Crocodile Dundee (1986)

An American reporter goes to the Australian outback to meet an eccentric crocodile poacher and invites him to New York City.

Director:

Peter Faiman

Writers:

Paul Hogan (original story), Paul Hogan (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Hogan	...	Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee
Linda Kozlowski	...	Sue Charlton
John Meillon	...	Walter Reilly
David Gulpilil	...	Neville Bell
Ritchie Singer	...	Con
Maggie Blinco	...	Ida
Steve Rackman	...	Donk
Gerry Skilton	...	Nugget
Terry Gill	...	Duffy
Peter Turnbull	...	Trevor
Khristina Totos	...	Rosita (as Christine Totos)
Graham 'Grace' Walker	...	Angelo
David Bracks	...	Burt (Roo Shooter)
Brett Hogan	...	Peter (Roo Shooter)
Mark Blum	...	Richard Mason

Storyline

Intrigued by the near-death experience of the rugged hunter, Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee, after a close encounter with a monstrous saltwater crocodile, the New York City reporter, Sue Charlton, travels to Australia, to meet the legend in person. There, in the dusty hamlet of Walkabout Creek and the formidable outback, dangerous situations and unforeseen romantic complications await; however, Sue already knows that nothing compares to the urban jungle of the great Big Apple. So, like a fish out of water, Mick leaves Australia for the first time in his life for Manhattan's concrete maze, where he comes face-to-face with the complexities of modern life. But, will the unpretentious bushman ever adapt to the big city?

---

Plot Keywords:

aborigine | crocodile dundee character | australian aborigine | australian outback | female reporter | 

---

Taglines:

From the Australian Outback to New York City, Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee is about to survive in a different kind of Jungle.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is the fifth most watched film to be broadcast on British television when it was shown on BBC1 on December 25, 1989. It attracted 21.75 million viewers. It is also the most watched film to ever be shown on the BBC, as the four films with the most viewership - Live and Let Die (1973), Jaws (1975), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - were shown on ITV.

---

Goofs

The roo-shooter's camo-painted jeep has its "OEM" headlights go off when the windshield is shattered, yet in the next shots of the truck backing up swiftly, both the headlights and the "add-ons" are all blazing brightly again.

---

Quotes

Neville Bell: Oh no, you can't take my photograph.
Sue Charlton: Oh, I'm sorry, you believe it will take your spirit away.
Neville Bell: No, you got lens-cap on it.

---

Crazy Credits

The end credits has the cast listed separately, listing the actors from Australia and the actors from New York City.

---

Alternate Versions

Some video releases have omitted the scene where Crocodile Dundee slices the mugger's jacket with his knife; instead, the scene cuts to the muggers running away after he brandishes his knife.

---

Connections

Referenced in UnREAL: Codependence (2018)

---

Soundtracks

Sloppy Crocodile
Written by Greedy Smith
Performed by Mental As Anything (as Mental as Anything)
Produced by Charles Fisher
Engineered by John Bee and Peter Walker
Mental As Anything appear courtesy of CBS
Copyright Syray Music Pty. Ltd.

User Reviews

He went walkabout.

New York reporter Sue Charlton hears of a guy in the outback of Australia who survived an attack by a crocodile. For research she meets up with "Crocodile Mick Dundee" and spends time with him out in dangerous Bush Country. Finding a rapport during their time together, Sue convinces Mick to go back with her to New York, which brings interesting results as Mick becomes a big hit by treating the Big Apple, and all that comes his way, the same as he would the Outback.

Crocodile Dundee has a standard fish out of water comedy premise, yet with a number of truly funny sequences and an appealing turn from Paul Hogan as Dundee, it became a monster smash hit that the cinema watching public lapped up with glee. In a decade that is often considered or debated to be the worst for film, it may just be that cinema goers were desperate for a pick me up movie? Possibly, but undoubtedly Crocodile Dundee most assuredly is that type of escapist piece. However, to give that credence would, I feel, be doing it a disservice, for in spite of the rickety concept and the obviousness of where we will ultimately end up, it has bundles of earthy charm, a charm that many can identify with.

As Dundee goes about his way, meeting pimps, transsexuals and muggers et al, they are not only very funny scenes, they are also points of reference to the ever changing way of the Continents. Not that the film doesn't come dangerously close to falling into a sugary rom-com mire, but with a strong performance from Linda Kozlowski as Sue, and Hogan introducing an icon to 80s cinema, Crocodile Dundee safely hits the target that it was surely aiming for. Besides, the love story here is very easy to get on side with, to support it and hanker for this opposites attract coupling to work out.

Two sequels would follow, the first one was a retread reversal and just about passable, the second one, after a gap of 13 years, was bad and evidence that the joke had long since passed. Crocodile Dundee 86 holds up well as the escapist piece of cinema that it is. A nice film to revisit every other year, for it be simple, warm, and yes, I'll say it again, damn funny. 8/10

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

'Crocodile' Dundee

Filming Locations:

Astor Place Hairstylists aka Astor Barber, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,038,855, 28 September 1986

Gross USA:

$174,803,506

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$328,203,506

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rimfire Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 93 min (PAL)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1