Robocop (1987)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1987
Running Times: 78m (Germany – theatrical)/98m (Norway – theatrical)102m/103m (USA - unrated director's cut)
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: colour
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (negative ratio)/1.85:1 (intended ratio)
Sound: Dolby SR

DIRECTION

Director: Paul Verhoeven

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Orion Pictures Corporation
Executive Producer: Jon Davison
Producer: Arne Schmidt
Co-Producer: Edward Neumeier
Associate Producers: Phil Tippett, Stephen Lim
Production Manager: Charles Newirth
Production Coordinator: Allegra Clegg
Assistant Coordinator: Stephanie Claxton

SCRIPT
Script: Michael Miner, Edward Neumeier

DIRECTION
2nd Unit Directors: Mark Goldblatt, Monte Hellman (uncredited)
1st Assistant Director: Michele A. Panelli
2nd Assistant Director: David Householter
2nd Unit Assistant Directors: Robin Fleck, Scott Musgrave

PHOTOGRAPHY
Directors of Photography: Sol Negrin, Jost Vacano
2nd Unit Director Of Photography: Rick Anderson
Camera Operator: Jost Vacano (uncredited)
2nd Unit Camera Operator: Phil Pfeiffer, J. Michael McClary
1st Assistant Camera: Anette Victoria Haellmigk
Gaffer: Robert A. Driskell Jr
2nd Unit Gaffer: Johnny Gutierrez
2nd Unit Electrician: Gerald Fitzgerald (uncredited)
Best Boy: Juan M. Romero
Key Grips: John Knight, Kerry Rike
Grips: Carl Stitt, Wes Dempster, Bill Greenberg
Video Sequences Creators: Homer and Associates, Peter Conn
Stills: Deana Newcomb
Video Technician: Jeff Santlofer
Lab: DeLuxe, USA; Du Art Film Laboratories Inc, New York, USA

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Frank J. Urioste
Video Editor: Jim Rodnunsky
1st Assistant Editor: Danny Retz
Assistant Editors: Teressa Longo, Ron South

MUSIC
Music: Basil Poledouris
Song Performed By: PTP (Show Me Your Spine)
Orchestrator: Steven Scott Smalley
Conductor: Harry Rabinowitz
Music Editors: Eric Tomlinson, Tom Villano

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Robert Wald
Boom Operator: Donald Broughton
Re-Recording Mixers: Aaron Rochin, Carlos DeLarios, Michael J. Kohut
Sound Editors: Bunny Speakman, Stephen Flick, Avram D. Gold, David A. Whittaker, Donald Flick, James Christopher, John Pospisil, Michael J. Benavente
Sound Effects Recordist: Ezra Dweck
Foley Artists: David Fein, Ken Dufva
Dolby Stereo Sound Consultant: David W. Gray

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Carla Palmer
Hair: Bonnie Clevering
Costume Designer: Erica Edell Phillips
Costume Supervisor: Joan Skelton Thomas
Costumer: Janet Lucas Lawler

SPECIAL MAKE-UP EFFECTS
Robocop Creator/Designer: Rob Bottin
Special Make Up Effects: Rob Bottin
Prosthetics Applied By: Stephan Dupuis
Concept Illustrator: Miles Teves

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Keith Richins, Bill Purcell, Dale Martin, Lawrence Aeschlimann, Don Waller (uncredited)
Robot Team: Bart J. Mixon, Gregor Punchatz, Marghi McMahon
Robocop Construction Crew: Art Pimentel, Gunnar Ferdinandsen, Henry Alvarez, Richard White, Tom Prossner, Vincent Prentice, Dennis Pawlik

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Conpect Engineering
Special Photographic Effects: Peter Kuran
Animation Effects: Jo Martin, Kevin Kutchaver
Matte Painter: Rocco Gioffre
Optical Effects: Beverly Bernacki, Ed Harker, Sarah Pasanen, Spencer Gill
Administration: Jacqueline Zietlow

Praxis Film Works
Optical Supervisor: Robert Blalack
Camera Operator: Ute Leonhardt
Matte Camera: Don Baker, Michael Karp

ED-2000 Sequence
Creators/Designers: Peter Ronzani, Craig Davies, Phil Tippett
Visual Effects: Harry Walton
Effects Construction: Neal Brietbarth, Paula Lucchesi
Effects Crew: Blair Clark, Sheila Duignan, Tamia Marg
Stop-Motion Animation: Randy Dutra, Tom St. Amand (uncredited)
Plate Photography: Rick Fichter
Effects Editor: Jules Roman

Freeze Frame
Opticals: Denis Hoffman

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: William Sandell
Art Director: Gayle Simon
Set Designers: James Tocci, Erica Rogalla
Set Decorator: Robert Gould
Property Master: Bill MacSems
Assistant Property Master: Bradly E. Breitbarth
Assistant Props: Samai Brown
Construction Coordinator: Bill Bradford
Construction Foremen: Jerry Henery, Larry Langley
Head Painter: John Harrington
Painter: Floyd Gentry (uncredited)
Sculptor: Henry Alvarez
Storyboard Artist: Paul S. Power
Lead Men: John Lamkin, Randall Mulry, William White

OTHER CREW
Script Supervisor: Paula Squires Asaff
Financial Services: Meryle Selinger
Production Auditor: E. Miller
Assistant Auditor: Ramona Dorene Villarrial
Production Assistants: Cheri Reed, Janis Burklund (uncredited)
Assistant to Paul Verhoeven: Susan Spencer Robbins
Assistant to Peter Weller: Todd Trotter
Production Personel: Cindy Fairfield, Francine Taylor
Publicist: Howard Berk
Transportation Coordinator: Alvin Milliken
Transportation Captain: Dennis Milliken
6000 SUX Creators: Rod and Custom, Gene Winfield
Weapons Master: Randy E. Moore
Assistant Weapons: Tim Hart
Caterer: Gala Enterprises, Fred Gabrielli
Set Medic: Bundy Chanock
T.J. Lazer Crew: In-Film TV Promo, Catherine Hardwicke, Ken Brown, Larry Smoot, Monte Adcock
Stage Manager: Mike Childress (uncredited)

LOCATIONS
Locations: City Hall, Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas, Texas, USA; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Reunion Tower, Dallas, Texas, USA
Location Managers: Brian Cowden, Craig Pointes, Diane L. Greenwalt

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Gary Combs
Stunts: Jamie Bunch, Vickie Creach, Greg Elam, Frank Ferrara, Randy "Fife", Joe Finnegan, Gene Le Bell, Jackie Resch, Mike Shanks, Russell Towery, Spiro Razatos (uncredited), Harry Wowchuk (uncredited)

CASTING
Casting: Sally Dennison, Julie Selzer

CAST

Peter Weller (Alex Murphy/RoboCop)
Nancy Allen (Anne Lewis)
Daniel O'Herlihy (the old man)
Ronny Cox (Dick Jones)
Kurtwood Smith (Clarence Boddicker)
Miguel Ferrer (Bob Morton)
Robert DoQui (Sergeant Warren Reed)
Ray Wise (Leon Nash)
Felton Perry (Johnson)
Paul McCrane (Emil Antonowsky)
Jesse Goins (Joe Cox)
Del Zamora (Kaplan)
Calvin Jung (Steve Minh)
Rick Lieberman (Walker)
Lee de Broux (Sal)
Mark Carlton (Miller)
Edward Edwards (Manson)
Michael Gregory (Lieutenant Hedgecock)
Freddie Hice (Bobby)
Neil Summers (Dougy)
Gene Wolande (prisoner)
Gregory Poudevigne (slimey lawyer)
Charles Carroll (bail bondsman)
Ken Page (Kinney)
Yolanda Williams (Ramirez)
Tyress Allen (Starkweather)
John Davies (Chessman)
Laird Stuart (Cecil the clerk)
Stephen Berrier (Roosevelt)
Sage Parker (Tyler)
Karen Radcliffe (technician 1)
Darryl Cox (Technician 2)
Jerry Haynes (Dr McNamara)
William Shockley (creep)
Donna Keegan (rape victim)
Mike Moroff (Hophead)
Marjorie Rynearson (grocery mom)
Jo Livingston (grocery pop)
Joan Pirkle (Barbara)
Diane Robin (Chandra)
Adrienne Sachs (Tawney)
Maarten Goslins (salesman)
Angie Bolling (Ellen Murphy)
Jason Levine (Jimmy Murphy)
S.D. Nemeth (Bixby Snyder)
Bill Farmer (Justin Ballard-Watkins)
Michael Hunter (Peter the homeowner)
Spencer Prokop (gas station attendant)
Debra Zach (nurse)
L.J. King, David Packer (emergency doctors)
Leeza Gibbons (Jesse Perkins)
Mario Machado (Casey Wong)

UNCREDITED CAST

Don 'Tex' Clark (boardroom executive)
Jon Davison (voice of ED-209)
Allan Graf (Sal's bodyguard)
Andee Gray
Katie Griffin (young girl)
Mark Edward Walters (street kid)

PLOT SUMMARY

In a near future Detroit, crime is out of control. The police are overwhelmed and the all-powerful corporations want something done. When cop Alex Murphy is killed by a street gang, Omni Consumer Products uses his body in an experiment – they revive what's left of him, encase him in protective metal armour and unleash him as Robocop, the future of law enforcement.

Verhoeven's first Hollywood movie is a dark, witty and inventive satire that remains among his very best work. Outstanding effects work, great performances and some headline-grabbing ultra-violence has ensured the film's cult status and it's a well deserved one. A rarity, Robocop is an action movie with a brain.

Argentina
Video Distributor: LK-TEL

Australia
Video Distributor: RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video
Theatrical Distributor: Hoyts Distribution

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Orion Pictures Corporation
Video Distributors: Orion Home Video; Columbia TriStar Home Video; MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc
Laserdisc Distributors: Image Entertainment (ID 5168 (1988)); Criterion (CC 1350L (1995)); Criterion Collection (CC 1463L (1996))
DVD Distributor: Image Entertainment (ID 4071 ORDVD (1997)); The Criterion Collection (CC 1543D (1998))

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: R

Canada
Rating: R

Chile
Rating: 18

Finland
Rating: K-18

France
Rating: -12

Ireland
Rating: 18

Netherlands
Rating: 16

Norway
Rating: 18

Spain
Rating: 13

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 18

USA
Rating: R/unrated (director's cut)

West Germany
Rating: 18 (JK/SPIO)

1987
Catalonian International Film Festival, Sitges, Spain
Best Director (Paul Verhoeven) - winner

1988
Academy Awards, USA
Oscar Best Film Editing (Frank J. Urioste) - nominated
Oscar Best Sound (Michael J. Kohut, Carlos DeLarios, Aaron Rochin, Robert Wald) - nominated
Oscar Special Achievement Award (Stephen Hunter Flick, John Pospisil) – nominated (for sound effects editing

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA (Saturn Awards)
Best Director (Paul Verhoeven) - winner
Best Make-Up (Rob Bottin, Stephan Dupuis) - winner
Best Science Fiction Film - winner
Best Special Effects (Peter Kuran, Phil Tippett, Rob Bottin, Rocco Gioffre) - winner
Best Writing (Michael Miner, Edward Neumeier) - winner

BMI Film and Awards
Film Music Award (Basil Poledouris) - winner

Edgar Allan Poe Awards, USA
Edgar Best Motion Picture (Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner) - nominated

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - nominated

1989
BAFTA Awards, UK
Best Make Up Artist (Carla Palmer) - winner
Best Special Effects (Rob Bottin, Phil Tippett, Peter Kuran, Rocco Gioffre) - winner

1986
August
Day Unknown: USA – production begins

October
Day Unknown: USA – production ends

1987
July
17: USA – theatrical release

September
17: Argentina – theatrical release

November
Day Unknown: UK – shown at the London Film Festival

December
15: Spain – theatrical release

1988
January
7: West Germany – theatrical release
15: Sweden – theatrical release
20: France – theatrical release

February
5: UK – theatrical release

May
6: Finland – theatrical release

1995
May
17: USA - laserdisc release (Criterion (CC 1350L))

1996
November
27: USA - laserdisc release (Criterion (CC 1463L))

1997
October
3: USA - DVD release (Image Entertainment (ID 4071 ORDVD))

1998
September
29: USA - DVD release (The Criterion Collection (CC 1543D))

Part man. Part machine. All cop. The future of law enforcement.

Robocop - il futuro della legge - Italian title
Robotzsaru - Hungarian title

SEQUELS
RoboCop (1988a)
Robocop (1988b)
Robocop 2 (1990)
RoboCop 3 (1993)
Robocop (1994)
Robocop vs the Terminator (1994)
RoboCop: The Animated Series (1994)
Robocop: Alpha Commando (1998)
Robocop: Prime Directives (2000)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Flesh + Steel: The Making of Robocop (2001)
Hollywood Aliens & Monsters (1997)

SEE ALSO
AD Police Files (1990)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
Basil Poledouris: His Life and Music (1997)
Basket Case 3: The Progeny (1992)
Battle Royale (2000)
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Beavis and Butt-head Do Christmas (1995)
Darkman (1990)
Death From Above: The Making of Starship Troopers (2002)
Deus Ex (2000)
The Fifth Element (1997)
Freaked (1993)
Ghost in the Shell (1998)
The Guyver (1991)
Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
Imagining Total Recall (2001)
The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Inspector Gadget (1999)
Jason X (2001)
Kôkaku kidôtai (1995)
Lost in Space (1998)
Metal Gear Solid (1998a)
My Favorite Martian (1999)
Oscar's Greatest Moments (1992)
Philadelphia Experiment II (1993)
Prototype X29A (1992)
Les rivières pourpres (2000)
Robo Vampire (1993)
Robotto keiji (1973)
Il silenzio dei prosciutti (1994)
The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
StarCraft (1998)
StarCraft: Brood War (1998)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Strange Days (1995)
Suburban Commando (1991)
Super Ducktales (1989)
Syphon Filter 3 (2001)
TC 2000 (1993)
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
The Terminator (1984)
The Toxic Avenger (1985)
Uchû keiji Gyaban (1982)
Ultrachrist! (2003)
Velocity Trap (1997)
Zingo (1998)

PERIODICALS

Première January 1988 p.8 (France)
review (by Michèle Halberstadt)

Studio January 1988 p.17 (France)
Review (by Jean Witold)

amnesia, capitalism, castrations, cyberpunk, cyborgs, drugs, dystopias, the future, the media, police, rape, revenge, satire, splatter, television

Last Updated: 4 January, 2010