The Karate Kid (1984)

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writer:

Robert Mark Kamen (written by)

Release Date:

22 June 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Only the 'Old One' could teach him the secrets of the masters.

Plot:

A handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Plot Keywords:

Karate | Bully | Fight | Apartment | Master

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Ralph Macchio	...	Daniel Larusso
Pat Morita	...	Mr. Kesuke Miyagi (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Ali Mills
Martin Kove	...	John Kreese
Randee Heller	...	Lucille Larusso
William Zabka	...	Johnny Lawrence
Ron Thomas	...	Bobby Brown
Rob Garrison	...	Tommy
Chad McQueen	...	Dutch
Tony O'Dell	...	Jimmy
Israel Juarbe	...	Freddy Fernandez
William Bassett	...	Mr. Mills
Larry B. Scott	...	Jerry
Juli Fields	...	Susan
Dana Andersen	...	Barbara
Frank Burt Avalon	...	Chucky
Jeff Fishman	...	Billy
Ken Daly	...	Chris
Tom Fridley	...	Alan
Pat E. Johnson	...	Referee
Bruce Malmuth	...	Ring Announcer
Darryl Vidal	...	Vidal - Johnny's Semi-final Opponent
Frances Bay	...	Lady with Dog
Christopher Kriesa	...	Tournament Official
Bernie Kuby	...	Mr. Harris, History Teacher (as Bernard Kuby)
Joan Lemmo	...	Restaurant Manager
Helen Siff	...	Cashier (as Helen J. Siff)
Larry Drake	...	Yahoo #1 at Beach
David Abbott	...	Yahoo #2 at Beach
Molly Basler	...	Cheerleading Coach
Brian Davis	...	Boy in Bathroom
David De Lange	...	Waiter
Erik Felix	...	Karate Student
Peter Jason	...	Soccer Coach
Todd Lookinland	...	Chicken Boy
Clarence McGee Jr.	...	Referee #2
William Norren	...	Doctor
Sam Scarber	...	Referee #3
Scott Strader	...	Eddie, Ali's Friend in the Corvette
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Casamassa	...	Tournament Guest (uncredited)
Tom Levy	...	Cheering Kid (uncredited)
Andrew Shue	...	Member of Cobra Kai (uncredited)

Directed by
John G. Avildsen

Writing credits
Robert Mark Kamen		(written by)

Produced by
R.J. Louis	....	executive producer
Bud S. Smith	....	associate producer
Jerry Weintraub	....	producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
James Crabe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John G. Avildsen
Walt Mulconery
Bud S. Smith		(as Bud Smith)

Casting by
Pennie DuPont
Caro Jones
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
William J. Cassidy

Set Decoration by
John H. Anderson

Costume Design by
Richard Bruno
Aida Swenson

Makeup Department
E. Thomas Case	....	makeup artist
Cheri Ruff	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Howard Pine	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Choi	....	trainee assistant director
Clifford C. Coleman	....	first assistant director
Hope R. Goodwin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman
Sam Gordon	....	property master
William F. Matthews	....	set designer
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Norval D. Crutcher	....	sound effects editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound effects editor
Thomas Cunliffe	....	boom operator
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert J. Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Hodges	....	sound mixer
J. Paul Huntsman	....	post-production dialogue
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Knudsen)
Clive Taylor	....	sound recordist
Glenn T. Morgan	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Frank Toro	....	special effects

Stunts
Johnny Atkinson	....	stunts (as John Atkinson)
Clarke Coleman	....	stunts
David Crockett	....	stunts
Fumio Demura	....	stunts
Pat Green	....	stunts
Gary Hillenbeck	....	stunts
Douglas Ivan	....	stunts
Buck McDancer	....	stunts
Bob Nichimura	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator
Pat Romano	....	stunts (as Patrick Romano)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)
Spike Silver	....	stunts
Lance Turner	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Luke LaFontaine	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter J. Breen	....	dolly grip
Malcolm Bryce	....	electrician
Allen D. Easton	....	first assistant camera
Brad Edmiston	....	first assistant camera
Joel Kirschner	....	second assistant camera
John London	....	key grip
Ross A. Maehl	....	gaffer
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Nelson Jr.)
Patrick G. Ralston	....	best boy (as Pat Ralston)
Stephen St. John	....	Steadicam operator
Jonathan West	....	camera operator
Don Zobel	....	best boy

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	associate editor
Seth Flaum	....	associate editor
M. Scott Smith	....	associate editor

Music Department
Brooks Arthur	....	music supervisor
Stephen A. Hope	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Gheorghe Zamfir	....	musician: pan flute
Angela Morley	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Celia Weiner	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alan Falco	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Richard Davis Jr.	....	location manager (as Richard Davis)
Pete Emmet	....	unit publicist
Alvin Greenman	....	script supervisor
Jeannie Jeha	....	production coordinator
Pat E. Johnson	....	martial arts choreographer
Pat Romano	....	instructor: bicycle riding (as Patrick Romano)

Production Companies

• Delphi Films
• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Varèse Sarabande  score album released by (limited edition)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | UK:12 (re-rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

19223 Saticoy Street, Reseda, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Delphi Films

Trivia:

Elisabeth Shue's second movie. The first movie was Somewhere, Tomorrow.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the part where Ali trips the members of the Cobra Kai at the Halloween dance, if you watch closely you can see the one Cobra Kai crack a smile as he falls for a brief second. Watch the one on the far right side of the screen as he falls on the other.

Quotes:

Ring Announcer: [Daniel has just scored the winning point with a kick to Johnny's chin, thus winning the championship... ring announcer prepares to present trophy] OUR NEW CHAMPION!
Johnny Lawrence: [with bloodied face taking trophy from ring announcer and presenting it himself to Daniel] You're all right, LaRusso! Good match!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "How I Met Your Mother: The Stinsons (#4.15)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

NO SHELTER

Best American martial arts movie ever made

This movie will perhaps be remembered as the best martial arts movie ever made. Movies of this genre are usually more concerned with action scenes that the stories tend to be poor and appeal to the audience on a short run. With the exception of Kurosawa's films, the Karate Kid is perhaps one of the best and most popular martial arts movies ever. Ralph Macchio, who is also good in "the Outsiders," does a fine portrayal of the novice, frustrated Daniel Larusso (he was 23 years old when he made this film??). Equally superb is the wise and "cool-as-a-cucumber" Mr. Miyagi, played by Pat Morita. Once again, John G. Avildsen has directed a film that glorifies the fiesty nature of underdogs. This is the "Rocky" movie of the 80's.