RoboCop (1987)

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Edward Neumeier (written by) &
Michael Miner (written by)

Release Date:

17 July 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

In a dystopic & crime ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg with submerged memories haunting him.

Plot Keywords:

Robocop | Gang | Memory | Robot | Future

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Peter Weller	...	Officer Alex J. Murphy / RoboCop
Nancy Allen	...	Officer Anne Lewis
Dan O'Herlihy	...	The Old Man (as Daniel O'Herlihy)
Ronny Cox	...	Richard 'Dick' Jones
Kurtwood Smith	...	Clarence J. Boddicker
Miguel Ferrer	...	Robert Morton
Robert DoQui	...	Sergeant Warren Reed
Ray Wise	...	Leon C. Nash
Felton Perry	...	Johnson
Paul McCrane	...	Emil M. Antonowsky
Jesse D. Goins	...	Joe P. Cox (as Jesse Goins)
Del Zamora	...	Kaplan
Calvin Jung	...	Steve Minh
Rick Lieberman	...	Walker
Lee de Broux	...	Sal (as Lee DeBroux)
Mark Carlton	...	Ron 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
Kevin Page	...	Kinney (as Ken Page)
Yolanda Williams	...	Ramirez
Tyrees Allen	...	Starkweather (as Tyress Allen)
John S. 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
Diane Robin	...	Chandra
Adrianne 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	...	Emergency Doctor
David Packer	...	Emergency Doctor
Leeza Gibbons	...	Jesse Perkins
Mario Machado	...	Casey Wong
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don 'Tex' Clark	...	Boardroom Executive (uncredited)
Gilbert B. Combs	...	Sal´s Gunman (uncredited)
Jon Davison	...	ED-209 (voice) (uncredited)
James Field	...	Restroom Jr. Exec (uncredited)
Allan Graf	...	Sal's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Andee Gray	...	(uncredited)
Katie Griffin	...	Young Girl (uncredited)
Harry Johnson	...	Dad - Nuke-'em" commercial (uncredited)
Randall Oliver	...	S.W.A.T. Team (uncredited)
Joan Pirkle	...	Barbara (uncredited)
Scott Sligar	...	S.W.A.T. Team (uncredited)
Alex Van Halen	...	Keva Rosenberg (uncredited)
Paul Verhoeven	...	Dancer - Disco scene (uncredited)
Mark Edward Walters	...	Street Kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Verhoeven

Writing credits
Edward Neumeier		(written by) &
Michael Miner		(written by)

Produced by
Jon Davison	....	executive producer
Stephen Lim	....	associate producer
Edward Neumeier	....	co-producer
Arne Schmidt	....	producer
Phil Tippett	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Basil Poledouris

Cinematography by
Sol Negrin
Jost Vacano

Film Editing by
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Sally Dennison
Julie Selzer

Production Design by
William Sandell

Art Direction by
Gayle Simon

Set Decoration by
Robert Gould

Costume Design by
Erica Edell Phillips

Makeup Department
Rob Bottin	....	special makeup effects
Bonnie Clevering	....	hair stylist
Stephan Dupuis	....	prosthetics applied by
Fred Lackey III	....	hair stylist
Carla Palmer	....	makeup artist
Margaret Prentice	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Charles Newirth	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robin Leigh Fleck	....	assistant director: second unit (as Robin Fleck)
Mark Goldblatt	....	second unit director
David B. Householter	....	second assistant director (as David Householter)
Scott Musgrave	....	assistant director: second unit
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	first assistant director (as Michele A. Panelli)
Monte Hellman	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Henry Alvarez	....	construction crew: RoboCop
Henry Alvarez	....	sculptor
E.W. Bradford	....	construction coordinator (as Bill Bradford)
Bradly E. Breitbarth	....	assistant property master
Samai Brown	....	assistant props
Gunnar Ferdinandsen	....	construction crew: RoboCop
John Harrington	....	head painter
Jerry G. Henery	....	construction foreman (as Jerry Henery)
Steven Ladish	....	props
John Lamkin	....	lead man
Larry Langley	....	construction foreman
Bill MacSems	....	property master
Randall Mulry	....	lead man
Art Pimentel	....	construction crew: RoboCop
Paul S. Power	....	storyboard artist
Vincent Prentice	....	construction crew: RoboCop
Tom Prossner	....	construction crew: RoboCop
Erica Rogalla	....	set dresser
Miles Teves	....	concept illustrator: Rob Bottin Productions
James E. Tocci	....	set designer (as James Tocci)
Richard White	....	construction crew: RoboCop
William Vance White	....	leadman (as William White)
Gene Winfield	....	6000 SUX creator: Rod & Custom
Floyd Gentry	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Steve Bartlett	....	sound
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound editor
Don Broughton	....	boom operator (as Donald Broughton)
James Christopher	....	sound editor
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer
Burness Dembrowski	....	foley editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Ezra Dweck	....	sound effects recordist
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Fein)
Donald Flick	....	sound editor
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound editor (as Stephen Flick)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound editor
David W. Gray	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Pospisil	....	sound editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Wald	....	sound mixer
David A. Whittaker	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Lawrence A. Aeschlimann	....	special effects (as Lawrence Aeschlimann)
Peter Kuran	....	special photographic effects: Visual Concept Engineering
Dale L. Martin	....	special effects (as Dale Martin)
Dennis Pawlik	....	roboteam
William Purcell	....	special effects (as Bill Purcell)
Keith Richins	....	special effects
Becky Ochoa	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Don Waller	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Don Baker	....	matte camera: Praxis Film Works
Beverly Bernacki	....	optical effects: VCE
Robert Blalack	....	optical supervisor: Praxis Film Works
Neal Brietbarth	....	effects construction: ED-2000
Blair Clark	....	effects crew: ED-2000
Craig Davies	....	ED-2000 creator & designer
Sheila Duignan	....	effects crew: ED-2000
Randy Dutra	....	stop-motion animation: ED-2000
Rick Fichter	....	plate photography: ED-2000
Spencer Gill	....	optical effects: VCE
Rocco Gioffre	....	matte painter
Ed Harker	....	optical effects: VCE
Craig Hayes	....	ED-209 designer & constructor
Denis Hoffman	....	opticals: Freeze Frame
Michael Karp	....	matte camera: Praxis Film Works
Peter Kuran	....	special photographic effects: VCE
Kevin Kutchaver	....	animation effects: VCE
Ute Leonhardt	....	camera operator: Praxis Film Works
Paula Lucchesi	....	effects construction: ED-2000
Tamia Marg	....	effects crew: ED-2000
Jo Martin	....	animation effects: VCE
George Muhs	....	visual effects
Sarah Pasanen	....	optical effects: VCE
Jules Roman	....	effects editor: ED-2000
Pete Ronzani	....	ED-2000 creator & designer (as Peter Ronzani)
Phil Tippett	....	ED-209 sequences creator
Harry Walton	....	visual effects: ED-2000
Jacqueline Zietlow	....	administration: VCE
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE, Inc. (uncredited)
Tom St. Amand	....	stop-motion technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Jamie S. Bunch	....	stunts (as Jamie Bunch)
Doug Coleman	....	stunts
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator
Vicki Creach	....	stunts (as Vickie Creach)
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts (as Greg Elam)
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Randy Fife	....	stunts (as Randy "Fife")
Joe Finnegan	....	stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	utility stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Jackie Resch	....	stunts
Mike Shanks	....	stunts
Russell Towery	....	stunts
Gary Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunt double: Nancy Allen (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Allan Graf	....	stunts (uncredited)
Freddie Hice	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Keegan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lloyd Lively	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Randall Oliver	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Pate	....	stunts (uncredited)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts (uncredited)
Neil Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Towery	....	stunt double: Peter Weller (uncredited)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Anderson	....	lighting director: commercial sequences
Rick Anderson	....	director of photography: second unit
Richard Clark	....	video playback operator
E. Wes Dempster	....	grip (as Wes Dempster)
Robert Driskell	....	gaffer (as Robert A. Driskell Jr.)
Bill Greenberg	....	grip
Johnny Gutierrez	....	gaffer: second unit
Anette Haellmigk	....	first assistant camera (as Anette Victoria Haellmigk)
John Knight	....	key grip
Michael Maley	....	gaffer
J. Michael McClary	....	camera operator: second unit
Deana Newcomb	....	still photographer
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	camera operator: second unit (as Phil Pfeiffer)
Kerry Rike	....	key grip
Juan Romero	....	best boy (as Juan M. Romero)
Jeff Santlofer	....	video technician
Carl D. Stitt	....	grip (as Carl Stitt)
Henry Tirl	....	assistant camera
Gerald Fitzgerald	....	electrician: second unit (uncredited)
Arthur Krauss	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jost Vacano	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annette Hoffman	....	set costumer: second unit
Janet Lucas Lawler	....	costumer
Joan Thomas	....	costume supervisor (as Joan Skelton Thomas)

Editorial Department
Teressa Longo	....	assistant editor
Florent Retz	....	first assistant editor (as Danny Retz)
Jim Rodnunsky	....	editor: video
Ron South	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Howard Blake	....	conductor
Tony Britten	....	conductor
Murray Deutsch	....	music supervisor
Al Jourgensen	....	composer: song "Show Me Your Spine" (as PTP)
Nivek Ogre	....	composer: song "Show Me Your Spine" (as PTP)
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor
Steven Scott Smalley	....	orchestrator
Eric Tomlinson	....	music editor
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recording engineer
Tom Villano	....	music editor
Peter Willison	....	orchestra contractor
Dan Wallin	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alvin Milliken	....	transportation coordinator
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Monte Adcock	....	T.J. Lazer crew: in-film tv promo
Paula Squires Asaff	....	script supervisor
Howard Berk	....	publicist
Rob Bottin	....	robocop creator
Rob Bottin	....	robocop designer
Ken Brown	....	T.J. Lazer crew: in-film tv promo
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Stephanie Claxton	....	assistant coordinator
Allegra Clegg	....	production coordinator
Peter Conn	....	video sequences creator: Homer & Associates
Brian Cowden	....	location manager
Cindy Fairfield	....	production personel
Fred Gabrielli	....	caterer: Gala Enterprises
Diane L. Greenwalt	....	location manager
Catherine Hardwicke	....	T.J. Lazer crew: in-film tv promo
Tim Hart	....	assistant weapons
Mark A. Hatley	....	production assistant
Marghi McMahon	....	robot team
E. Miller	....	production auditor
Bart Mixon	....	robot team (as Bart J. Mixon)
Randy E. Moore	....	weapons master
Randall Newsome	....	production assistant
Craig Pointes	....	location manager
Gregor Punchatz	....	robot team
Cheri Reed	....	production assistant
Susan Spencer Robbins	....	assistant: Mr. Verhoeven
Meryle Selinger	....	financial services
Lee Shapiro	....	production intern
Larry Smoot	....	T.J. Lazer crew: in-film tv promo
Francine Taylor	....	production personel
Todd Trotter	....	assistant: Mr. Weller
Ramona Villarrial	....	assistant auditor (as Ramona Dorene Villarrial)
Janis Burklund	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mike Childress	....	stage manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1988) (Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (1987) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS) (special edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Collector's Edition)
• 20th Century Fox (France)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• Criterion Collection, The (1995) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (1998) (DVD)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Hoyts Distribution
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Orion Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video

Special Effects

• Praxis Film Works
• Tippett Studio
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  music recording studio
• Freeze Frame  opticals
• Gala Catering  catering
• Homer & Associates  video sequences
• Inter Video  video playback
• Sinfonia of London  orchestra (uncredited)
• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by

Runtime:

102 min | Germany:78 min (cut version) | Norway:98 min (cut version) | USA:103 min (unrated director's cut) | Finland:91 min (heavily cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2004) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | West Germany:18 (cut) (video premiere) | Germany:18 (re-release) (JK/SPIO) (uncut) | Australia:R | Italy:T | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (video rating) (1989) | Finland:(Banned) (1987) | Germany:16 (cut version) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) (re-rating) (2004) | Canada:18A (Ontario) (re-rating) (2004) | USA:R (certificate #28646) (edited for re-rating) | USA:X (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1988) | Spain:13 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (also director's cut) (2002) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | Malaysia:18SG | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | India:A | Finland:(Banned) (cut) (video rating) (1987) | UK:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M (theatrical rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:(Banned) | Iceland:16 (cut) | Ireland:18 (director's cut) | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M (TV rating) | New Zealand:R18 (theatrical rating) (director's cut) | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Singapore:M18 (director's cut) (uncut version) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Building One, Studios at Las Colinas - 6301 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Writers and producers were concerned that cops would be offended by their portrayal on the movie. On the contrary, they loved it.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When murdered cop Frank Frederickson's nameplate is removed from his locker in one of the opening scenes, it's spelled FREDERICKSON. However, when Robocop is scrolling through the computer looking at Boddickers rap sheet later and it scrolls past Frederickson's murder, his name is spelled very differently.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Slimey Lawyer: Attempted murder? It's not like he killed someone. This is a clear violation of my client's civil rights.
Bail Bondsman: Make it aggravated assault and I can make bail in cash, now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Simon's Cam (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Show Me Your Spine

Classic science fiction film full of excess, humour and satire

In a futurist Detroit, crime is high and the police are run by a massive private company, keener to reduce running costs than reduce crime. When their new police robot ED209 develops a glitch, they turn to a prototype that blends human tissue with high-tech circuitry. Meanwhile Police officer Murphy and his partner Lewis are out gunned by criminals leaving Murphy mortally wounded. OCP take Murphy's body and use it to make Robocop. However Robocop is so successful that he is targeted by criminal Boddicker. Boddicker turns to his shadowy partners in crime, while Robocop struggles to deal with human memories and a programming system that seems designed to control him and keep him in the dark.

Verhoeven's first US film was to set the mould for how the rest of his career would pan out - extreme violence and very little idea of restraint. However this is one of his best films and has much in common with one of his other best (Starship Troopers) - ultra-violence, funny black humour, great action and tonnes of satirical digs at modern life. Here the plot revolves around the creation of Robocop and his fight against crime that goes right to the top. This is complimented by the sub-plot of him trying to rediscover his human side. This is full of great action scenes and eccentric villains.

The black comedy is funny, although sometimes you feel bad laughing at so much violence, but the sideswipes are the best. Verhoeven takes digs at TV with his advert filled news broadcasts, at privatisation by showing the crumbling police stations and the huge corporate towers and at heroism by showing Robocop creating just as much mayhem and destruction as the criminals he pursues. His strength however is the action scenes and the sense of tension he creates - I'll don't think anyone can forget the sheer terror of ED209's `glitch'.

Weller is good - cast because of his strong jaw and ability to project emotion through a suit of armour - and he does manage to bring out the human side. Allen is good but a but dry. The real support comes from the eccentric, and well known villains and corporate bosses. Ronny Cox, Smith, Ray Wise, Perry, O'Herlihy and Miguel Ferrer are all great in various capacities. Criminal or greedy corporate leader - it's hard to tell which is which at times.

A classic bit of sci-fi. Verhoeven has sadly not had a moment as fine as this since and has recently had problems being excessive in Hollywood - the land of excess! This is a landmark film that may not be to everyone's taste.