A scientist who has created a super helicopter has defected to Libya and taken the machine with him. A secretive government agency hires an ex-Vietnam War pilot to go to Libya, steal the chopper and bring it back.
Director:
Donald P. Bellisario
Stars:
Jan-Michael Vincent,
Ernest Borgnine,
Alex Cord
A federal marshal stationed at a mining colony on the Jupiter moon of Io, uncovers a drug-smuggling conspiracy. He gets no help from the workers or authorities when he finds himself marked for murder.
Director:
Peter Hyams
Stars:
Sean Connery,
Frances Sternhagen,
Peter Boyle
The early American films of Michael Ballhaus, director of photography of movies like "GoodFellas" (1990), "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989) and "Working Girl" (1988)
Blue Thunder is a specially modified helicopter. It is for police work, but is armed and designed to counter street insurgencies. Its makers want to show what it will do, but have to train Los Angeles Police pilot Frank Murphy to fly and use it in order to allow it to operate in the city. Murphy and the project pilot have differences going back to Vietnam. The conflict between them continues to heat up as Murphy begins to suspect that Blue Thunder is more than has been disclosed.Written by
John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>
The film's opening prologue states: "The hardware, weaponry and surveillance systems depicted in this film are real and in use in the United States today." See more »
Goofs
The first time we see Kate, when she retrieves her blender from Murphy's house, her car is parked directly behind his. As she leaves, his Trans Am has disappeared and she drives straight down the road. See more »
Quotes
Jack Braddock:
Who are you fooling with that phony radio bullshit? Jesus Christ, Frank, that went out three days after Marconi invented the fucking thing!
See more »
Crazy Credits
"For Warren Oates, with love for all the joy you gave us." See more »
Alternate Versions
When "Blue Thunder" was first released on video in Sweden, the scene where Kate drives to the the TV station with the videotape, involved a crazy stunt when she drives into a narrow alley and meets a police car that comes the other way. To avoid a disaster, Kate flips her car on its side, hits its roof on a wall and flips back again. In later video versions, the stunt is gone. We only see the car when it enters the alley and then we see her driving on the freeway with a strange damage on the roof. See more »
A helicopter is developed for police work using full surveillance technology, stealth modes etc. Officer Murphy and his partner are trained to fly it for street tests. However Murphy suspects that it has more sinister uses when he finds that the man in charge is Colonel Cochrane who he has a history with in Vietnam. The battle between the two men heads for a showdown as Murphy gets evidence to back up his suspicions.
Made as a film but turned into an inferior tv show this film is entertaining but no more than that. The plot is interesting with plenty of conspiracy stuff but the action is sometimes forced. Because most of the helicopter shenanigans are save for the climax we are given car chases etc to help fill the time. The helicopter itself is very cool and well used and the final battle above the city is exciting if formulaic. The morals of a `big brother' helicopter, able to pry everywhere isn't examined as well as could have been but it's still interesting.
Scheider is always good to watch and does well, as do Warren Oates and a young Daniel Stern. However the show is stolen and the film made by a great baddie from Malcolm McDowell (catch you later!) who is menace incarnate for me.
Overall an enjoyable thriller but it really only sticks in the memory due to the TV series that followed worth watching for McDowell though.
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A helicopter is developed for police work using full surveillance technology, stealth modes etc. Officer Murphy and his partner are trained to fly it for street tests. However Murphy suspects that it has more sinister uses when he finds that the man in charge is Colonel Cochrane who he has a history with in Vietnam. The battle between the two men heads for a showdown as Murphy gets evidence to back up his suspicions.
Made as a film but turned into an inferior tv show this film is entertaining but no more than that. The plot is interesting with plenty of conspiracy stuff but the action is sometimes forced. Because most of the helicopter shenanigans are save for the climax we are given car chases etc to help fill the time. The helicopter itself is very cool and well used and the final battle above the city is exciting if formulaic. The morals of a `big brother' helicopter, able to pry everywhere isn't examined as well as could have been but it's still interesting.
Scheider is always good to watch and does well, as do Warren Oates and a young Daniel Stern. However the show is stolen and the film made by a great baddie from Malcolm McDowell (catch you later!) who is menace incarnate for me.
Overall an enjoyable thriller but it really only sticks in the memory due to the TV series that followed worth watching for McDowell though.