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

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the only time in the history of "The Incredible Hulk" live-action television series, and its three television movies, that the Hulk wore his trademark purple pants from the comic books. It occurs in the dream sequence, when David Banner is being questioned on the witness stand, and he ends up changing into the Hulk.

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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

[first lines]
David Banner: In each of us, there lives a kind of beast made of rage. Years ago, I used science to study this beast to bring him out of me. I used gamma radiation to release him. But I used too much. Far too much. Now the beast is out of my control, emerging whenever anger strikes. My name is David Banner. The world thinks I'm dead. I travel alone. I try to keep the beast caged within myself.

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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

Surprisingly earnest comic book fare

The Trial of the Incredible Hulk was the second in a trilogy of made-for-television films continuing the agonizing journey of scientist David Banner and his quest to cure him of the inner monster called the Hulk. The Trial of the Incredible Hulk stands as the best of the bunch, and remains a fairly well-written and superbly acted telepic.

Banner is arrested and charged for a crime he doesn't commit while travelling through a city. His court-appointed attorney is the blind Matt Murdock, who strives to free Banner, who feels he must be locked up. Murdock is also fighting against the corruption of Wilson Fisk, the city's resident crime lord, in the guise of the oddly black-suited Daredevil. We find that like Banner, Murdock had an accident with radioactive materials, but while taking his sight, the atomic trauma left Matt with enhanced senses of smell, hearing, taste, touch, and radar-like sensory perception.

The late, great Bill Bixby is in top form as the strained David Banner, and his brutish counterpart, the Hulk, is again portrayed intensely by the legendary Lou Ferrigno. Rex Smith, veteran of a variety of television shows and soap operas, is excellent as Matt Murdock, and his athletic alter ego, Daredevil. Smith delivers most of the best lines in this film, and might have been a good lead in a spin-off Daredevil series. Character actor John Rhys-Davies is Wilson Fisk, the cool and calculated crime boss, known by the moniker, the Kingpin, in the comics.

The film's effects and action sequences are standard television fare -- done quickly and cheaply -- but still, it is a very promising and uplifting film, right down to its exciting climax and positive ending.

Recommended.

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