Spy Hard (1996)

Director:

Rick Friedberg

Writers (WGA):

Jason Friedberg (story) &
Aaron Seltzer (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Action

Tagline:

All the action. All the women. Half the intelligence.

Plot:

General Rancor is threatening to destroy the world with a missile he is hiding at his secret base. But to complete his goal...

Plot Keywords:

KGB | Scientist | Computer Chip | Secret Base | Missile

Cast

Leslie Nielsen	...	Dick Steele, Agent WD-40
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Veronique Ukrinsky, Agent 3.14
Charles Durning	...	The Director
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Miss Cheevus
Barry Bostwick	...	Norman Coleman
John Ales	...	Kabul
Andy Griffith	...	General Rancor
Elya Baskin	...	Professor Ukrinsky
Mason Gamble	...	McCluckey
Carlos Lauchu	...	Slice
Stephanie Romanov	...	Victoria / Barbara Dahl
Joyce Brothers	...	Steele's Tag Team Member (as Dr. Joyce Brothers)
Ray Charles	...	Bus Driver
Hulk Hogan	...	Steele's Other Tag Team Member
Roger Clinton	...	Agent Clinton
Robert Culp	...	Businessman
Fabio	...	Himself
Robert Guillaume	...	Agent Steve Bishop
Pat Morita	...	Brian, Waiter in Restaurant
Alexandra Paul	...	Woman in Murphy Bed
Mr. T	...	Helicopter Pilot
Alex Trebek	...	Agency Tape Recorder (voice)
Taylor Negron	...	Painter
Curtis Armstrong	...	Pastry Chef
Tina Arning	...	Dancer #1
William Barillaro	...	Blind Driver
Michael Berryman	...	Bus Patron with Oxygen Mask
Downtown Julie Brown	...	Cigarette Girl
Stephen Burrows	...	Agent Burrows
Keith Campbell	...	Thug #2
Carl Ciarfalio	...	Thug #1
Brad Grunberg	...	Postal Worker (as Johnny Cocktails)
Wayne Cotter	...	Male Dancer
Rick Cramer	...	Heimlich, Rancor Terrorist
Eddie Deezen	...	Rancor Guard Who Gets Spit On
Joey Dente	...	Goombah, Dead Wise Guy
Paul Eliopoulos	...	Agent #1
Andrew Christian English	...	Paratrooper
Johnny G	...	Gangster #2
Brad Garrett	...	Short Rancor Guard (voice)
Michael Lee Gogin	...	Short Rancor Guard
Bruce Gray	...	The President
Kevin Grover	...	Sign Language Speaking Golpher
Hollis Hill	...	Agent #2
Brian Howe	...	Clubhouse Bartender
Kevin Jackson	...	Kikiree Island Cabbie
Barbara Isaacs	...	Kikiree Islander
Nina Lorena	...	Rancor Terrorist (as Nia James)
Valentino Johnson	...	Michael Jackson Lookalike
Elizabeth Kaitan	...	Helicopter Ticket Agent
John Kassir	...	Rancor Guard at Intercom
Diane Klimaszewski	...	Twin #1
Elaine Klimaszewski	...	Twin #2
Austin Kottke	...	Boy with Balloons
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Noggin
Kelly Lange	...	Herself
Michael Leahs	...	Jogger
Tara Leon	...	Masseuse (as Tara León)
Rawle D. Lewis	...	Boatman #1
Tone Loc	...	Gangster #1
Jon Manfrellotti	...	Bouncer / Doorman
Bruno Marcotulli	...	Sad Mime
Esau McKnight	...	Skippy, Warrior on Cell Phone
Katherine Moffat	...	Agent Moffat
Fran Montano	...	Carny at Weapons Lab
Talisa Soto	...	Seductress in Hotel Room (as Desiree More)
Ron Morgan	...	Weapons Lab Worker
Joanne Nerlino	...	Machine Gun Packing nun Leder / Singing Nun
Mil Nicholson	...	English Countdown Lady
Gayle Obodzinski	...	Dancer #2
Gary Owens	...	M.C. for Rancor Extortion Video
Tyler Patton	...	Punk Leader
Julie Payne	...	Mother Superior
Pee Wee Piemonte	...	Fighting Rancor Guard (as Pee Wee Piamonte)
Jeff Sanders	...	Bird-Calling Rancor Guard
Thom Sharp	...	Agent Sharp
Shari Shattuck	...	Stewardess
Pat Tanzillo	...	Agent Tanzillo
Thuy Trang	...	Manicurist
Angela Visser	...	Georgeous Blonde
Reid Worthington	...	Balloon-Popping Boy
Maxi Anderson	...	Singing Nun
Billie Barnum	...	Singing Nun
Maria Del Rey	...	Singing Nun
Linda Harmon	...	Singing Nun
Darlene Koldenhoven	...	Singing Nun
Carol Lombard	...	Singing Nun
Jeanie Long	...	Singing Nun
Sally Stevens	...	Vocal Contractor & Singer
Táta Vega	...	Singing Nun
Jeannine Wagner	...	Singing Nun
Julia Waters	...	Singing Nun
Maxine Waters Willard	...	Singing Nun (as Maxine Waters)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erik Betts	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Matt Gulbranson	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Omega Kayne	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Ken Odom	...	Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Kevin Michael Richardson	...	(uncredited)
Asbjørn 'Bear' Riis	...	Guard at Rocket (uncredited)
'Weird Al' Yankovic	...	Himself in Title Sequence (uncredited)

Directed by
Rick Friedberg

Writing credits (WGA)
Jason Friedberg		(story) &
Aaron Seltzer		(story)
Rick Friedberg		(screenplay) &
Dick Chudnow		(screenplay) and
Jason Friedberg		(screenplay) &
Aaron Seltzer		(screenplay)

Produced by
Doug Draizin	....	producer
Rick Friedberg	....	producer
Jeffrey Konvitz	....	producer
Leslie Nielsen	....	executive producer
Robert L. Rosen	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
John R. Leonetti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Eric A. Sears		(as Eric Sears)

Casting by
Fern Champion
Mark Paladini

Production Design by
William J. Creber		(as William Creber)

Art Direction by
William J. Durrell Jr.

Set Decoration by
Ernie Bishop		(as Ernest A. Bishop)

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	key hair stylist
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	assistant makeup artist (as Fred Blau)
Ken Chase	....	key makeup & prosthetics
Laura Gorman	....	makeup artist: Ms. Sheridan
Mary L. Mastro	....	assistant hair stylist (as Mary L. Hart)
Robert Ryan	....	makeup artist: Mr. Nielsen
Adam Brandy	....	special effects makeup laboratory technician: special props (uncredited)

Production Management
Andrew Stone	....	unit production manager
Kathy Virkler	....	post-production supervisor
Gregory A. Gale	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Leonard Bram	....	first assistant director: second unit
Melanie Grefe	....	second assistant director (as Melanie Grefé)
Benjamin Rosenberg	....	first assistant director
Chad Rosen	....	second assistant director
Ellie Smith	....	second second assistant director
Fred M. Waugh	....	second unit director (as Fred Waugh)

Art Department
Jaremy Aiello	....	sculptor
Michael Allen	....	assistant art director
Allan A. Apone	....	animatronics and special props
Earl Benton	....	stand-by painter
David B. Brenner	....	construction coordinator
Kimberly Burns	....	art department assistant
E.C. Chen	....	set designer
Donald D. Coleman	....	property master
Michael De Silva	....	on-set dresser
Tim Jackson	....	construction foreman (as Timothy C. Jackson)
Lee Joyner	....	sculptor
Nancy A. King	....	art department coordinator
Airick Kredell	....	lead person
Maurice Larson	....	lead painter (as Maurice 'Mo' Larson)
Ron Licari	....	assistant property master
G.M.J. Marvis	....	propmaker gangboss
Holly Pendergast	....	sculptor
John R. Piper	....	animatronics and special props
Arthur Shippee	....	property master (as Arthur B. Shippee)
Arthur B. Shippee III	....	property assistant
James E. Tocci	....	set designer
Mark Wahlberg	....	sculptor
Greg Whitfield	....	plasterer
Martin J. Gibbons	....	welding foreman (uncredited)
Viva Wang	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Bill Brown	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin L. Cook	....	foley editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Louis Creveling	....	dialogue editor
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
Cormac Funge	....	sound effects editor
Frank Gaeta	....	sound effects editor
Gregory M. Gerlich	....	supervising sound editor
Danielle Ghent	....	foley editor
Thomas Giordano	....	cable person
Patrick Giraudi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
David Grant	....	dialogue supervisor
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Steve Heinke	....	adr mixer
Dean Hovey	....	sound effects editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Thomas Jones	....	adr supervisor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Paul Lewis	....	boom operator
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialogue editor
Derek Marcil	....	adr mixer
David Melhase	....	foley editor
David Melhase	....	sound effects editor
David M. Ronne	....	production sound mixer (as David Ronne)
John Ross	....	sound re-recording mixer
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Susan Shin	....	dialogue editor
Marc Vanocur	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Wallin	....	sound recording engineer
Mathew Waters	....	sound re-recording mixer
Elmo Weber	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Ernie Alvarez	....	special effects technician
Robert Calvert	....	special effects technician
Terry Erickson	....	special effects technician
Scott Garcia	....	special effects technician
Gary L. Karas	....	special effects technician (as Gary Karas)
Vincent Montefusco	....	special effects: trailor-pyro & flying
David Peterson	....	special effects technician
Charles Schmitz	....	special effects technician
Chuck E. Stewart	....	special effects coordinator
Robert G. Willard	....	special effects foreman (as Robert Willard)
Jerry D. Williams	....	special effects foreman
Stan Blackwell	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Steve Fink	....	prosthetics technician (uncredited)
Lee Joyner	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)
Rudy Perez	....	special effects (uncredited)
Eric Roberts	....	special effects (uncredited)
Beecher Tomlinson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Scott Beebe	....	visual effects optical line up
Lawrence E. Benson	....	visual effects key executive producer
Steven R. Benson	....	visual effects supervisor
Suzanne M. Benson	....	visual effects i.c.e. producer
Hank Chang	....	visual effects i.c.e. system administrator
Barney Dogette	....	animator compositing
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical effects supervisor
Roger Duerrstein	....	visual effects optical supervisor
Patric Kenly	....	optical line-up (as Pat Kenly)
Dean Sadmune	....	visual effects digital supervisor
Russell L. Smith	....	CGI animator
Russell L. Smith	....	CGI compositor
Edward Svetlik	....	CGI animators compositing
Doug Ulm	....	optical cameraman
Kent Johnson	....	model maker (uncredited)
Gary Young	....	model builder (uncredited)
Gil Zimmerman	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Laura Albert	....	stunts
Howard Allen	....	stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt double: Leslie Nielsen
Perry Barndt	....	stunts
Erik Betts	....	stunts
Scott Blake	....	stunts
May Boss	....	stunts (as Mary Boss)
Ted R. Boyse	....	stunts
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Kim Burke	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Mike Cameron	....	stunts
Keith Campbell	....	stunts
Ron Campbell	....	stunts
Christopher Caso	....	stunts
Mickey Cassidy	....	stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gilbert Combs)
Norm Compton	....	stunts
Jan M. Davis	....	stunts
Georgia Durante	....	stunts
Lanier Edwards	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (as Jeannie Eppers)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (as Tony Eppers)
Eddie Fiola	....	stunts
Bobby J. Foxworth	....	stunts
Richie Gaona	....	stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts
Joe Greblo	....	stunts
Marian Green	....	stunts (as Marion Green)
Christy Haves	....	stunts
Hollis Hill	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Tracy Keehn Dashnaw)
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunts (as Maria Kelly)
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts (as Henry Masao Kingi Jr.)
Robbie Knott	....	stunts
Randy Lamb	....	stunts
Fred Lerner	....	stunts
Dan McCann	....	stunts
Lisa McCullough	....	stunts
Wayne Montanio	....	stunts
Larry Nicholas	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Bobby Ore	....	stunts
Manny Perry	....	stunts (as Many Perry)
Craig Redd	....	stunts
J.P. Romano	....	stunts (as Jean-Pierre Romano)
Wally Rose	....	stunts
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts (as Debbie Lynn Ross)
Bobbt Allen Rown	....	stunts
Tom Sanders	....	stunts
John Santini	....	stunts
Birgit K. Schier	....	stunts
Anthony G. Schmidt	....	stunts (as Anthony Schmidt)
Dennis Scott	....	stunts
Dick Silva	....	stunts
Paul Sklar	....	stunts
James Stewart Palmer	....	stunts
Charles A. Tamburro	....	stunts (as Chuck Tamburro)
Charles Allen Tam	....	stunts
Neezer Tarleton	....	stunts
Cris Thomas-Palomino	....	stunts
Clark Tucker	....	stunts
Fred M. Waugh	....	stunt coordinator (as Fred Waugh)
Scott Waugh	....	stunts
Mark Yerkes	....	stunt double: Joey Dente
Bill Young	....	precision driving coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
William H. Battersby Jr.	....	additional camera operator
John C. Cole	....	dolly grip
Tino Coutreras	....	rigging grip
David Crone	....	Steadicam operator "b" camera
Gary Dahlquist	....	rigging gaffer
Suzanne Davis	....	video assist operator
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Allen Easton)
Allen D. Easton	....	director of photography: second unit
Jarek Gorczycki	....	best boy electric
Matthew G. Gordy	....	rigging key grip
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Scott Ronnow	....	camera loader: "a" camera
Rafael E. Sánchez	....	gaffer
Mark Santoni	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Peter Schmitt	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Stephen J. Ullman	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Mark Wineman	....	video assist operator (as Mark A. Wineman)
John Young	....	camera loader: "b" camera
Michael Guthrie	....	best boy grip: second unit (uncredited)
Clyde W. Smith	....	photographer: opening scene (uncredited)
Doug Weinmann	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Paul J. Elliott	....	mechanical designer

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Laura Kirrin	....	casting assistant
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Bercsi	....	set costumer
Corey Bronson	....	set costumer
Lizzie Harding-Wilkins	....	animal costume designer
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume sketch artist
David Rawley	....	costume supervisor
Gary Sampson	....	costumer: Mr. Nielsen
Mira Zavidowsky	....	key costumer
Steffany Bernstein	....	set costumer: re-shoots (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kimberly Burns	....	post-production assistant
Linda DeMarco	....	color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Stephen M. Rickert Jr.	....	second assistant editor
Richard J. Rossi	....	first assistant editor
Benjamin P. Schwartz	....	apprentice editor
Kelly Vandever	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Bill Conti	....	conductor
Jack Eskew	....	orchestrator
Stuart Goetz	....	assistant music editor
Jimmie Haskell	....	title sequence music conductor
Steve Jay	....	orchestrator: title sequence (as Stephen Jay)
Ken Johnson	....	music editor
Nathan Kaproff	....	conductor
Chris McGeary	....	supervising music editor
Sally Stevens	....	vocal contractor
Ashley Irwin	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Daniel J. Johnson	....	co-music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Timothy P. Ryan	....	transportation captain
Jerry Smith	....	driver
Don Tardino	....	transportation coordinator
Thomas Vilardo	....	transportation captain
Thomas Garris	....	transportation co-captain (uncredited)
Paul Jones	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Rick Baca	....	assistant accountant
Karen A. Baker	....	production assistant
Noella Barb	....	medic
Peter Barnett	....	assistant accountant
Ingrid K. Behrens	....	production assistant
Kim Burke	....	horse wrangler
Richard E. Chapla Jr.	....	production secretary
Colleen Cole	....	production coordinator
Christopher A. Debiec	....	assistant production coordinator
Tammy R. Dickson	....	production assistant
Jennifer Draizin	....	assistant to producer
Charles W. Francis	....	assistant accountant
David Grant	....	dialogue supervisor
Allison Gross	....	assistant location manager
Ashley Irwin	....	electronic programmer
Anna-Carin Jean	....	assistant: Ms. Sheridan
Michael Leahs	....	assistant: Mr. Friedberg
Jason A. Levine	....	production assistant
Byron MacDonald	....	production accountant
John Nuno	....	production assistant
Sandy O'Neill	....	unit publicist
Sarah Pierse	....	stand-in: Ms. Sheridan
Ronald M. Quigley	....	location manager (as Ron Quigley)
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor (as Raymond Quiroz)
Corky Randall	....	animal consultant
Chad Rosen	....	production assistant
Gordon A. Spencer	....	horse trainer
Joanne W. Strangman	....	studio teacher
Ken 'Brother' Vils	....	stand-in: Mr. Nielsen
Michael Wade	....	medic
Elizabeth Wang-Lee	....	assistant: Mr. Rosen (as Elizabeth L.S. Wang-Lee)
'Weird Al' Yankovic	....	title designer: opening titles (as 'Weird Al' Yankovic)
'Weird Al' Yankovic	....	title sequence director: second unit (as Al Yankovic)
David Allsberry	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Manny Chavez	....	production safety supervisor (uncredited)
Stephen A. Marinaccio II	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Abril Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Falcon (Czech Republic)
• Gativideo (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Laurenfilm

Special Effects

• Buena Vista Imaging
• International Creative Effects
• Makeup Effects Laboratories
• RFX Inc.
• Special Effects Unlimited

Other Companies

• Bill Young's Precision Driving Team  precision driving
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Crosby, Heapey, Roach & May  production legal services
• Digital Sound and Picture  post-production sound services
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies rental
• Juniper Post  audio services: M&E
• Ken and Art's Catering  catering
• Leonetti Company  grip and electrical equipment
• Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program  
• Makeup Effects Laboratories  animatronics
• Makeup Effects Laboratories  special props
• Primematte  green screen software
• RTV Inc.  Spy Hard (1996)
• Rocky Mountain Motion Pictures  additional cameras
• Seawind/SNA  seawind airplane supplier
• Silicon Graphics  digital platforms
• Warner Brothers  sound recording location

Also Known As:

Live and Let Spy (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude humor and sexual innuendo.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:12 (w) | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Elizabeth Hurley was up for the female lead.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dick is in the lab talking about new technologies, the can's lid pops up twice.

Quotes:

Kabul: Do you have lighter?
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: I only use matches.
Kabul: Does your mother know you smoke?
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: Yes. But I don't inhale.
Kabul: Kabul
[Steele gives him puzzled look]
Kabul: I'm Kabul

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Home Alone (1990)

Soundtrack:

Spy Hard Theme

I just love this movie.

Although I am a big Leslie Nielsen fan, you don't have to even know who he is to laugh hysterically at this one. First of all, I love the feel of this movie. The Secret Service headquarters is just full of secret crannies where weirdos are hiding. Especially the director's office. You always find something goofy hidden in there. In addition to Nielsen's trademark spotlight-stealing sight gags, there are many subtle insults, including the use of the Disney Animation Studio façade as the establishing exterior shot of the Agency headquarters (you can see the Seven Dwarfs in the architecture), and the fact that Agent 3.14, in addition to her number being pi, speaks with a huge French accent, even though she's Russian. I particularly love the character of Coleman. I always laugh when he sees the Rancor tape and utters a Bostonese "Gooed Gwad!". The characters are great in this. There is Steele's trusty sidekick Kabul (who has a different car in every scene), and Andy Griffith is an excellent villain. One of the best parts of this movie is Weird Al Yankovic's opening title song (spoofing Thunderball's).

For goodness' sakes, rent it if you haven't seen it yet. WATCH FOR THOSE CAMEOS!