First Blood (1982)

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

David Morrell (novel)
Michael Kozoll (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

One war against one man.

Plot:

A mentally unstable Vietnam war vet, when abused with a small town's police force, begins a one man war with it.

Plot Keywords:

Rambo | Sheriff | Colonel | Escape | Small Town

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Dec. 27	10:30 PM	AMC
Tue. Dec. 29	11:00 PM	AMC
Wed. Dec. 30	4:00 PM	AMC

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	John J. Rambo
Richard Crenna	...	Col. Samuel Trautman
Brian Dennehy	...	Hope Sheriff Will Teasle
Bill McKinney	...	State Police Capt. Dave Kern
Jack Starrett	...	Deputy Sgt. Arthur Galt
Michael Talbott	...	Deputy Balford
Chris Mulkey	...	Deputy Ward
John McLiam	...	Orval the Dog Man
Alf Humphreys	...	Deputy Lester
David Caruso	...	Deputy Mitch
David L. Crowley	...	Deputy Shingleton (as David Crowley)
Don MacKay	...	Preston (as Don Mackay)
Charles A. Tamburro	...	Pilot (as Chuck Tamburro)
David Petersen	...	Trooper
Craig Huston	...	Radio operator (as Craig Wright Huston)
Patrick Stack	...	National Guard Lt. Clinton Morgan
Stephen E. Miller	...	Guardsman #1
Raimund Stamm	...	Guardsman #2
Robert Metcalfe	...	Guardsman #3
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Guardsman #4
Bruce Greenwood	...	Guardsman #5
Earl Klein	...	Guardsman #6
Danny Wozna	...	Boy
Peter Lonstrup	...	Attendant
Mike Winlaw	...	TV reporter
Donald Adams	...	Don (National Guard commanding officer)
David Menzies	...	Miner
Frank Richter	...	Man on street #1
Graham L. Galativik	...	Man on street #2
Ian Hutchinson	...	Man on street #3
Amy Alexander	...	Woman on street
Gary Hetherington	...	Hunter
Alex Kliner	...	Hunter
R.G. Miller	...	Hunter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Chang	...	VC Commander (uncredited)
John Rigg	...	Bobby (base camp radio operator) (uncredited)

Directed by
Ted Kotcheff

Writing credits
David Morrell		(novel)
Michael Kozoll		(screenplay) &
William Sackheim		(screenplay) and
Sylvester Stallone		(screenplay)

Produced by
Buzz Feitshans	....	producer
Mario Kassar	....	executive producer
Herb Nanas	....	co-executive producer
Andrew G. Vajna	....	executive producer (as Andrew Vajna)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Andrew Laszlo		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joan E. Chapman		(as Joan Chapman)

Production Design by
Wolf Kroeger

Set Decoration by
Kimberley Richardson

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Salli Bailey	....	hair stylist
Ilona Herman	....	makeup artist
Phyllis Herman	....	makeup artist
Michael Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Paul L. Tucker	....	production manager (as Paul Tucker)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Otta Hanus	....	second assistant director
Jacques Hubert	....	third assistant director
Craig Huston	....	first assistant director (as Craig Wright Huston)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	second unit director

Art Department
Gary Brolly	....	stand-by carpenter (as Garry Brolly)
Wayne McLaughlin	....	assistant property master
Stéphane Reichel	....	art department coordinator
William Stout	....	storyboard artist
Grant Swain	....	property assistant
Bill Thumm	....	property master (as Bill Thumm)
David Willson	....	construction coordinator
Gary J. Williams	....	greensman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bub Asman	....	sound editor
Fred J. Brown	....	supervising sound editor
Juno J. Ellis	....	assistant sound editor
Erick Feitshans	....	assistant to sound department
Keith Henderson	....	boom operator
Steven Kilfoy	....	assistant to sound department
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist (as Margie Denecke)
Edward L. Sandlin	....	sound editor
Alan Snelling	....	sound recording engineer
Fred Stafford	....	sound editor
Leonard Wolf Jr.	....	apprentice sound editor
Rob Young	....	sound mixer
Judy Clapp	....	assistant sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
George Erschbamer	....	special effects assistant
Thomas L. Fisher	....	special effects coordinator (as Thomas Fisher)
John Thomas	....	special effects best boy

Visual Effects by
Thom Noble	....	visual consultant

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Bennie E. Dobbins	....	stunts (as Bennie Dobbins)
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunts (as Richard 'Diamond' Farnsworth)
Will Harper	....	stunts
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts (as Buddy Jo Hooker)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts
Bobby Sargent	....	stunts (as Bobby Sargeant)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Green	....	stunts (uncredited)
Don McGovern	....	stunt double: Sylvester Stallone (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John S. Bartley	....	lighting consultant (as John Bartley)
Arthur Collier	....	key grip: second unit (as Art Collier)
Shelley Degen	....	best boy
Theo Eglseder	....	first assistant camera
Russell Engels	....	chief gaffer (as Russ Engels)
Dave Gordon	....	dolly grip
Chris Harris	....	second assistant camera
Tim Hogan	....	key grip
John Holbrook	....	director of photography: second unit
Stephen Jackson	....	best boy
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer (as Joe Lederer)
Tom Neuwirth	....	helicopter camera operator (as Thomas Neuwirth)
Rod Parkhurst	....	director of photography: second unit
Curtis Petersen	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Curtis Peterson)
Brent Spencer	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator (as Jim Turrel)
John W. Scott	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lynne Carrow	....	additional casting
Lisa Freiberger	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christopher Ryan	....	wardrobe supervisor
Monica Araiz	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael Smith	....	assistant editor (as Mike Smith)
Pamela Jule Yuen	....	assistant editor (as Pamela Yuen)

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
David Paich	....	music arranger: "It's a Long Road"
Marty Paich	....	music arranger: "It's a Long Road"

Transportation Department
Bob Bowe	....	driver captain
Scott Irvine	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Lorraine Baird	....	assistant auditor
Lesley Beale	....	craft service
Lesley Beale	....	first aid
Jean Bereziuk	....	script: second unit
Fitch Cady	....	unit location: second unit
Jan Campbell	....	production assistant
Charlie Davidson	....	production accountant
Beth Hickman	....	assistant: Mr. Feitshans
Cindy James	....	dog handler
Jeanne Joe	....	assistant to executive producer
Mario Kassar	....	presenter
Gordon Mark	....	unit location manager
Diane Minshall	....	rat wrangler
Bridget Murphy	....	production office coordinator
Hugh Oaks	....	boar handler
Brigitte Roch	....	accounting clerk
Joanne Ryan	....	first aid
Syd Stembridge	....	weapons specialist
Karen Stewart	....	production secretary
Charles A. Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot
Andrew G. Vajna	....	presenter (as Andrew Vajna)
Ceci Vajna	....	assistant to executive producer

Production Companies

• Anabasis N.V.
• Elcajo Productions

Distributors

• Adams Filmi (1983) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1982) (UK) (theatrical)
• Orion Pictures Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• S.N. Prodis (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1983) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Stockholm Film (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (1983) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Artisan Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Guild Home Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Live Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Roadshow Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video (1983) (USA) (VHS)
• Transvídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (HD-DVD)

Other Companies

• Goldwyn Sound Facility  sound re-recorded at
• Intrada  score album released by
• Lynn Stalmaster, Toni Howard & Associates  casting (as Lynn Stalmaster Toni Howard and Associates)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by (remastered version)

Also Known As:

Rambo (USA) (TV title)
Rambo: First Blood
Rambo (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Rambo (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
A Fúria do Herói (Portugal) [pt]
Acorralado (Spain) [es]
First Blood (Denmark) [da]
Ilk kan (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Krigaren (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Pirveli siskhli (Georgia) [ka]
Rambo (Japan: English title) [en]
Rambo (Portugal) [pt]
Rambo (France) [fr]
Rambo (Hungary) [hu]
Rambo (Italy) [it]
Rambo - Programado Para Matar (Brazil) [pt]
Rambo - To proto aima (Greece) [el]
Rambo I (France) [fr]
Rambo-Prva Krv (Serbia) [sr]
Rambo: Le dévastateur (Canada: French title) [fr]
Rambo: Pierwsza krew (Poland) [pl]
Taistelija (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (video release) (1998) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) (1983) | Malaysia:18SG | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (re-rating) | USA:R (certificate #26816) | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | France:-12 | New Zealand:M (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R16 (VHS rating) | Norway:18 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Golden Ears Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Anabasis N.V.

Trivia:

Sylvester Stallone accidentally broke the nose of a stuntman during the prison escape scene by elbowing him in the face, which is why he is seen wearing a band-aid throughout the rest of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Teasle drops off Rambo near the bridge, he speeds away. He drives for about 20 seconds or so, and then he sees Rambo in the rear view mirror, walking back towards town. He throws the car in reverse and is instantly back at the spot where he dropped Rambo off.

Quotes:

Trautman: You did everything to make this private war happen. You've done enough damage. This mission is over, Rambo. Do you understand me? This mission is over! Look at them out there! Look at them! If you won't end this now, they will kill you. Is that what you want? It's over Johnny. It's over!
Rambo: Nothing is over! Nothing! You just don't turn it off! It wasn't my war! You asked me, I didn't ask you! And I did what I had to do to win! But somebody wouldn't let us win! And I come back to the world and I see all those maggots at the airport, protesting me, spitting. Calling me baby killer and all kinds of vile crap! Who are they to protest me? Who are they? Unless they've been me and been there and know what the hell they're yelling about!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saved by the Bell: Wrestling with the Future (#4.9)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

IT'S A LONG ROAD

Total classic

Everything about this movie rocks. From Goldsmith's rousing score to Stallone's perfect performance. Yes, you heard me. Stallone does act in this movie. I feel so sorry for Rambo. People are real nasty to him. Especially the deputy with the moustache. He was a real jerk. The scene in which Rambo finally explodes in the jail cell is way cool. The music that goes with this scene is SO intense.

I highly recommend this movie and the soundtrack. This is a proper movie by the way. I know that the character of Rambo became a 'little' exaggerated and silly in the sequels but do not let that alter your opinion of this movie.

The Pacific Northwest scenery is also very beautiful and atmospheric. The sound design seems to be crafted so that dialogue sound natural like it would in a mountain forest or in dead cold environments where the air cannot carry sound so well.

See this movie in widescreen to appreciate how cool it really is.