The Last Boy Scout (1991)

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers (WGA):

Shane Black (story) &
Greg Hicks (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The goal is to survive.

Plot:

A down and out cynical detective teams up with a down and out ex-quarterback to try and solve a murder...

Plot Keywords:

Stripper | Murder | Mob Hit | Shot In The Head | Dancing A Jig

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Joe Hallenbeck
Damon Wayans	...	Jimmy Dix
Chelsea Field	...	Sarah Hallenbeck
Noble Willingham	...	Sheldon Marcone
Taylor Negron	...	Milo
Danielle Harris	...	Darian Hallenbeck
Halle Berry	...	Cory
Bruce McGill	...	Mike Matthews
Badja Djola	...	Alley Thug
Kim Coates	...	Chet
Chelcie Ross	...	Senator Baynard
Joe Santos	...	Bessalo
Clarence Felder	...	McCoskey
Tony Longo	...	Big Ray Walston
Frank Collison	...	Pablo
Bill Medley	...	Himself
Verne Lundquist	...	Himself
Dick Butkus	...	Himself
Lynn Swann	...	Himself
Billy Blanks	...	Billy Cole
Ken Kells	...	Head Coach
Morris Chestnut	...	Locker Room Kid
Michael J. Fisher	...	Wounded Player (as Mike Fisher)
Doug Simpson	...	Wounded Player
Joe El Rady	...	Kid
David L. McMillan	...	Kid
Benjamin Agee	...	Kid
Donna W. Scott	...	Sleeping Party Girl (as Donna Wilson)
Denise Ames	...	Jacuzzi Party Girl
Frank Kopyc	...	Neighbor
Teal Roberts	...	Dancer
Sara Suzanne Brown	...	Dancer
Ryan Cutrona	...	Harp
Eddie Griffin	...	M.C.
John Cenatiempo	...	Main Hitman
Michael Papajohn	...	Hitman (as Mike Papajohn)
Matt Johnston	...	Ponytail Hitman
Edmund Villa	...	Property Cop (as Ed Villa)
James Keane	...	Garage Patrolman
Jack Kehler	...	Scrabble Man
Duke Valenti	...	Jake
Dennis Garber	...	Detective
Manny Perry	...	Cigar Thug
Vic Manni	...	Granddad Thug
Frank Ferrara	...	Milo's Goon
Erik Onate	...	T.V. Crew Member
Robert Apisa	...	Baynard's Bodyguard (as Bob Apisa)
Shane Dixon	...	Baynard's Bodyguard
Rick Ducommun	...	Pool Owner
E. Brian Dean	...	Stadium Guard
Dick Ziker	...	Marcone's Goon
Fred Lerner	...	Marcone's Goon
John Meier	...	Marcone's Goon
Don Pulford	...	Marcone's Goon
Dennis Packer	...	Field Announcer
Gene Borkan	...	Stadium Cop
Kevin Bourland	...	Stadium Cop
Jeff Hochendoner	...	Henry
Steve Picerni	...	Helicopter Cop (as Steven Picerni)
Craig A. Pinckes	...	Presidential Assassin (as Craig Pinckes)
Carmine Zozzora	...	Secret Service Man
Theresa St. Clair	...	Shower Girl
Ed Beheler	...	The President
Colby Kline	...	Young Darian
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert M. Bouffard	...	Police officer (uncredited)
Kristin Coppola	...	T.V. Camera Woman (uncredited)
A.J. DiSpirito	...	Football Player (uncredited)
Anne Lockhart	...	Football Mom (uncredited)
Ray K. Morris	...	Football player (uncredited)
Patrick Russo	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Julie K. Smith	...	Dancer (uncredited)
USC Trojan Marching Band	...	Themselves (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Scott

Writing credits (WGA)
Shane Black		(story) &
Greg Hicks		(story)
Shane Black		(screenplay)

Produced by
Shane Black	....	executive producer
Barry Josephson	....	executive producer
Michael Levy	....	producer
Steve Perry	....	co-producer
Joel Silver	....	producer
Carmine Zozzora	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Ward Russell		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird
Mark Goldblatt
Mark Helfrich

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Brian Morris

Art Direction by
Christiaan Wagener

Set Decoration by
John H. Anderson		(as John Anderson)
Thomas L. Roysden		(as Thomas Roysden)

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance		(as Marilyn Vance-Straker)

Makeup Department
Paul Abascal	....	hair stylist
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup artist
Ellen Wong	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Perry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sean Hobin	....	second second assistant director
David Larson	....	dga trainee
Donald J. Lee Jr.	....	second assistant director
James W. Skotchdopole	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	assistant property master
Rick Chavez	....	assistant property master
Nancy Garber	....	art department assistant
John Hinkle	....	stand-by painter (as John Dee Hinkle)
Ric McElvin	....	lead person
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator (as Michael A. Muscarella)
Eric Orbom	....	set designer
Michael Papac	....	property master
Edmund Villa	....	assistant property master (as Ed Villa)
Ciro Vuoso	....	construction foreman
Theresa Wachter	....	assistant art director
David Napoli	....	props (uncredited)
John Sweeney	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Mike Anderson	....	cable person (as Michael Anderson)
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Wayne L. Artman)
Bub Asman	....	sound effects editor
Tom Beckert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Raymond Bolger	....	production sound mixer
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound effects editor
Greg Dillon	....	sound effects editor
Lisa Dorney	....	dialogue assistant
Barbara Gandolfo-Frady	....	assistant sound effects editor
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound effects editor (as Robert Henderson)
David M. Horton	....	sound effects editor (as David M. Horton Sr.)
David L. Horton Jr.	....	supervising foley editor (as David Lee Horton Jr.)
Darrin Martin	....	assistant sound effects editor
John S. Owens	....	boom operator
Jayme S. Parker	....	sound effects editor (as Jayme Parker)
Lisa M. Risen	....	assistant adr editor
Norman B. Schwartz	....	post-production dialogue
Corinne Sessarego	....	supervising adr editor
John Shouse	....	supervising dialogue editor
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Brooke Henderson Ward)
Rosemarie Wheeler	....	adr editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor/design (uncredited)
Eric Gotthelf	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Maciek Malish	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jan Aaris	....	special effects
William Aldridge	....	special effects (as Bill Aldridge)
James Camomile	....	special effects
Al Di Sarro	....	special effects supervisor
Patrick R. Gordon	....	special effects (as Patrick Gordon)
Bob Graham	....	special effects (as Robert Graham)
Michael Meinardus	....	special effects (as Mike Meinardus)
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects (as Darrell D. Pritchett)
Joe D. Ramsey	....	special effects foreman (as Joe Ramsey)
Andrew Sebok	....	special effects
Larry M. Shorts	....	special effects (as Larry Shorts)
Scott Thompson	....	special effects
H. Barclay Aaris	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Lyndel Crosley	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Steve Wolf	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Robert O'Haver	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunts
Linda Arvidson	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Greg Barnett)
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (as Ken Bates)
Tom Bergman	....	stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
John Cade	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Monty Cox	....	stunts
Chris Durand	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts (as Ken Endoso)
Randy Hall	....	stunts
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
James C. Lewis	....	stunts (as Jimmy Lewis)
Eric Mansker	....	stunts
Mike Marasco	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Victor Paul	....	stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator (as Charles Picerni)
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Paul V. Picerni Jr.	....	stunts (as Paul Picerni)
Alan D. Purwin	....	stunts (as Alan Purwin)
Chad Randall	....	stunts
John Santini	....	stunts
Michael Tamburro	....	stunts (as Mike Tamburro)
Tommy Trama	....	stunts
Tierre Turner	....	stunts
George P. Wilbur	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Chuck Zito	....	stunts
Nick Brett	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
F. Pierre Gatling	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kane Hodder	....	stunts (uncredited)
Keii Johnston	....	stunt double: Mr. Willis (uncredited)
Kathryn Moore	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Barber	....	first assistant camera
Richmond G. Cogswell	....	video assist operator
John T. Connor	....	second assistant camera (as John Connors Jr.)
Dan Delgado	....	chief lighting technician
Michael Genne	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Genne)
Craig Haagensen	....	camera operator
Bill Krattiger	....	rigging gaffer (as William Krattiger)
Frank Mathews	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenneth Kenny Nishino)
Bill Rustic	....	best boy grip (as William Rustic)
Mike Schwake	....	dolly grip (as Michael L. Schwake)
Dennis Seawright	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Bill Young	....	key grip
Mike Bonnaud	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Christian Capobianco	....	camera intern (uncredited)
Chuck Cohen	....	camera operator: special action sequences (uncredited)
Thomas Enright	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
Aaron Pazanti	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Nick Shuster	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bruce D. Spellman	....	best boy grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Douglas Wright	....	casting coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacqueline G. Arthur	....	assistant costume designer (as Jacki Arthur)
Brian Callahan	....	costumer
Nick Scarano	....	costume supervisor
Charmaine Nash Simmons	....	costume supervisor
Lori Stilson	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Matthew Booth	....	apprentice editor
Conrad Buff IV	....	additional editor (as Conrad Buff)
Tony Ciccone	....	apprentice editor
Curtis Edge	....	assistant film editor (as Curtis Schmerd Edge)
Avis Hope	....	apprentice editor
Chris Lebenzon	....	additional editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Dwight Raymond	....	apprentice editor (as Dwight Raymond IV)
Caroline Ross	....	assistant film editor
Lorraine Salk	....	assistant film editor
Kevin Stitt	....	assistant film editor
Michael Tronick	....	additional editor
Christian Wagner	....	additional editor
Glenn Richard Côté	....	assistant to editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bruce Babcock	....	orchestrator
Christopher Brooks	....	supervising music editor (as Christopher S. Brooks)
Vince De Rosa	....	musician: solo french horn
Robert Fernandez	....	orchestra recordist (as Bobby Fernandez)
Philip Giffin	....	orchestrator
Michael Kamen	....	conductor
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
Charnett Moffett	....	musician: solo acoustic bass
Albert Lloyd Olson	....	orchestrator (as Albert Olson)
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator (as Pat Russ)
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrator
Brad Warnaar	....	orchestrator
Bruce Babcock	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Howard Bachrach	....	transportation captain
Steve Duncan	....	transportation captain (as Steven S. Duncan)
Jack Lietzke	....	transportation coordinator (as Capt'n Jack Lietzke)
Dan Romero	....	transportation captain
Craig Lietzke	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jim Barr	....	production accountant
A.C. Cowlings	....	football technical advisor
Cindy Daniels	....	cheerleader choreographer
Robert Doyle	....	location manager
Karyn Fields	....	assistant: Steve Perry (as Karyn A. Fields)
Spencer Franklin	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Irvine	....	production aide (as Jennifer Reynolds-Irvine)
Laura Lee Kasten	....	production aide
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist
Ernest H. Lauterio	....	craft service (as Ernie Lauterio)
Sherry Marshall	....	production secretary
Lauren Mathews-Sweeney	....	assistant production accountant
Vanessa Norris	....	assistant: Tony Scott
Michael Papac	....	weapons specialist
Olivia Patton	....	production aide (as Olivia L. Patton)
Paul Payette	....	assistant: Tony Scott (as Paul P. Payette)
John Penotti	....	production aide (as John M. Penotti)
Craig A. Pinckes	....	production aide (as Craig Pinckes)
Janice Polley	....	location manager
Jim Porter	....	first aid
Lisanne Sartor	....	assistant production coordinator
Alan Schechter	....	assistant: Joel Silver (as Alan Schecter)
P.R. Tooke	....	script supervisor
Debbie Wacker	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Louise Weber	....	assistant: Barry Josephson (as Louise M. Weber)
Brian Witten	....	assistant: Michael Levy
Richard Burch	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Mark Burnett	....	video image crew (uncredited)
Jack Crain	....	knife design/manufacturer (uncredited)
Fernando Cubillas	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)
Bill Daly	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Stephen J. Eads	....	assistant: Bruce Willis (uncredited)
Brent Freeman	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Monty Jordan	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Michael Kehoe	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jordan Stone	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Victoria A. Zamora	....	construction accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Geffen Pictures (presents)
• Silver Pictures
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Geffen Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (through)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• 525 Post Production (main title special effects)
• Pacific Titles & Optical
• R/Greenberg/Schluter

Other Companies

• California Film Commission  special thanks
• Geffen Pictures  presents
• Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum  special thanks
• Pacific Title  end titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• R/Greenberg Associates  main titles designed by (as R/Greenberg/Schluter/Heart Times Coffee Cup Equals Lightning)
• Sportsrobe  costumes (uncredited)
• Starter  sports wear
• State of California  special thanks
• Technicolor  color timing
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• University of Southern California Marching Band  special thanks
• Vista Group  special thanks

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic violence and very strong language.

Runtime:

105 min | Germany:96 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R (certificate #31522) | Netherlands:16 | Netherlands:12 (TV version) (slightly cut) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Geffen Pictures

Trivia:

Joe (Bruce Willis) mentions "reindeer goat cheese pizza", which Willis also mentioned in Hudson Hawk (1991).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Darien shows the gun to Jimmy Dix in the car outside Marcone's place, it is a 6-shot revolver. When Joe shoots the gun through the cat puppet and then discards the puppet, it has become a Desert Eagle semiautomatic pistol. Further, Joe shoots at least 32 shots from this gun without reloading in the next dozen scenes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Locker Room Kid: Billy Cole. Billy Cole.
Head Coach: The first half stunk! Open the holes up! Get in there like hogs! Like pigs!
Locker Room Kid: Billy Cole. You got a call on line three.
Head Coach: Let's go out there in this half and kick some butt! Let's get out of this town as a winner! I hate Cleveland!

Movie Connections:

References The Terminator (1984)

Soundtrack:

Friday Night's A Great Time For Football

A genre classic - oft copied, never matched

Although this film receives a lot of credit for reinvigorating the action/buddy genre movie, the praise is too often misdirected. For instance, whilst Bruce Willis gives a solid performance as low-life private eye Joe Hallenbeck, we have seen the act a dozen times. There are remnants of Die Hard's John McClane in every knowing smirk and pained cigarette inhalation. Equally, Tony Scott's direction is still based on an obsession with placing bright lights behind the actors and turning up the volume of car chases and gunshots. Jimmy Dix, the faded football hero, is given a suitably comic persona by Damon Wayons and the action sequences are as good as you will find elsewhere in Hollywood. However, these are not the attractions of the film for me.

You might think, from what is written above, that I disliked the film but you would be mistaken to think that as I believe it to be an absolute classic of its kind. I truly think The Last Boy Scout should be used as a teaching tool at film schools the world over. In spite of its glaring limitations it is a movie that has everything! The opening scene is a modern movie classic - up there with those of Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Goodfellas. If there is a film-goer alive whose mouth didn't gape in wonderous amusement at the climax to the opening scene then I am amazed. The plot, as far fetched as it is, provides a perfect vehicle for the key elements that go towards making this the gem of a movie that it is.

First in the list of key elements is the wonderfully funny dialogue. Shane Black's hallmark of snappy one-liners is all over the sizzling repartee between the two heroes. Even Hallenbeck's daughter gets a couple of laugh-out-loud lines. Secondly, the story benefits from the ideal combination of: sport, gambling, violence, comedy, the odd topless dancer, important values of family and friendship, revenge and honour. Take out the topless dancer and they pretty much all feature in The Godfather!

The third crucial component for the success of The Last Boy Scout is the perfect casting of the bad guys. Milo, played to chilling perfection by Taylor Negron, is a bad guy with a difference. He isn't just a mindless hard man. His brilliantly annoying habit of calling people by their elongated names is a superb touch (Joe becomes Joseph, Jimmy becomes James and so on), as are his attempts at civility when trying to "do a formal introduction" with the kidnapped Hallenbeck. Other bad guys are fleshed out and distinguished by quirky traits or funny lines. They are not merely there to make the good guys look good.

Overall, this film is not a piece of celluloid art. It is, however, a perfect example of popcorn-friendly entertainment. It is the sort of movie you imagine the makers would like to see as movie-goers themselves. Without being utterly contemptible or mindlessly low-brow it entertains. An ideal Saturday night movie to watch with a group of friends.