- published: 27 Jul 2015
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Blue Thunder is a 1983 feature film that features a high-tech helicopter of the same name. The movie was directed by John Badham and stars Roy Scheider. A spin-off television series also called Blue Thunder lasted 11 episodes in 1984.
Francis McNeil "Frank" Murphy (Roy Scheider) is a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter-pilot-officer and troubled Vietnam War veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). His field partner is the newly assigned Richard Lymangood (Daniel Stern), who is given the nickname "JAFO". The two patrol Los Angeles at night and give assistance to police cars below.
Murphy is selected to pilot the world's most advanced helicopter, nicknamed "Blue Thunder," which is essentially a military-style combat helicopter intended for police use in surveillance and large-scale civic disobedience. With powerful armament, stealth technology that allows it to fly virtually undetected, and other accoutrements (such as infrared scanners, powerful microphones and cameras, and a U-Matic VCR), Blue Thunder appears to be a formidable tool in the war on crime.
Blue Thunder is a specially modified helicopter. It is for police work, but is armed and designed to counter street insurgencies. Its makers want to show what it will do, but have to train Los Angeles Police pilot Frank Murphy to fly and use it in order to allow it to operate in the city. Murphy and the project pilot have differences going back to Vietnam. The conflict between them continues to heat up as Murphy begins to suspect that Blue Thunder is more than has been disclosed.
Keywords: 7-eleven, acrobatic-flight, advanced-technology, airplane-shot-down, animosity, attack-helicopter, automatic-weapon, aviation, bound-and-gagged, car-chase
Jack Braddock: You think I don't know about that silly twit up in Encino, for Chrissakes? I had twenty years in this outfit, when your idea of a good time was sittin' in front of the TV tube, watchin' Bugs Bunny and gnawing on your fudgcicle.
Jack Braddock: [after Lymangood interrupts him chewing out Murphy] You're supposed to be stupid, son. Don't abuse the privilege.
Jack Braddock: But there's a bright side to this, and a moral. I think morals are good for you, I love morals, and the moral of this story is: If you're walkin' on eggs, don't hop.
Sgt. Short: This ship is equipped with a forward-mounted, twenty-millimeter electric cannon. Its six barrels are capable of firing four thousand rounds of ammunition per minute. And that, gentlemen, is one hell of a shit-storm in anybody's language!
Frank Murphy: That's Cochrane, F.E., US Army.::Lymangood: Cochrane, F.E. What's the "F.E." stand for?::Frank Murphy: "Fuck Everybody."
[Murphy and Lymangood are flying a formation exercise with Cochrane]::Col. F.E. Cochrane: Come on, Keep it tight!::Lymangood: Christ! Any closer and we start eating blades!::Frank Murphy: [mimicking Cochrane's British accent] We're following his leader!
Lymangood: You mind if I ask you what you're doing.::Frank Murphy: No... I don't mind at all.
Frank Murphy: Grab your ankles and kiss your ass goodbye Jafo. We're going down.
Col. F.E. Cochrane: You threatening me, Murphy?::Frank Murphy: No, I'm telling you. Back off!
[Murphy is looking over Blue Thunder's cockpit after the demonstration]::Col. F.E. Cochrane: Could have used this in 'Nam.::Frank Murphy: Could have used something.