Days of Thunder (1990)

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers (WGA):

Robert Towne (story) and
Tom Cruise (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 June 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

You can't stop the thunder.

Plot:

A young hot-shot stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.

Plot Keywords:

Driver | Nascar | Racing | Stock Car | Team

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Cole Trickle
Nicole Kidman	...	Dr. Claire Lewicki
Robert Duvall	...	Harry Hogge
Randy Quaid	...	Tim Daland
Cary Elwes	...	Russ Wheeler
Michael Rooker	...	Rowdy Burns
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Big John
John C. Reilly	...	Buck Bretherton
J.C. Quinn	...	Waddell
Don Simpson	...	Aldo Bennedetti
Caroline Williams	...	Jennie Burns
Donna W. Scott	...	Darlene (as Donna Wilson)
Chris Ellis	...	Harlem Hoogerhyde
Peter Appel	...	Cole's Crew
Stephen Michael Ayers	...	Crewmember
Mike Slattery	...	Cole's Crew
John Griesemer	...	Len Dortort
Barbara Garrick	...	Lauren Daland
Gerald R. Molen	...	Dr. Wilhaire (as Jerry Molen)
Tania Coleridge	...	Russ Wheeler's Girlfriend
Alexandra Balahoutis	...	Autograph Fan
Steve Boyd	...	NASCAR Official
Daniel D. Greenwood	...	ESPN Announcer
Jim Grimshaw	...	Hardee's Pit Crew Chief
James Martin Jr.	...	Field Doctor
Margo Martindale	...	Donna
Michael Burgess	...	Young Doctor
Jim Crowther	...	Dr. Crowther
James D. Henson	...	Doctor (as James D. Henson M.D.)
Cyndi Vicino	...	Nurse
Shari Ellis	...	Nurse
Leilani Sarelle	...	Female Highway Patrol Officer
Xavier Coronel	...	Orderly
Nick Searcy	...	Highway Patrol Officer
Jerry Punch	...	Himself (as Dr. Jerry Punch)
Neil Bonnett	...	Himself
Harry P. Gant	...	Himself
Rusty Wallace	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Ferda	...	Goody's Pit Crew Member (uncredited)
Bob Jenkins	...	Daytona Track Announcer (uncredited)
Richard Petty	...	Himself (uncredited)
Toni Pilgreen	...	VIP in Pits (uncredited)
Anthony Singleton	...	NASCAR Fan (uncredited)
Michael Wayne Thomas	...	ESPN Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Scott

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Towne		(story) and
Tom Cruise		(story)
Robert Towne		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	executive producer
Don Simpson	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Ward Russell		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert C. Jones
Chris Lebenzon
Bert Lovitt
Michael Tronick
Stuart Waks
Billy Weber

Casting by
David Rubin

Art Direction by
Benjamín Fernández		(as Benjamin Fernandez)
Thomas E. Sanders

Set Decoration by
Thomas L. Roysden

Costume Design by
Susan Becker

Makeup Department
Gabriel Borgo	....	hair stylist (as Gabe Borgo)
Virginia G. Hadfield	....	key hair stylist (as Virginia Hadfield)
Rick Sharp	....	makeup supervisor
Sloan Smith	....	hair consultant
Ellen Wong	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Gerald R. Molen	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Helfand	....	second second assistant director
Scott Metcalfe	....	second assistant director
Michael Neumann	....	second assistant director
David Robertson	....	additional second second assistant director
Jason Saville	....	dga trainee
James W. Skotchdopole	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Cliff Bergman	....	propmaker
Ron Breedlove	....	propmaker
Klaus-Dieter Ernst	....	paint foreperson (as Klaus Ernst)
Randy Gunter	....	assistant property master (as Randy R. Gunter)
Ronald C. Jacobs	....	lead person
Sherman Labby	....	storyboard artist
Tony Leonardi	....	stand-by painter
James Lima	....	production illustrator
Joe Lozano	....	propmaker
Brent Regan	....	construction foreperson
Terry Scott	....	general construction foreperson
John Villarino	....	construction coordinator
Mike Villarino	....	general construction foreperson
Gerald Wade	....	assistant property master
Mark Wade	....	property master
Roger Winiger	....	propmaker
Chris Zimmerman	....	propmaker
Clyde Zimmerman	....	paint supervisor
Cary Conway	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Herman McEachin	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	foley editor (as Sandina Bailo Lape)
John Benson	....	sound effects editor
Pamela Bentkowski	....	sound effects editor
James Beshears	....	adr editor
Noah Blough	....	dialogue editor
Irene Bowers	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Burke	....	foley editor
Ed Callahan	....	sound effects editor
Larry Carow	....	dialogue editor (as Larry Carrow)
James Cavarretta	....	sound re-recordist (as James J. Cavarretta)
Midge Costin	....	sound effects editor
David DeGeus	....	assistant sound editor (as Dave DeGeus)
Jay Dranch	....	adr editor
Ezra Dweck	....	sound effects recordist
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
Juno J. Ellis	....	supervising adr editor
John P. Fasal	....	additional sound effects (as John Paul Fasal)
John P. Fasal	....	sound effects recordist (as John Paul Fasal)
Howell Gibbens	....	sound effects editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Cecelia Hall	....	supervising sound editor (as Cecilia Hall)
Frank Howard	....	sound effects editor
Robert Hyams	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Ingram	....	assistant sound editor
James J. Isaacs	....	dialogue editor (as Jim Isaacs)
Ken J. Johnson	....	sound effects recordist
Jack Keller	....	sound re-recordist
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Magill	....	dialogue editor (as Michael McGill)
Victoria Martin	....	supervising foley editor
Harry B. Miller III	....	dialogue editor (as Harry Miller)
F. Hudson Miller	....	sound effects editor
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Ortiz	....	assistant sound editor
R.J. Palmer	....	sound effects editor
Cheryl Pruet	....	sound effects librarian (as Cheryl L. Pruet)
Steve Richardson	....	foley editor
Greg P. Russell	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Christopher C. Schiavo	....	apprentice sound editor
Kenneth Schwarz	....	boom operator (as Ken Schwartz)
Corinne Sessarego	....	adr editor (as Corinne H. Sessarego)
John Sheridan	....	second boom operator
Craig Sims	....	assistant sound editor
Beth Sterner	....	sound effects editor
Marcy Stoeven	....	apprentice sound editor
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Gordon Webb	....	second boom operator
Charles M. Wilborn	....	production sound mixer (as Charles Wilborn)
Karen G. Wilson	....	dialogue editor (as Karen Wilson)
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Sandy Gendler	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Matthew Harrison	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Jack Tucker	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Mark Weber	....	boom operator: second unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Danny Lester	....	special effects crew (as Dan Lester)
Steve Luport	....	special effects crew
Frank Tucker	....	special effects crew
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects coordinator
Al Wininger	....	special effects assistant (as Al Winiger)

Stunts
Tom Bahr	....	stunts
Chick Bernhardt	....	driving stunt double: Tom Cruise
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
William H. Burton Jr.	....	stunts (as Bill Burton Jr.)
Steven Chambers	....	stunts (as Steve Chambers)
Clarke Coleman	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davison)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts (as Eddie Donno)
Alex Edlin	....	stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunt double: Tom Cruise
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (as David Ellis)
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Miller Ellis)
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Steve Holladay	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Hank Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Tony Kahana	....	stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunts
Pat McGroarty	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunt coordinator
John Meier	....	stunts
Bob Orrison	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
J.N. Roberts	....	stunts
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronald Rondell)
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Ric Roman Waugh	....	stunts (as Ric Waugh)
Rhonda Waymire	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Scott Wilder	....	stunt double: Tom Cruise
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Bob Bragg	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gigi Collins	....	stunt double: Nicole Kidman (uncredited)
Allan Padelford	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Greg Sacks	....	driving stunt double: Mr. Cruise (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Barber	....	first assistant camera
Dan Delgado	....	chief lighting technician (as Danny Delgado)
Bill Finger	....	second assistant camera (as William Finger)
Vance Gage	....	dolly grip
Anthony Gaudioz	....	camera operator (as Tony Gaudioz)
Michael Genne	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Genne)
Warren Burke Gerrard	....	electrician (as Warren Gerrard)
Thomas Gibson	....	grip (as Tom Gibson)
Richard Jones	....	grip
John Kirk	....	electrician
Hilary Klym	....	grip
Greg Langham	....	chief rigging electrician
Frank Mathews	....	assistant chief lighting technician
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera
Charles Mills	....	additional photographer
Paul Murphey	....	video assist operator
Allan Padelford	....	hi-speed camera car
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator
J. Michael Popovich	....	first company grip
Gregory J. Schmidt	....	supervising first assistant camera (as Gregory Schmidt)
John Skotchdopole	....	second assistant camera
Larry Sweet	....	second company grip
Robert Ulland	....	Steadicam operator (as Bob Ulland)
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Steve Adcock	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ben Bardin	....	grip (uncredited)
Bruce Bullock	....	electrician (uncredited)
David S. Campbell	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
David S. Campbell	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Chuck Cohen	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
C.W. Fallin	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
John T. Martin	....	car mount grip (uncredited)
Mark Meyers	....	grip (uncredited)
Louis Niemeyer	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Alan Pickelsimer	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: additional camera (uncredited)
Riko Schatke	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bob Scott	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Carl A. Vidnic	....	electrician (uncredited)
Greg Walters	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Craig Fincannon	....	location casting
Lisa Mae Fincannon	....	location casting (as Lisa Mae Wells Fincannon)
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Debra Zane	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Winnie D. Brown	....	costume supervisor
Dawn Y. Line	....	costumer (as Dawn Line)
Alfonso Renteria	....	tailor
Gary Sampson	....	costumer
James W. Tyson	....	costume supervisor
Pat Wilcox	....	seamstress
Lois DeArmond	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)
Wingate Jones	....	costumer (uncredited)
Mark Peterson	....	key costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tony Ciccone	....	apprentice editor (as Tony S. Ciccone)
Daniel Craven	....	apprentice editor (as Daniel S. Craven)
Craig Galloway	....	assistant editor
Ron Lambert	....	color timer
Hope Moskowitz	....	assistant editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Lauren A. Schaffer	....	associate editor
Christian Wagner	....	first assistant editor (as Christian Adam Wagner)

Music Department
Bruce Fowler	....	additional orchestrator
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor
Christopher Kennedy	....	music mixer
Kathy Nelson	....	music consultant for the album
Jay Rifkin	....	score mixer
Shirley Walker	....	conductor
Shirley Walker	....	orchestrator
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dave Amberik	....	driver (as David Amberik)
Steve Bunyea	....	driver
Robert Collins	....	driver (as Bob Collins)
Richard A. Davis	....	driver (as Richard Davis)
Andy DeNicholas	....	driver
John Feinblatt	....	picture car coordinator
Dennis Freudenberg	....	driver
David Garris	....	driver (as Dave Garris)
Judge Harrison	....	driver
Marlo Hellerstein	....	driver captain
Lorin Jordan	....	driver
David Marder	....	transportation coordinator
Billy Ramirez	....	driver
Greg Sacks	....	race car driver
Jim Sullivan	....	driver
John J. Sullivan	....	transportation captain
David Turner	....	driver
Greg Van Dyke	....	driver captain
Doug Wilson	....	driver
Gina August	....	driver (uncredited)
Michael Avallon	....	driver (uncredited)
Joseph Bearman	....	unit driver (uncredited)
Roy A. Grace	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Douglas Aarniokoski	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Todd J. Adelman	....	first aid (as Todd Adelman)
Nan Allendorfer	....	video research
Amy Andrews	....	production assistant
Tiffany Bertolami	....	computer specialist
Michael Bircumshaw	....	production assistant
Nancy Blewer	....	production secretary
Darcy Bowman	....	production assistant
Steve Boyd	....	race car coordinator
Lorion Bunyea	....	production assistant
Beth Cahn	....	assistant: Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson
Deborah Cahn	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Paul A. Calabria	....	animal trainer (as Paul Calabria)
Dan Curry	....	title designer
James Dew	....	animal handler (as Jim Dew)
Daniel T. Dorrance	....	production assistant
Robert Doyle	....	location manager
Kirsten Everberg	....	assistant: Susan Becker
Carolyn Freeman	....	liasion: NASCAR
Sue Frey	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Frank Granado	....	production assistant
Dan Greenwood	....	racing consultant
Pat Hall	....	location contact
Crystal Hawkins	....	assistant production accountant
Tracy Hendershott	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Rick Hendrick	....	technical advisor
Harry Hyde	....	technical advisor
Jimmy Johnson	....	technical advisor
Larry K. Johnson	....	script supervisor (as Larry Johnson)
Karla Kurz	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Ernest H. Lauterio	....	craft service (as Ernie Lauterio)
Andrea Morse	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Vanessa Norris	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Heidi Ann Odum	....	assistant production coordinator
Bob Orsi	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Olivia Patton	....	production assistant
Paul Payette	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Brigitte Prochaska	....	unit publicist
Jerry Punch	....	technical advisor (as Dr. Jerry Punch)
Kenny Rivenbark	....	remote head technician
Greg Sacks	....	race car advisor
Kevin Schmidt	....	production assistant
Jake Scott	....	production assistant
David Thorne	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Allen Tinkley	....	location contact
Diana Tinkley	....	production office coordinator
Jim Turner	....	production accountant (as James Turner)
Jeff Vine	....	production assistant
James L. Wiggins	....	production assistant (as Jim Wiggins)
Brad Wilson	....	assistant: Robert Duvall
Frank D. Woodward	....	caterer (as Frank Woodward)
Jillian Amburgey	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
George Halstead	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer (uncredited)
Denyse Rossi	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Matthew Schmidt	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tony Suber	....	teamster (uncredited)
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1990) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• DGC Records  soundtrack published by
• Fincannon & Associates  location casting
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Inter Video  computer graphics
• North Carolina Film Office  filmed in
• Phoenix Film Office  special thanks
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (analog 70 mm prints) | CDS (digital 35 mm and 70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:10 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1991) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 (w) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating) | UK:12A (theatrical re-release) (re-rating) (2013)

Filming Locations:

Bristol, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Trivia:

In an effort to give a more realistic atmosphere, professional racing broadcasters were brought in to play the broadcast reporters and track announcers. Key among these were members of ESPN's racing crew, including booth announcer Bob Jenkins and pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the opening sequence of the movie, if you watch carefully, you will see a Busch Grand National series official inspecting a car. The Daytona 500 is a Winston Cup event.

Quotes:

Dr. Claire Lewicki:Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac. Nobody knows what's gonna happen next: not on a freeway, not in an airplane, not inside our own bodies and certainly not on a racetrack with 40 other infantile egomaniacs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Saturdays of Thunder (#3.9)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

SHOW ME HEAVEN

Cruise goes with what works

This movie is basically paying homage to Top Gun. The same team that made that movie a success got together to create another pumped up movie.

Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a very cocky and smooth indy car driver that lost his ride and decided to head to NASCAR with team owner Tim Daland,(Randy Quaid), and be coached by legendary crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall). During the Daytona 500 Cole and nemesis Rowdy Burns are involved in a nasty wreck that hospitalizes both of them and threaten to end their careers. They become friends but Cole realizes his mortality and must overcome it if he is to ever race effectively again.

This has better romantic chemistry than Top Gun. Due in part to the fact that Cruise and Kidman really were attracted to each other and we know the rest is history. The action scenes are great and filmed superbly. It's also a very loud movie. It received an Oscar nomination for best sound. It's just another mindless action movie to help relieve boredom. 7 out of 10.