Pilot (20 Sep. 1990)

A laboratory accident endows a police scientist with the ability to move at superhuman speed which he uses to battle a menacing gang as a superhero.

Director:

Robert Iscove

Writers:

Paul De Meo (developer), Danny Bilson (developer),

Stars:

John Wesley Shipp, Amanda Pays, Alex Désert

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Wesley Shipp	...	Barry Allen / The Flash
Amanda Pays	...	Christina 'Tina' McGee
Alex Désert	...	Julio Mendez (as Alex Desert)
Paula Marshall	...	Iris West
Michael Nader	...	Nicholas Pike
Tim Thomerson	...	Jay Allen
Priscilla Pointer	...	Nora Allen
Lycia Naff	...	Lila
Richard Belzer	...	Joe Kline
Robert Hooks	...	Chief Arthur Cooper
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Henry Allen
Patrie Allen	...	Eve Allen
Biff Manard	...	Officer Michael Murphy
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Officer Tony Bellows
Wayne Pére	...	Rick

Storyline

Barry Allen, crime lab detective, is transformed into the Flash, the fastest man alive, and takes on the Dark Riders, a motorcycle gang terrorizing Central City.

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Plot Keywords:

flash | superhuman speed | superhero | dc comics | origin of hero | 

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Taglines:

His justice is fast. And furious.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

WB Home Entertainment [us] DVD site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1990 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 14, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pet Fly Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Barry Allen's older brother's name is Jay. Jay Garrick was the original Flash in the comic books.

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Goofs

The building used in the prison scene is one that is wholly inadequate for its purpose. Chief Cooper refers to the inmates as "...serial killers, hit men and the worst scum on earth...", yet there are corridors with large windows with unreinforced glass; interior scenes show as many as six occupants per cell and mixed male and female populations in the same cell block. Furthermore, Pike is able to shoot out the lock on an access tunnel with one shot. None of these conditions would be considered adequate for a prison holding the kinds of criminals the chief described.

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Quotes

Barry Allen: Listen, my skin isn't affected by speed, do I really need to wear this thing?
Christina 'Tina' McGee: Well, if your clothes keep falling apart, it's either this, or you can run buck naked.
Barry Allen: Oh, thank you.

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Connections

Version of The Flash (1990)

User Reviews

Cheesy, But Nice Way To Portray A Comic Book Hero

Even though this film had a B-quality feel to it throughout, I liked it. For a lighthearted story about a cartoon character, maybe this is the way it ought to be done, at least in spirit. All this dark stuff with blood, guts and tons of profanity isn't the way most of us look at cartoon heroes.

I saw this on tape and I'm hoping the DVD, if I ever get it, has improved sound. The Flash, who is here-and-there "in a flash," needs good surround sound to go with the special- effects, and the tape didn't have it. I could more easily put up with the amateurish dialog.

The movie has charm, however, because of the added comedy mixed in with the action, and the likable hero, portrayed by John Wesley Shipp. I liked the female lead, too, played by the pretty Amanda Pays.

This is nothing spectacular, by any means, but a fun, harmless and entertaining hour-and-a- half.