The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)

When Banner is held as a witness to a violent crime linked to the Kingpin, the fugitive is helped by lawyer Matt Murdock who is also the superhero, Daredevil.

Director:

Bill Bixby

Writer:

Gerald Di Pego (as Gerald Dipego)

Stars:

Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, Marta DuBois

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Bixby	...	David Banner
Lou Ferrigno	...	The Hulk
Marta DuBois	...	Ellie Mendez (as Marta Dubois)
Nancy Everhard	...	Christa Klein
Nicholas Hormann	...	Edgar
Richard Cummings Jr.	...	Al Pettiman
Joseph Mascolo	...	Albert G. Tendelli
John Rhys-Davies	...	Wilson Fisk (as John Rhys Davies)
Rex Smith	...	Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Linda Darlow	...	Fake Nurse
John Novak	...	Denny
Dwight Koss	...	John
Meredith Bain Woodward	...	Farm Supervisor (as Meredith Woodward)
Mark Acheson	...	Turk
Richard Newman	...	Apartment Owner

Storyline

David "Belson" drifts into New York City, and goes on a subway. With him is a woman and two guys. When the two guys attack the woman, David tries to help, but is beaten and turns into the Hulk and saves the woman. When he turns back, he finds himself arrested, and the woman accuses David of being her attacker. David is approached by Attorney Matt Murdock, who wants to represent him. When he tells Murdock that he can't pay him, Murdock tells him that he is hoping that David can help him incriminate Wilson Fisk, a powerful criminal. David doesn't want any part of it, but Murdock convinces him to trust him. Murdock goes to see the woman, but can't get her to change her story. Later in her room, someone tries to kill her, but she is saved by Daredevil, a crime fighter. Murdock tells David that he has to go trial, but David says he can't, but Murdock says they have no choice. Later, while David is in his cell, he turns into the Hulk and escapes. David tries to leave town, but Daredevil ...

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Plot Keywords:

daredevil the marvel comics character | matt murdock character | wilson fisk a.k.a. kingpin character | 1980s | psychotronic film | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 May 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bixby-Brandon Productions, New World International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stan Lee has a cameo as the foreman of the jury in the dream sequence. This marks his first ever cameo in a Marvel Comics adaptation, though this would become a tradition in later adaptations.

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Goofs

When the Hulk is running away from the Police after the Subway incident, the ends of the prosthetic forehead can be seen flapping out under the sides of the wig and also part of Lou Ferrigno's dark hair.

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Quotes

David Banner: Maybe I belong in a cage.

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Alternate Versions

The UK video version was cut by 15 secs by the BBFC to edit shots of a butterfly knife and to remove an ear-clap during a fight scene. The cuts were restored for the 2007 12-rated Starz DVD release.

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Connections

Followed by The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990)

User Reviews

The Hulk meets Daredevil

David Banner (Bill Bixby) has been drifting and avoiding confrontations after faking his own death. He fears his anger could turn him into The Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) after the gamma radiation experiment. Blind lawyer Matt Murdock is secretly superhero Daredevil. His nemesis is wealthy criminal Wilson Fisk (John Rhys-Davies) who directs a diamond store heist from the comforts of his tower. In the subway, two of Fisk's men harass Ellie Mendez. Banner gets in the middle and turns into the Hulk. He ends up getting arrested after Mendez is threatened and she turns witness against Banner. Murdock takes on his case. Christa Klein is his assistant. Albert G. Tendelli is an incorruptible police captain.

I watched The Incredible Hulk sporadically when I was a child. The sad tone probably put me off. Watching this as an adult, I'm appreciating the characterization of Banner. The Hulk makes a few appearances including a dream sequence of the trial with a Stan Lee cameo. It's missing a final big Hulk battle with Fisk's organization. That could have been epic. This is sort of a backdoor pilot for a Daredevil series that never happened. The cast is good and there is some possibilities. Filming in Vancouver does hold it back. This is an interesting attempt at comic book adaptation back in the old days.