Police Academy (franchise)
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| Police Academy film series | |
|---|---|
 Police Academy DVD boxset |
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| Directed by | Hugh Wilson (PA) Jerry Paris (2 & 3) Jim Drake (4) Alan Myerson (5) Peter Bonerz (6) Alan Metter (7) |
| Produced by | Paul Maslansky |
| Starring | G. W. Bailey Steve Guttenberg Bubba Smith Leslie Easterbrook George Gaynes Michael Winslow |
| Music by | Robert Folk |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | 1984-1994 |
| Running time | 627 min. (total) |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Gross revenue | $231.2 million |
Police Academy is a long-running series of comedy films, the first six of which were made in the 1980s. The seventh and to date last installment, Mission to Moscow, was released in 1994.
The series opened with Police Academy (1984) which started with the premise that a new mayor had announced a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The movie followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers. The main character, Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), was a repeat offender who was forced to join the police academy as punishment.
In general, all of the movies and television shows depended on low-brow humor, usually based on simple characterizations and physical comedy. As with many similar movies, the theme was a group of underdogs struggling to prove themselves while various stereotyped authority figures tried to suppress them. The sequels have not been well received by some critics over the years.
The first film grossed $81.2 million in North America, with the following films earning $150 million in total.
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[edit] Movie details
[edit] Police Academy
A new mayor has announced a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The movie followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers and their adventures at the police academy.
Released: 1984
Director: Hugh Wilson
Characters:
- Chief Henry Hurst (George Robertson)
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard (George Gaynes)
- Capt. Reed (Ted Ross)
- Lt. Thaddeus Harris (G.W. Bailey)
- Sgt. Debbie Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook)
- Cadet Cpt. Kyle Blankes (Brant von Hoffman)
- Cadet Cpt. Chad Copeland (Scott Thomson (actor))
- Cadet Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg)
- Cadet Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith)
- Cadet Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf)
- Cadet Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow)
- Cadet Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler)
- Cadet Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey)
- Cadet Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall)
- Cadet Leslie Barbara (Donovan Scott)
- Cadet George Martin (Andrew Rubin (actor))
- Mrs. Fackler (Debralee Scott)
- Hooker (Georgina Spelvin)
This film is number 59 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".
[edit] Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
The newly graduated cadets are sent to one of the worst precincts in the city to improve the conditions. Lt. Mauser undermines their attempts so that he can get Capt. Lassard fired and get the position in charge.
Released: 1985
Director: Jerry Paris
Characters:
- Chief Henry Hurst
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Capt. Peter Lassard
- Lt. Mauser
- Sgt. Proctor
- Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland
- Officer Carey Mahoney
- Officer Moses Hightower
- Officer Eugene Tackleberry
- Officer Larvell Jones
- Officer Douglas Fackler
- Officer Laverne Hooks
- Sgt. Vinnie Schtulman (Peter Van Norden)
- Sgt. Dooley (Ed Herlihy)
- Sgt. Sistrunk (Sandy Ward)
- Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait)
- Sweetchuck
- Mr. Kirkland (Arthur Batanides)
- Mrs. Kirkland (Jackie Joseph)
- Bud Kirkland (Andrew Paris)
[edit] Police Academy 3: Back in Training
When the governor of the state announces that budget cuts are in order to get rid of the worst of the two police academies, the Metropolitan police academy, led by Cmndt. Lassard, work on ensuring it is not theirs. This is hindered by their unusual gang of new cadets.
Released: 1986
Director: Jerry Paris
Characters:
- Chief Henry Hurst
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Cmndt. Mauser, Midcity Police Academy
- Cpt. Proctor
- Lt. Debbie Callahan
- Sgt. Carey Mahoney
- Sgt. Moses Hightower
- Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
- Sgt. Larvell Jones
- Sgt. Douglas Fackler
- Sgt. Laverne Hooks
- Sgt. Kyle Blankes
- Sgt. Chad Copeland
- Cadet Nogata (Brian Tochi)
- Cadet Fackler (Debralee Scott)
- Cadet Hedges (David Huband)
- Cadet Bud Kirkland
- Cadet Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait)
- Cadet Sweetchuck
- Cadet Karen Adams (Shawn Weatherly)
- Governor Neilson (Ed Nelson)
[edit] Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
New recruits are brought in when the officers work with a newly formed Citizens On Patrol group. However, Harris and Proctor are in charge and plan to dismantle the program.
Released: 1987
Director: Jim Drake
Characters:
- Commissioner Henry Hurst
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Capt. Thaddeus Harris
- Lt. Proctor
- Lt. Debbie Callahan
- Sgt. Carey Mahoney
- Sgt. Moses Hightower
- Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
- Sgt. Larvell Jones
- Sgt. Laverne Hooks
- Sgt. Chad Copeland
- Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland-Tackleberry
- Officer Bud Kirkland
- Officer Zed
- Officer Sweetchuck
- Officer Nogata
- Mr. & Mrs. Kirkland
- Claire Mattson (Sharon Stone)
- C.O.P. Milt Butterworth (Derek McGrath)
- C.O.P. Mrs. Lois Feldman (Billie Bird)
- C.O.P. Laura (Corinne Bohrer)
- C.O.P. Artie (Brian Backer)
- C.O.P. Kyle (David Spade)
- C.O.P. Thomas "House" Conklin (Tab Thacker)
[edit] Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
The officers attend a police convention in Florida where Cmndt. Lassard inadvertently switches his briefcase with that of a group of jewel thieves. The thieves try to get it back.
Released: 1988
Director: Alan Myerson
Characters:
- Commissioner Henry Hurst
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Capt. Thaddeus Harris
- Lt. Proctor
- Lt. Debbie Callahan
- Sgt. Nick Lassard (Matt McCoy)
- Sgt. Moses Hightower
- Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
- Sgt. Larvell Jones
- Sgt. Laverne Hooks
- Officer Thomas "House" Conklin
- Mayor of Miami (James Hampton)
- Kate (Janet Jones)
- Tony (Rene Auberjonois)
[edit] Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
When the city suffers from a dangerous set of crimes by a gang of jewel thieves, the Metropolitan Police Academy graduates are brought in to do something about it.
Released: 1989
Director: Peter Bonerz
Characters:
- Commissioner Henry Hurst
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Capt. Debbie Callahan
- Capt. Thaddeus Harris
- Lt. Proctor
- Lt. Moses Hightower
- Sgt. Nick Lassard
- Sgt. Douglas Fackler
- Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
- Sgt. Larvell Jones
- Sgt. Laverne Hooks
- The Mayor/Mastermind (Kenneth Mars)
- Ace (Gerrit Graham)
- Flash (Brian Seeman)
- Ox (Darwyn Swalve)
[edit] Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow
The officers go to Russia to help catch an international crime figure.
Released: 1994
Director: Alan Metter
Characters:
- Cmndt. Eric Lassard
- Capt. Debbie Callahan
- Capt. Thaddeus Harris
- Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
- Sgt. Larvell Jones
- Cadet Kyle Connors (Charlie Schlatter)
- Commandant Alexandrei Nikolaivich Rakov (Christopher Lee)
- Lt. Yuri Talinsky (Gregg Berger)
- Sgt. Katrina (Claire Forlani)
- Konstantine Konali (Ron Perlman)
- Adam Sharp (Richard Israel)
[edit] Future
Plans were in motion for an eighth Police Academy MAHONEY edition film to be released in 2007 after a decade of absence.[1] Says series creator Paul Maslansky: "I felt it was time to start again. I saw that Starsky & Hutch and a number of other revivals were doing really well. Police Academy has such a great history, so I thought, 'Why not?'"[2] Most of the main cast members were due to return,[3] except David Graf (Eugene Tackleberry), who died of a heart attack in April of 2001. Hugh Wilson was slated to direct.[4]
Leslie Easterbrook and Marion Ramsey mentioned that filming for the next Police Academy film was due to start shooting in summer 2006 for a release in 2007.[5] The film was shelved in October, 2006. Leslie Easterbrook did mention that there was still hope for a direct to DVD sequel. She added that while Warner Bros. wanted to do one, they wanted a producer to get independent financing.[6][7] In May 2008 Michael Winslow replied to a question about a possible new Police Academy film: “Anything’s possible. You’ve got to hope for Paul Maslansky and those folks over there to put it together. It’s up to them. It would be great to see everyone again.“[8]
[edit] Quotes
- Harris: "You make me sick."
- Mahoney: "Thank you sir, I make everybody sick."
- Captain Harris approaches a bar where Cmdt. Lassard, Chief Hurst, Chief Murdock, and the Mayor of Miami is seated. He does not realize what had been burned on to his chest.
- Harris: "Oh, Mr. Mayor. Excuse me sir. I don't mean to insult your city, but the people on this beach are very rude and hostile."
- Mayor: "Well, I'm sorry to hear that...Captain Dork!"
- Everyone breaks down laughing. Captain Harris finally realizes that the word "Dork" had been burned on to his chest.
Later, Jones is seen talking to a parrot at a pet store. Harris and Proctor walk by the pet store as Jones leaves.
- Parrot: *squawks* Hey Dork! Hey Dork!
- Hooks: "DON'T MOVE, DIRTBAG!!!!" (recurring line)
- In Capt. Harris' office, Proctor is playing with Harris' Newton's cradle.
- Harris: (screams) "DON'T TOUCH THOSE! DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH MY BALLS WITHOUT ASKING!"
- Slowly turning to see the entire squad (who can't see the newton's cradle) watching them
- Academy dormitory, Cadet Nogata is walking to Jones' room, and hears a house beat playing. He opens the door to find Jones himself providing the beat, pretending to play a synthesizer.
- Nogata: "Excuse me, perhaps I should come back later, when all is well with your mind?"
- Jones pretends to pull an earphone from his ear
- Jones: "My mind's about as well as it gets, but you look a little tense."
[edit] Blue Oyster Bar
The Blue Oyster Bar is a fictional bar, and the setting of a recurring gag-scene of the comedy film series Police Academy.
The bar is a stereotypical depiction of a leathermen's/bear gay bar, featuring patrons dressed up as bikers in leather clothing, sailors, and other stereotypical masculine gay fashion archetypes.
Within the Police Academy film series, unsuspecting characters periodically enter the bar unaware of its nature (this usually happens as a prank by the lead characters). Once inside, a group of patrons are depicted as leering towards the police officer/s and ready to force the frightened victims to dance with them, invariably to a tango called "El Bimbo", a 1972 hit for creators Bimbo Jet.
The Blue Oyster Bar only appeared in the first four Police Academy movies. Among those lured into the place were...
- Cadets Blankes and Copeland (twice in the first movie; once intentionally by Mahoney, once accidentally in order to avoid rioters)
- Sweetchuck (as a civilian in the second movie, although he manages to escape after a brief tango)
- Proctor (in the third and fourth movies)
- Captain Harris (in the fourth movie)
[edit] Theme song
- There is an instrumental theme used throughout the series. However, a pop song entitled I'm Gonna Be Somebody by Jack Mack is used at the end of #1. For #4, a rap song (with the same title as the film) Citizens on Patrol was written by John Debney and sung by Michael Winslow & The L.A. Dream Team.
[edit] Television series
There were two syndicated television series loosely based on the film.
[edit] Animated Police Academy
The first was Police Academy, an animated series in 1988 lasting two seasons.
[edit] Police Academy: The Series
The second spin-off television series was Police Academy: The Series, a live action show starring Joe Flaherty in 1997, lasting only one season.
[edit] References
- ^ Police Academy 8 is in the works
- ^ New "Police Academy" movie in the works
- ^ What's happening with Police Academy 8? at Moviehole
- ^ Police Academy 8
- ^ Police Academy shuts down
- ^ Police Academy (2007)
- ^ Police Academy dead?
- ^ http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/51617/the_den_of_geek_interview_michael_winslow.html
[edit] External links
- Police Academy at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 3: Back in Training at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 6: City Under Siege at the Internet Movie Database
- Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow at the Internet Movie Database
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Police Academy
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| Films: Police Academy | 2: Their First Assignment | 3: Back in Training | 4: Citizens on Patrol | 5: Assignment Miami Beach | 6: City Under Siege | Mission to Moscow | 8 (TBA) | |||
| Characters: List of Main Characters | Eric Lassard | Moses Hightower | |||
| Related: Animated TV series | Police Academy: The Series | Police Academy Stunt Show | Blue Oyster Bar | |||
