras	....	construction assistant
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	construction: Los Angeles
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter
Gordon Izod	....	plasterer
Boriboon Jarurongka	....	props assistant: second unit
Derek Knowler	....	props storeman
Banchong Limtong	....	props assistant
Giles Masters	....	assistant art director
Dave Midson	....	chargehand dressing prop
Charles Nixon III	....	leadman: Los Angeles
Andrew Palmer	....	dressing props (as Andy Palmer)
John Palmer	....	chargehand dressing props
John Paterson	....	construction manager
Apichart Pougjundang	....	chargehand dressing props
Mickey Pugh	....	chargehand props standby
Bunthaun Puntumma	....	plasterer
Sawang Punwat	....	plasterer
Eric Regan	....	painter
Kud Rutanaphibatn	....	props assistant
Visit Sathirakorn	....	construction assistant
Brad Shoemaker	....	propmaker
David Skinner	....	rigger
Thongin Thongnarin	....	plasterer
Tawee Torchiua	....	painter
John Wells	....	stand-by props
Terry Wells	....	dressing props
David Williams	....	rigger (as Dave Williams)
Roger Willis	....	carpenter
Ron Woods	....	assistant property master: Los Angeles

Sound Department
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer
Karen Baker Landers	....	first assistant sound editor (as Karen M. Baker)
David Baldwin	....	sound effects editor
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound designer
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	dolby consultant (as Tom Ehle)
Avram D. Gold	....	adr editor
Devon Heffley Curry	....	adr supervisor
Simon Kaye	....	sound mixer
Larry Kemp	....	dialogue supervisor
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor (as Mark A. Lanza)
Glenn T. Morgan	....	dialogue editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production sound supervisor
Sandy Buchanan	....	post-production sound assistant (uncredited)
Allen Hurd	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Neil Corbould	....	special effects senior technician
Terence J. Cox	....	special effects senior technician
Michael Dawson	....	special effects technician
Peter Fern	....	special effects technician
George Gibbs	....	special effects supervisor
Sasisupa Sungvaribud	....	special effects coordinator: Thailand
Lee Winter	....	gimbal operator

Visual Effects by
Robert Dawson	....	main title sequence
Rob Dickinson	....	matte plates
Dennis Game	....	processing
Bill Hansard Jr.	....	hansard process coordinator (as William Hansard Jr.)
John Hansard	....	hansard process second engineer
Robert Hansard	....	hansard process first engineer (as Robert C. Hansard)
Richard Pilmore	....	processing
Roy Field	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Dickey Beer	....	stunts
Jake Brake	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunts
Simon Crane	....	stunt double: Mr. Gibson
Simon Crane	....	stunts
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts
Vince Deadrick Jr.	....	stunts
Ronnie Dunnett	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Dana Dru Evenson	....	stunts (as Dana Evenson)
Ralph Garrett	....	stunts
Marcia Holley	....	stunts
Robert Jauregui	....	stunts
Jeff Jensen	....	stunts
Peter Kent	....	stunt double: Art LaFleur
Peter Kent	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunts
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunts (as Billy Lucas)
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stunts (as Mike McGaughy)
David Paris	....	aerial unit coordinator
Chere Rae	....	stunts
Burt Reynolds	....	stunts
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts (as Debbie Lynn Ross)
Julian Spencer	....	stunts
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (as Mike Vendrell)
Raliegh Wilson	....	stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunt double: Robert Downey Jr. (uncredited)
Adam Dale	....	stunt camera operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sampong Angkatawiwat	....	assistant camera
Craig Asato	....	second assistant camera: Los Angele
Ray Bateman	....	rigging electrician
Ashley Bond	....	clapper loader
Bob Bridges	....	assistant camera: second unit
Malcolm Brown Jr.	....	first assistant camera
Robin Browne	....	camera operator
Robin Browne	....	director of photography: second unit
David Bryant	....	focus puller
Jerry G. Callaway	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Vincent Clarke	....	rigging electrician
Richmond G. Cogswell	....	video assistant: Los Angeles
Frank Connor	....	still photographer
Daniel Craven	....	video operator: second unit
Adam Dale	....	aerial director of photography
Adam Dale	....	camera operator: aerial unit
Ben Davis	....	clapper loader
Roger Deakins	....	camera operator
Rob Dickinson	....	video assist operator
Kevin Edland	....	best boy electric
Yoav Erez	....	video operator: second unit
Mike Frift	....	camera operator: second unit
Scott Fuller	....	assistant camera: aerial unit
Scott Fuller	....	first assistant camera
Nigel Gorham	....	camera maintenance
Fred Harris	....	python crane operator
John Haylen	....	rigging electrician
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
John Higgins	....	gaffer
Jamie Hitchcock	....	second assistant camera: Los Angele
Angus Hudson	....	focus puller
David Jones	....	clapper loader: second unit
John King	....	python crane operator
Jarun Kotsombat	....	electrician
Ritikron Manonoi	....	assistant camera: second unit
Rittikorn Manonom	....	assistant camera
Simon Mills	....	focus puller: second unit
Stewart Monteith	....	rigging electrician (as Stuart Monteith)
Chris Mortley	....	electrician
Terry Mulligan	....	electrician: second unit
Randy Nolen	....	steadicam operator: Los Angeles
David B. Nowell	....	camera operator
Mark O'Kane	....	steadicam operator
Bill O'Leary	....	electrician
Rob Olckenson	....	video operator: UK
Samroy Paipak	....	camera grip assistant: second unit
Paul M. Pollard	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Joe A. Ponticelle	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles (as Joseph Ponticelle)
Henk Prins	....	aerial camera assistant
Saksith Prinyanoppakul	....	electrician
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Niwat Saiyad	....	camera grip assistant: second unit
Kaew Sawangsri	....	electrician
Nick Schlesinger	....	assistant camera
Nigel Seal	....	assistant camera
Mana Soontirak	....	electrician
Robert Stanley	....	steadicam operator
Ken M. Suzuki	....	best boy electric: Los Angeles (as Ken Suzuki)
Fraser Taggart	....	assistant camera: aerial unit
Robert Toft	....	video operator
Richard Turner	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Somkiai Vituranit	....	electrician
Wai Wanchantuk	....	assistant electrician: second unit
Nikki Williams	....	clapper loader
Scott Williams	....	rigging electrician
Severin Woxholt	....	assistant camera: aerial unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Peter Edmonds	....	set costumer
Barbara Rutter	....	assistant costume designer
Gilda Texter	....	costume supervisor: USA

Editorial Department
Leslie Carlisle	....	apprentice editor
Tim Craig	....	assistant editor
Noori Dehnahi	....	post-production coordinator
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Worawan Ongkrutraksa	....	apprentice editor
Morakot Piyakesin	....	apprentice editor
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Gary Anderson	....	orchestrator
Bruce Barris	....	music engineer
Ed Cherney	....	music engineer
Scott MacPherson	....	music engineer (as Scott McPherson)
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	music supervisor (as Becky Mancuso)
Thomas Milano	....	assistant music editor
Bruce Nazarian	....	score recording engineer
Jeff Rach	....	music engineer
Celest Ray	....	music clearance
Curtis Roush	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music score recording
Timothy R. Sexton	....	music supervisor (as Tim Sexton)
Duane Seykora	....	music engineer
Brett Swain	....	music engineer
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Gary Anderson	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Bruce Nazarian	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Curt Sobel	....	preview music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Art Bauer	....	transportation coordinator
Chesda Smithsuth	....	transport: Thailand

Other crew
Frans J. Afman	....	financial services
Pamela Allen	....	assistant to Michael J. KaganS
Eitan Alon	....	location manager
Michael Barnes	....	legal attorney
Frawley Becker	....	location manager
Tony Bishop	....	engineer: aerial unit
Beryl Brown	....	assistant production accountant
Phao Chailer	....	location assistant: second unit
Srita Cheaodee	....	location assistant: second unit
Tom Clode	....	second engineer: aerial unit
Melissa Cooper	....	assistant to Michael J. Kagan
Tom Danaher	....	pilot
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Patsy de Lord	....	production coordinator
Tongra Deoch	....	location assistant: second unit
Terri Depaolo	....	assistant to Mel Gibson
Joanna Dodd	....	nurse: aerial unit
Ngamta Doran	....	caterer
Cathy Doubleday	....	script supervisor: third unit
Phongtada Duham	....	location assistant: second unit
Ronnie Dunnett	....	ariel coordinator
Sue Field	....	script supervisor: second unit
Asher Gat	....	location manager
Priscila Giraldo	....	assistant to Daniel Melnick: USA
Jill Greenbaum	....	assistant to Robert Downey, Jr.
Mark Hanna	....	pilot
Susie Harmsworth	....	production runner
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist
Harry Hauss	....	pilot
Robin Hollister	....	location manager
Steven E. Housewright	....	production assistant
Krista Johnston	....	clearances
Mario Kassar	....	presenter
Russell John Kern	....	pilot
Cholwika Koomkaew	....	interpreter
David Kurz	....	pilot
Frank Lang	....	pilot
Pat Mccurdy	....	assistant to Roger Spottiswoode
Dean McGill	....	catering manager
Stephen North	....	engineer: aerial unit (as Steve North)
Sally Pardo	....	production coordinator (1990)
David Paris	....	assistant coordinator: aerial unit
David Paris	....	pilot
Piya Pestonji	....	military coordinator
Santa Pestonji	....	executive coordinator: Thailand
Atanit Piamthong	....	caterer
Pamela Poitier	....	location assistant: Los Angeles
Duncan Prentice	....	helicopter pilot
Duncan Prentke	....	pilot
Robert Rabkin	....	production physician
Kris Robinson	....	assistant production accountant
Pairoj Rojlertjanya	....	location manager
Krisrajaata Samorthong	....	assistant to Santa Pestonji
Somchai Santitharangkun	....	location assistant: second unit
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Dave Slack	....	assistant to Daniel Melnick: Thailand
Jiraporn Somsri	....	caterer
Yo Sriprasser	....	location assistant: second unit
Rapin Srisomboon	....	assistant production accountant
Nitud Srisomsub	....	military coordinator
Newat Sumneangsanor	....	crowd organizer
Sasisupa Sungvaribud	....	interpreter
Chan Thananuntasiri	....	catering supervisor
Andrew G. Vajna	....	presenter (as Andrew Vajna)
Surachai Wannasiripaichit	....	caterer
Angela Wharton	....	script supervisor
Chris Winn	....	craft service
Jeff Winn	....	craft service
Beverly Winston	....	assistant to Daniel Melnick: UK (as Beverley Winston)
Marc Wolff	....	aerial unit coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	aerial unit director
Marc Wolff	....	pilot
Lonnie Ramati	....	production business & legal affairs (uncredited)
Kyle Silverman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
B.J. Smith	....	set medic: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Thanks
Mike Katzin	....	this film is respectfully dedicated to the memory of (as Michael Katzin)

Production Companies

• Carolco Pictures
• IndieProd Company Productions

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• AMLF (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Live Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan for Carolco Home Video)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1992) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Live Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• VCL Communications (2001) (Germany) (VHS)
• Avid Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (airing rights) (RTL7)
• Maple Pictures (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• IDA films (2009) (Spain) (video)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (DVD) (Middle East)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Studiocanal Vidéo (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Blowup  stills laboratory
• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recording (as Buena Vista Sound Studios)
• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Entertainment Medical  medical services
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• Grip House  grip equipment
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Michael Samuelson Lighting  lighting
• Michaelson's  catering
• On Tour Productions  aircraft and pilots
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Lao

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | Norway:10 | Finland:K-11 (re-rating) | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R (Certificate #30290) | New Zealand:PG | France:U

Filming Locations:

Santa Ventura Studios, Ventura, California, USA

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to Mike Katzin.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The Laotian hill tribesman who holds Gene at gunpoint speaks the language of the Phou Kan hill tribe, which lives in the area around Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, not far inside Laos.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Richard Nixon:There are *no* American combat forces in Laos.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tosh.0: The Average Homeboy (#2.5)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Right Place, Wrong Time

Good for some laughs.

I enjoyed Air America even though it wasn't the most original story ever told. Mel Gibson is very good in a role that seems written for him. The rest of the cast seem like they are just collecting a paycheck. Some good action scenes spike it up a little but, it's really only good for about one viewing.