| | | | Robocop
(1987) |
et in the bright, desolate, empty urban wastelands of Detroit in the futuristic 1990’s, Robocop’s atmosphere is similar to Ridley Scott’s "Blade Runner", even though his majestic Sci-Fi film was constantly dark and wet, the same futuristic eerie emptiness permeates.
The film begins with a news broadcast, which shows that the city and indeed society has become a violent, anarchistic and pitiless place. Security for the city has been privatised, with the police now taking their orders from the heartless corporate "Omni Consumer Products" (OCP) Organisation.
Following the murder of a policeman, the OCP spokesman Dick Jones (Cox) comments on the 6 o’clock news, "That every policeman understands what comes with the terrority … if you can’t stand the heat then GET OUT of the kitchen!". This is his particularly ‘compassionate’ response!
Hence life down on the front line isn’t too good and the police are threatening to strike, the criminals are looting and the city is in disarray.
 Dick Jones, vice president of OCP, a organization that reminds one of the "SkyNet Corporation" (The Terminator), with their investment in military hardware, space technology & enforcement robots, believes that he has found the answer to Detroit’s crime problem, with rocket launching, multi armed ED-209.
At it’s unveiling the tooled up droid short circuits and unloads about 5000 rounds into the body of one of Dick’s unfortunate fellow colleges. Unperturbed, Dick’s response to his chairman "The Old Man" (O’Herlihy) is that "it’s probably just a glitch"!
Young executive Bob Morton seizes the opportunity and informs the Old Man that he has been working on a technology which can combine the human nervous system with robotic technology to create the ultimate cop.
Down on the front line, it is evident that society in the future, has become genderless, with police men & women openly showering together at the station, with zero sexual undertones… heck, Officer Murphy even lets his female partner Lewis (Allen) drive!
The two officers chase a gang to a deserted industrial estate, where without any back up they pursue the gangsters into an empty warehouse. Officer Murphy is cornered by the risibly evil cackling drug gang and literally shot to pieces, in the most brutal fashion… "Need a hand!" (check out the uncut DVD for this horrifying scene in all it’s blood splattering glory).
The slaying of the officer gives Morton his framework in which to apply his OCP technology too, as Murphy’s basic brain functions are still in ‘working order.’ His memory is supposedly blanked and the ‘dead’ Officer Murphy is transformed into Robocop.
Robocop is soon making his mark, taking on the crooks. An armed robber is thrown and bounced around a liquor store that he was robbing, two hapless rapists feel the force and then Robocop hilariously breaks up a hostage situation at the local town hall.
He is the hero of crime fighting, but is soon haunted by flashbacks… do androids dream of electric sheep? Not Robocop, he recalls fragments of his murder, which in turn send him on a mission to find out who he was, in doing so he uncovers corruption at the very heart of OCP, which will lead him to confrontation with his makers...
 Don't forget that Robocop is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
|
| | | | 
Although Robocop undoubtedly draws influence from films like Blade Runner, Terminator, Predator & Frankenstein it is definitely a quite unique film in it’s own right. Its blend of humor, violence and cynical social comment on US manufacturing policy, consumerism and capitalism, means the film works on a variety of levels, appealing to a wide spectrum of film fans.
|
| | | |  | 
Apparently the film’s title scared off all the American directors, who didn’t want to be associated with a film with such an absurd title. The US producers then decided to look in Europe for a director and contacted Paul Verhoeven, who also thought that the film was ”silly”. Yet his wife read the script and thought that it had a comic, dark cynical side to it, which her husband hadn’t noticed. She recommended that he read it again, he did and Robocop became his first US film. 
| |
An interesting thing I noticed - Robocop and two of Clarence's gang are all in 24 Season 5. Ray Wise (Leon) is Vice President Paul McCrane, Emil plays one of the "Bluetooth Gang" working with the President. Peter Weller (ROBOCOP!) plays Henderson, one of the main bad guys. Someone involved with 24 must really like this movie!! -Thanks to Luke Beaman, Uk
When the script was in development, the one line pitch to the studios was "A high-tech Lone Ranger in a corporate dominated near future America." The first Robocop movie is modeled exactly after the original Lone Ranger story. Both movies are centered on a lawman betrayed by his own and left for dead with lawman returning masked to hide his identity. You can see several tributes to the orignial Lone Ranger in this movie. These include how Murphy handles his machine pistol and the "saddle up" moves done exiting his police car. The most obvious is how when Murphy returns as RoboCop, he is masked to hide his original identity. -Thanks to Steve
Robocop was originally going to be rated "X"! This was because of too much gory violence. -Thanks to Nick Napolitano
The director likened the death of Murphy as a metaphor of Christ. His violent slaying is the crucifixion, which will be followed by the resurrection that is Robocop… whatever you say Paul!
Verhoeven makes a cameo in the nightclub scene. The director was revving up the extras in the crowd in between takes, yet a cameraman filmed it and the editor kept the shot in the final cut.
Eddie Van Halen makes an uncredited cameo as "Keva Rosenberg - Unemployed Person" during one of the news segments. -Thanks to Will Neumann
Director Paul Verhoeven often pays tribute to other movies that have 'influenced' him, and 'Robocop' is no exception. In the shoot-out with the drug gang in the drug warehouse, for a fleeting instant,'Robo' strikes a classic 'Godzilla' pose: Profile, arms and legs in mid-stride with the head cocked to one side. Classic! -Thanks to Kit Sullivan
The head bad guy is played by Kurtwood Smith, who plays the dad in "That 70's show". -Thanks to Josh Roth And MN
One of the members of Clarence's gang is Dr Robert Romano from ER (Paul McCrane). He's the one who gets run down by Clarence at the chemical plant after falling in a vat of chemical waste, and whose head is seen cartwheeling over the truck which kills him. -Thanks to James
Paul McCrane, who played bad guy Emil Antonowsky in Robocop first appeard in Rocky 2 (1979) as a young patient. He was 18 years old.. Rocky and Adrian are leaving the hospital and rocky signs his head.
The Robocop storyline and The Terminator storyline were originally supposed to run together... Skynet was built on the finding of the arm and the microchip from the first terminator. However, have you ever wondered what the original start of skynet would have been if the terminator hadn't been sent back? Well, there you go - it was originally built on the technology of Robocop. When the terminator was sent back in time, it changed the timeline and history. -Thanks to Wendell Sanders
When Peter Weller appeared in season five of "24," fans of the show referred to him as "RoboCop." -Thanks to James
I heard a rumor once a Robocop leg was stolen from the set. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
That trivia bit about the crucifixion is also overplaying the hand. There is intended to be some Christian allegory but it is understated and never translates to the screen as blatantly as he is trying to make it out. So you were right to sound skeptical. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
Horizon made a 12" Robocop vinyl model kit that is not being made any more, but if you can find it, it is insanely accurate. I have no idea how they made it so close to the real suits. The only flaw is it's a little stiff and thick in the stomach area. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
Shooting began on August 6, 1986 and was completed in October 1986. -Thanks to David Jones
« Click
here to add some Robocop trivia
Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Robocop DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Robocop or 80's Action classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Angel ..... Raiders of the Lost Ark ..... Beverly Hills Cop ..... Die Hard ..... Predator ..... Terminator ..... Black Rain ..... 48 HRS ..... Untouchables ..... Lethal Weapon ..... Rocky IV ..... Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior ..... Top Gun ..... Highlander ..... Streets Of Fire ..... Commando .....[More]
| | | |
I made the suits for about six years through the television series. All Robocop suits were made of neopreme rubber in the first film. This was too heavy weighing over eighty pounds. Peter Weller insisted the suits be made lighter if he was to appear in Robocop 2. The suits in Robocop are actually an intense and surprisingly dark green. But shot under natural flourescent lights, the suit appears to most people a normal steel gray. Suits in future movies were painted blue over silver with yellow and magenta accents. These were made of fiberglass to lighten the suits for Weller. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
The director's first choice for the role of Murphy/Robocop was his old collaborator Rutger Hauer; However Hauer turned the role down. -Thanks to Richard Wyllie
Originally the director had "Robomobile's" mocked up, but wasn't happy with the look. Ford allegedly wanted nothing to do with the picture, as a result the production wound up having to purchase the Taurus's. They weren't Sierras nor where they SHO Taurus's (as in Ertl's model kits), or police package Taurus, they were just off the showroom cars. -Thanks to Ed Walsh
ED 209's front facial plate, the grill, was actually a microphone mesh bent out and shaped and fitted into a scale model of ED 209. Look at ED 209, you can tell, it's a huge microphone with legs and guns for arms haha. -Thanks to Mark R. M.
The cars used in the film were the (at the time) brand new 1986 Ford Taurus. Chosen for its futuristic design, they wanted a car the American market would not recognise. -Thanks to Roalfe
The RoboCop suit was so hot and heavy that Peter Weller was losing 3 lbs a day from water loss. Eventually, an air conditioner was installed in the suit.
All the original Robocop suits were destroyed. Cut up into little five inch squares as per an agreement with the studio and Rob Bottin. He had to store them or destroy them. Unfortunately he opted for the latter. However, he keeps two fully posed Robocop suits painted Robocop 2 style in glass cases in his large living room. Actually all the original sculptures, and animatronics except for perhaps the spike hand were destroyed. As were props and sculptures from Legend and a number of other Rob Bottin films. I managed to salvage the shoulder badge Murphy wears when his arm was blown off. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
Its possible but I seriously question the story about the bent microphone grill used for ED209. Certainly not the ones used in the film. Originally an eight inch mockup was made. Based upon that, it was immediately turned into a full sized 7' fully articulated model weighing in at 300 pounds. Everything on ED209 was made of plastic. No metal was used except for some screws and bolts to hold him together. The grill is vaccuformed polystyrene. Phil used real full sized car parts all over the model. When smaller puppets were made they were made to exacting detail from the lifesized model. So it would have been impossible to just bend up a microphone screen. Its possible on the 8" model which was never shot but that one was so small. I didn't work on Phil's crew in San Francisco but I just doubt it. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
The sound of Robocop's feet lifting and planting is the sound of our 1000 cubic foot ovens, used for baking foam appliances, being turned off and on. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
Robocop's gun is a modified Baretta M93R-AG. -Thanks to Robin McDonald
When Murphy and his partner are chasing the criminals near the beginning of the film, one shot shows Reunion Tower in the background. Reunion Tower is in Dallas, but Robocop is supposed to be set in Detroit! -Thanks to Larry
In the scene where Murphy's arm is blown off by Clarence, you will notice that as Clarence puts his foot on Murphy's right arm, Murphy's arm is pointing to his right leg. When Clarence aims his gun says na na na na na na and shoots Murphy's right arm off, the arm is pointing above his head -Thanks to David Smart
When the police have gone on strike and the gangs run the street, Clarence Boddicker and his gang gather to test their new assault cannons. As Boddicker yells to his gang to get them moving, watch closely when Boddicker slaps the top of the 6000 SUX, the rearview mirror falls off! -Thanks to Ray
«
Click
here to add a new Behind-the-Scenes item for Robocop
|  |  |  | | Robocop
Locations |
|
| | |
 Featured Movie Location: OCP HQ Exterior
Wanna see the real life filming location used for OCP HQ Exterior in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Dallas City Hall, located in Dallas, Texas. [New! Show Google Map]
Greg Keller wrote in to say "The Sons of Herman Hall in Dallas (east side of downtown) was used for the Detroit police station. This building is a two story wood structure that is home to a German fraternal organization. I was not familiar with the movie at the time I attended a wedding reception at the SOH and I was confused as to why the large doors to the upstairs ballroom had "Detroit Police" painted on them!"
The gas station used when robocop stopped the robbery at the gas station and they blew up the guy on the motorcycle still stands on the corner down the street from Texas Paint on the east side right next to the freeway(45). They didn't really blow it up it is now a poterry sales shop!
The highway that was used to film the shootout before Murphy gets shot up in the warehouse, *looks* like highway 35E (going north it appears, since the Reunion tower is on the right). Some say the image in the movie has to be a mirror-flip and the tower scene was really filmed with the tower on the left - yet flipped to be on the right... In fact... The location was actually a side street right where American Airlines center is located. It was a back road that ran parallel with I35. That's why reunion tower is on the right of the picture. They were traveling south on this road when they shot it so it did not interfere with any freeway traffic.
The little corner coffee shop where murphy and his partner stopped before they got the call on the robbery is also still standing down the street from Channel Four on a very small side street in the west-end maket place area.
The club they shot the scene in the club where Robocop goes in and drags the guy out by the hair is also in the west-end market place area down from Hooters.
Also the building they used to film the scene where robocop is called in on the city official gone postal and holding hostages from the city is in downtown down from the Farmont Theater. I believe it was the old city court house and still serves in some function similar. [Thanks to Dick Halstead]
The "communications center" scene where robocop downloads the video of his death was filmed at Bell Northern Research on Arapaho Rd in Richardson [Thanks to Ken Asleson]
The PA location was around Pittsburg (not sure of the exact city name) they used one of the old steel mills for some scenes throughout the film and the final scenes in the movie, when they finally catch up to Murphy (Robocop).
[Thanks to Jesse Collier and Sherry Williams]
The location where the city worker goes postal is also the place that Lee Harvey Oswald was killed in by Jack Ruby. [Thanks to Tino]
Monessen, PA was also use. Can anyone help with which scene?
Can you help? Do you know any of the Dallas, Texas (or any other) filming locations used for Robocop? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: New Special Edition |
| | | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette |
| Our
Comments: superb special edition DVD |
|
| | | |
Quality... simple as that! Use our search device to find a copy.
The film was released by Orion pictures, the same people responsible for "The Terminator". In the trailers for Robocop, the music score is obviously not yet final as they use the Terminator's music score to advertise the film. -Thanks to Jon Deal
«
Click here to add new music trivia for Robocop
Soundtrack Available:
On CD
| | | |
 NEW!
Use our radical Retro Assistant to show you the most accurate information for hard-to-find Robocop products anywhere on the web...
At a glance, you can now see all the Movie
releases, Soundtracks
or Movie
Posters, Scripts and Books ever available with online price comparisons, even if they're
rare, out of print or only available in another country!
Over 3 years in development and covering more than 10,000 of the
best products hand picked by our editors, we think it's the most fun and retro way to celebrate the era --and find what you
want.
It covers Robocop DVD,
VHS,
Blu-ray,
HD-DVD,
Downloads,
Soundtrack
CDs, Movie
Posters, Scripts, Books and more... Why not give
it a try...
The
80's Movies Rewind is proudly a spam-free
non-commercial site, written by movie fans... for movie fans.
If
you enjoy this site, please help to support us and keep us
POP UP & SPAM FREE by ordering your stuff through our services.
As you probably already know, we
are not a corporation, but just 80's fans like you...
| | |
 | | Recent
Additions |
March 3, 2008: Commando USA / UK Blu-ray Coming Soon.
February 28, 2008: Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Soundtrack Update.
Previous
additions
We're always updating and improving, so please and check back with us regularly...
|
| | |
