Arena (1989)

Director:

Peter Manoogian

Writers (WGA):

Danny Bilson (written by) &
Paul De Meo (written by)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Sport

Tagline:

For a thousand years no human has been the champion. He wants to be the first.

Plot:

An intergalactic fighting competition between champions of various worlds has traditionally been won by a species much larger and stronger than humans...

Plot Keywords:

Cult Classic | One Word Title | B Movie | Future | Space

Cast

Paul Satterfield	...	Steve Armstrong
Hamilton Camp	...	Shorty
Claudia Christian	...	Quinn
Marc Alaimo	...	Rogor
Shari Shattuck	...	Jade
Armin Shimerman	...	Weezil
Brett Porter	...	Wayne
Charles Tabansi	...	Troy
Michael Deak	...	Horn
Jack Carter	...	Announcer
William Butler	...	Skull
Grady Clarkson	...	Commissioner Dent
Dave Thompson	...	Doctor
Ken Clark	...	Marcus
Diana Rose	...	Space Lady in Nightclub
Cliff Lance	...	Space Comic
Wayne Brewer	...	Vang
George Masselli	...	Fish Kid #1
August L. Lohuaru	...	Fish Kid #2
Steve Wang	...	Sloth
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Schrum	...	Additional Voices (uncredited)
Robert Spafford	...	Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Frank Welker	...	Creature Voices (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Manoogian

Writing credits (WGA)
Danny Bilson		(written by) &
Paul De Meo		(written by)

Produced by
Charles Band	....	executive producer
Debra Dion	....	associate producer
Irwin Yablans	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Band

Cinematography by
Mac Ahlberg

Film Editing by
Andy Horvitch

Casting by
Anthony Barnao

Production Design by
Giovanni Natalucci

Costume Design by
Kathie Clark
Michaela Gisotti		(costume designer: Rome)

Makeup Department
Bruce Barlow	....	special makeup effects artist
Scott Coulter	....	special makeup effects artist
Adam Hill	....	creature effects moldmaker/caster/fabricator/body impressions: Sloth
Carla Indoni	....	hair stylist
Alessandro Jacoponi	....	makeup artist
Federica Jacoponi	....	makeup assistant

Production Management
Roberto Bessi	....	executive in charge of production
Andrea Borella	....	unit manager
Frank Hildebrand	....	executive in charge of production: US
Walter Massi	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victor Tourjansky	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Giacomo Calò Carducci	....	set dresser
Daniela Giovannoni	....	assistant art director
Danilo Del Monte	....	production design assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
John L. Anderson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Barbara Barnaby	....	adr editor
Mario Bramonti	....	sound mixer
Christine Danelski	....	sound editor
Phillipe Estepper	....	foley editor
Giuseppe Muratori	....	boom operator
Lorrie O'Statz	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Perkins	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Renato Agostini	....	special effects supervisor: Rome
John Carl Buechler	....	special creature effects
Michael Deak	....	on-set effects supervisor
Mike Elizalde	....	special effects technician
Jeffrey S. Farley	....	special effects makeup
Screaming Mad George	....	special effects
Patrick Simmons	....	special effects assistant
Steve Wang	....	special effects
A.J. Workman	....	creature fabrication and molds

Visual Effects by
Jeff Pyle	....	modelmaker
David Stipes	....	visual effects supervisor: David Stipes Productions

Stunts
Jeffrey S. Farley	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alberto Anzellotti	....	key grip
Tommaso Bartolozzi	....	electrician (as Tommaso Bortoluzzi)
Fabio Bolli	....	electrician
Sandro Borni	....	still photographer
Marco Carosi	....	second assistant camera
Alessandro Chiara	....	first assistant camera
Nunzio Colucci	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Francesco Cinieri	....	additional casting: Rome

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alberta Favale	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Juliet Avola	....	post-production

Music Department
Jonathan Bogner	....	music supervisor (as Jonathan Scott Bogner)

Other crew
Sergio Bologna	....	production accountant
Marisa Catlin	....	production coordinator
Vicky Herman	....	production coordinator
Annamaria Liguori	....	script supervisor (as Anna Maria Liguori)
Alan Munro	....	special creature design
Renata Paccariè	....	production coordinator: Italy
Gail H. Schacht	....	production coordinator
Debra Spidell	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Empire Pictures (presents)
• Altar Productions

Distributors

• Trans World Entertainment (TWE) (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinéma Plus Distribution (1991) (Canada: Quebec) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (video)
• Konica Magnetics (????) (Japan) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2010) (USA) (all media)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• VPS Film-Entertainment GmbH

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Germany:115 min | 97 min (VHS version)

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Empire Pictures

Trivia:

Finished in 1988, not released in USA until 1991.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the first fight, Vermin tells the corner man to inject the drug into Horn's right arm. But they inject it into his left arm.

Quotes:

Space Comic:Oh, I could stay all night, folks, but I gotta go. A hand for the boys in the band, and remember, I hate your guts!

Soundtrack:

I Love the Barbarian

Better than one might expect.

Effects man John Carl Buechler created over 75 animatronic and make-up creatures for this film, automaticly making this worth checking out. While there's nothing "brilliant" here, the creature effects (witch vary in designs and are generally well executed), acting, and plot (The creature designs being this films highlight) are all on a level of quality you rearly find from a film on this budget, and although this is not a great movie, it is still pretty good.