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A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Jack Cates: Nick Nolte
- Reggie Hammond: Eddie Murphy
- Elaine: Annette O’Toole
- Haden: Frank McRae
- Albert Ganz: James Remar
- Luther: David Patrick Kelly
- Billy Bear: Sonny Landham
- Ben Kehoe: Brion James
- Rosalie, Hostage Girl: Kerry Sherman
- Algren: Jonathan Banks
- Vanzant: James Keane
- Frizzy, Hotel Desk Clerk: Tara King
- Lisa, Blonde Hooker: Greta Blackburn
- Casey: Margot Rose
- Sally: Denise Crosby
- Candy: Olivia Brown
- Young Cop: Todd Allen
- Thin Cop: Bill Dearth
- Big Cop: Ned Dowd
- Old Cop: Jim Haynie
- Detective: Jack Thibeau
- Plainclothes Man: Jon St. Elwood
- Ruth: Clare Torao
- Policewoman: Sandy Martin
- Bob: Matt Landers
- Cowboy Bartender: Peter Jason
- First Cop: Bill Cross
- Second Cop: Chris Mulkey
- Parking Lot Attendant: Marcelino Sánchez
- Road Gang Guard: Bennie E. Dobbins
- Road Gang Guard: Walter Scott
- Road Gang Guard: W.T. Zacha
- Prison Guard: Loyd Catlett
- Prison Guard: B. G. Fisher
- Prison Guard: Reid Cruickshanks
- Duty Sergeant: R. D. Call
- Hooker: Brenda Venus
- Hooker: Gloria Gifford
- Torchy’s Patron: Nick Dimitri
- Torchy’s Patron: John Dennis Johnston
- Torchy’s Patron: Rock A. Walker
- Gas Station Attendant: Dave Moordigian
- Security Guard: J. Wesley Huston
- Cop with Gun: Gary Pettinger
- Bar Girl: Marquerita Wallace
- Bar Girl: Angela Robinson Witherspoon
- Bartender: Jack Lightsy
- Henry Wong: John Hauk
- Interrogator: Bob Yanez
- Leroy: Clint Smith
- Gang Member: Luis Contreras
- Cowgirl Dancer: Suzanne M. Regard
- Vroman’s Dancer: Ola Ray
- Vroman’s Dancer: Bjaye Turner
- Indian Hooker: Begonya Plaza
Film Crew:
- Original Music Composer: James Horner
- Producer: Lawrence Gordon
- Editor: Freeman A. Davies
- Production Design: John Vallone
- Director of Photography: Ric Waite
- Editor: Mark Warner
- Writer: Walter Hill
- Casting: Judith Holstra
- Editor: Billy Weber
- Producer: Joel Silver
- Sound Editor: John Dunn
- Sound Editor: Tim Mangini
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Donald O. Mitchell
- Costume Design: Marilyn Vance
- Sound Editor: Teri E. Dorman
- Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Richard L. Anderson
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Rick Kline
- Executive Producer: D. Constantine Conte
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Gregg Landaker
- Makeup Artist: Edouard F. Henriques
- Makeup Artist: Michael Germain
- Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Stephen Hunter Flick
- ADR Editor: Mark A. Mangini
- Stunt Double: Terry Leonard
- Stunts: Nick Dimitri
- Writer: Roger Spottiswoode
- Writer: Larry Gross
- Writer: Steven E. de Souza
- Set Decoration: Richard C. Goddard
- Hairstylist: Dagmar Loesch
- Stunt Double: Vince Deadrick Jr.
- Stunts: Tony Brubaker
- Special Effects: Joseph P. Mercurio
- Stunts: Bruce Paul Barbour
- Stunts: Larry Holt
- Stunt Double: John Sherrod
- Stunts: Jerry Brutsche
- Stunts: Billy C. Chandler
- Stunt Driver: Conrad E. Palmisano
- Stunt Coordinator: Bennie E. Dobbins
- Gaffer: Carl Boles
- Stunts: Walter Scott
Movie Reviews:
- John Chard: You switch from an armed robber to a pimp, you’re all set.
- A hard as nails cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down an escaped convict cop killer.
- The mismatched buddy buddy formula exploded onto the screen here in a ball of violence, profanity and pin sharp one liners. It also launched Eddie Murphy into 1980s stardom. Directed by Walter Hill and starring Nick Nolte alongside Murphy as part of an electrifying black and white double act, it’s unrelenting in pace and bad attitude. It could have been so different though, with the likes of Stallone, Reynolds, Pryor and Hines attached at various times for lead parts, it now is written in folklore that Murphy got the break and grasped it with both hands (he was actually fired at one point mind!). Thankfully the problems behind the scenes were resolved to give us a classic of its type.
- A big success for Paramount it paved the way for more choice same formula pictures in the decade, but few were able to be so course and daring with the racial divide explosions. Murphy is outstanding, quick as an A.K. 47 in vocal delivery and with visual comedic ticks in full effect, he plays off of the also excellent gruff rough and tough Nolte superbly. Unsurprisingly the plot trajectory is simple enough, but such is the writing and performances (James Remar, Sonny Landham and David Patrick Kelly in support) it’s one hell of a live wire ride from start to finish.
- In amongst the verbal and action carnage you find plenty of 80s pop culture, with a blunderbuss sound track and a score from James Horner that pings around the Los Angeles locales (he would rework it for Arnie starrer Commando in 1985). This points to a time where now it is perceived as being tactless and a relic, and yet it instils realism as it captures the zeitgeist of the era. So not one for the easily offended then, but for nostalgics and those interested in the expansion of the action comedy formula, then this is a must see that still delivers high octane entertainment. 8/10
- JPV852: Entertaining buddy action-comedy that features a good antagonistic relationship between Nolte and Murphy. The plot isn’t the strongest but the action/fight scenes were alright. **3.25/5**
- Andre Gonzales: Back to the old school. Love this movie. This is when cop movies started to have some comedy in it.

