The Hard Way (1991)

Director:

John Badham

Writers (WGA):

Lem Dobbs (story) and
Michael Kozoll (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

8 March 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

There's only one way these two are going to get along...

Plot:

An action film star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York cop, who finds him superficial and irritating.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Detective | Tuxedo | Movie Star | Arrest

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Nick Lang / Ray Casanov
James Woods	...	Detective Lt. John Moss, NYPD
Stephen Lang	...	Party Crasher
Annabella Sciorra	...	Susan
John Capodice	...	Detective Grainy, NYPD
Luis Guzmán	...	Detective Benny Pooley, NYPD (as Luis Guzman)
LL Cool J	...	Detective Billy, NYPD
Mary Mara	...	Detective China, NYPD
Delroy Lindo	...	Captain Brix, NYPD
Conrad Roberts	...	Witherspoon, Gun Dealer
Penny Marshall	...	Angie, Nick's Agent
Christina Ricci	...	Bonnie
George Cheung	...	Drug Dealer
Frank Geraci	...	Newsman
Sophie Maletsky	...	Pizza Waitress
Lewis Black	...	Banker
Rand Foerster	...	Banker
Anderson Matthews	...	Banker
Kathy Najimy	...	Lang's Girl Friday
Mos Def	...	Dead Romeos (as Dante Smith)
Dwayne McClary	...	Dead Romeos
Sharrieff Pugh	...	Dead Romeos
Anthony Thomas	...	Dead Romeos
Howard 'Stick' Baines	...	Dead Romeos
Shawn McLean	...	Dead Romeos
Curtis McClarin	...	Dead Romeos (as Curtis L. McClarin)
Keenan Leung	...	Asian Gang Leader
Reno	...	Diner Waitress
Jack Gindi	...	Ticket Taker
John Costelloe	...	Fake Dead Guy / Cop
Leif Riddell	...	Head Mugger
Johnny Sanchez	...	Mugger
Joseph Tripi	...	Mugger (credit only)
Karen Lynn Gorney	...	Woman in Subway
Janet Sarno	...	Continental Representative
Holly Kuespert	...	Smoking Gun Girl
John Ring	...	Homeboy Cop
Michael Jeffrey Woods	...	Cop (as Michael Jeffery Woods)
William Truesdale	...	Witherspoon's Bodyguard
Mark Woodcock	...	Clothing Salesman
Ed Setrakian	...	Chief Villain
David Sosna	...	Billy the Frog Dog Vendor (as David O. Sosna)
Adore O'Hara	...	Dead Entertainer
Michael Badalucco	...	Pizza Man
Jordanna Freedman	...	Moviegoer
Merrill Witten	...	Scared Subway Woman
Fracaswell Hyman	...	Wino
Mario Bosco	...	Boy in Theater
Bryant Gumbel	...	Himself - on TV
Jan Speck	...	Frank, TV Reporter
Bill Cobbs	...	Raggedy Man
Isabella Martinez Wall	...	Billy's girlfriend (as Isabella Martinez)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George G. Colucci	...	Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Anibal O. Lleras	...	Detective (uncredited)
Kariim Ratcliff	...	Movie Goer (uncredited)
Charles Scorsese	...	Senior Citizen (uncredited)
Frank Stellato	...	Subway yuppie (uncredited)

Directed by
John Badham

Writing credits (WGA)
Lem Dobbs		(story) and
Michael Kozoll		(story)
Daniel Pyne		(screenplay) and
Lem Dobbs		(screenplay)

Produced by
D.J. Caruso	....	associate producer
Rob Cohen	....	producer
Peter R. McIntosh	....	co-producer
Keith Rubinstein	....	associate producer
William Sackheim	....	producer

Original Music by
Arthur B. Rubinstein

Cinematography by
Donald McAlpine		(as Don McAlpine)
Robert Primes

Film Editing by
Tony Lombardo
Frank Morriss

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Philip Harrison

Art Direction by
John Kasarda

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode

Costume Design by
Mary E. Vogt		(as Mary Vogt)

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist (as Joe Coscia)
Joe Cuervo	....	makeup artist: second unit
Deborah La Mia Denaver	....	hair stylist: James Woods (as Deborah Lamia Denevar)
Deborah La Mia Denaver	....	makeup artist: James Woods (as Deborah Lamia Denevar)
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist: second unit (as William Farley)
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup artist
Rick Provenzano	....	hair stylist: Michael J. Fox (as Richard Provenzano)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist: Michael J. Fox

Production Management
Celia D. Costas	....	additional unit production manager
Eva Fryer	....	unit production manager: second unit
Peter R. McIntosh	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cyd Adams	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Tony Adler	....	second assistant director
Rob Cohen	....	second unit director
Michael DeCasper	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Susan E. Fiore	....	dga trainee (as Susan Fiore)
John E. Gallagher	....	second second assistant director: second unit (as John Gallagher)
Lorin Prince	....	dga trainee
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	second assistant director: second unit
Frank Serrano	....	second second assistant director
David Sosna	....	first assistant director
Nathalie Vadim	....	first assistant director: second unit
Harvey Waldman	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Gary Aharoni	....	assistant props: second unit (as Gary Aharony)
Kenneth Albanese	....	head carpenter
Richard T. Allen	....	construction coordinator (as Dick Allen)
Michael Badalucco	....	property assistant
Charley Beal	....	assistant art director (as Charlie Beal)
John Davis	....	storyboard artist
Dan Ditolla	....	assistant property master: second unit
James V. Gartland	....	construction coordinator
Jennifer Goble Klein	....	art department assistant (as Jennifer Goble)
Jeffrey Jirgal	....	construction grip (as Jeff Jirgal)
Nikita Knatz	....	storyboard artist
John Magoun	....	assistant art director
James Mazzola	....	property master
Jeff Mazzola	....	assistant property master
James L. Roberts	....	property master: second unit (as Jim Roberts)
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic
James Sorice	....	scenic chargeman
Eric Stepper	....	property master: second unit
Tom Warren	....	assistant art director
Dave Weinman	....	leadman
Chip Eccles	....	shop craftsman (uncredited)
Michael Scarola	....	construction grip (uncredited)
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jim Bolt)
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
Joel Fein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
James J. Isaacs	....	sound editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley recordist
Greg W. Lowe	....	adr recordist
Kelly L. Manger	....	assistant sound editor
William L. Manger	....	supervising sound editor
Dean G. Manly	....	assistant sound editor (as Dean Manly)
Keith Mouat	....	sound editor
Richard Oswald	....	dialogue editor
John Phillips	....	sound editor (as John M. Phillips)
Albert Romero	....	dubbing recordist
James Sabat	....	sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	sound editor (as Solange S. Boisseau)
Tanya Sharp David	....	adr mixer
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Beetham	....	project manager: Showtech Inc.
Gary F. Bentley	....	special effects crew (as Gary Bentley)
Jeff Brink	....	special effects crew
Danny Cangemi	....	special effects crew (as Dan Cangemi)
Tom Catalano	....	special effects crew
Casey Cavanaugh	....	special effects crew
Paul Dale	....	scenic artist: Showtech Inc.
Edward Drohan IV	....	special effects crew
Ernie Foster	....	scenic artist: Showtech Inc.
Alida G. Frattorola	....	scenic artist: Showtech Inc. (as Alida Frattarola)
William Gorlin	....	engineering: Showtech Inc.
Dan Hoffman	....	animation and effects supervisor: Showtech Inc.
Richard Huggins	....	stone effects: Theater Magic
Jeff Jarvis	....	special effects coordinator
Anthony Maggi	....	special effects crew
Mike Maggi	....	special effects crew
John McLeod	....	special effects crew
William G. Mensching	....	technical supervisor: Showtech Inc.
Michael Wayne Miles	....	sculpture supervisor: Showtech Inc.
Andrew Miller	....	special effects crew
John Ottesen	....	special effects crew
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects crew
Richard Prouse	....	scenic artist: Showtech Inc.
Mike Reedy	....	special effects crew
Gary Schaedler	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Michael Talarico	....	Vistavision plate cameraman (as Michael J. Talarico)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts (as Daniel Aiello III)
Nancy Ellen Anzalone	....	stunts (as Nancy Ellen)
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Dana D. Bertolette	....	stunts (as Dana Bertoletic)
Paul Bucossi	....	stunts (as Paul R. Bucosi)
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt double: Michael J. Fox
Kerrie Cullen	....	stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts (as Norman L. Douglass)
C.J. Evans	....	stunts
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Dick Hancock	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunt double: Stephan Lang
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts
Ken Kenski	....	stunts
Barbara Anne Klein	....	stunts (as Barbara Klein)
Steven Lambert	....	stunt double: James Woods
Conan Lee	....	stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator
Diane Peterson	....	stunts
Pee Wee Piemonte	....	stunts (as Richard Piomonti)
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts (as Debbie Lynn Ross)
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunts
Lawrence Tan	....	stunts
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lori Seaman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Balzarini	....	video assist operator (as Robert Balzarini)
Jessica Burstein	....	still photographer: second unit
Russell Caldwell	....	lamp operator (as Edward Tobin)
A. Anthony Cappello	....	second assistant camera
Jerry DeBlau	....	best boy electric (as Jerry Deblau)
John W. DeBlau	....	gaffer (as John Deblau)
S. Karin Epstein	....	still photographer (as Karin Epstein)
Ken Finlay	....	gaffer: second unit (as Kenneth Finlay)
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer (as Richard Ford)
Ron Fortunato	....	director of photography: second unit
Bill Gerardo	....	second assistant camera
Vinnie Gerardo	....	first assistant camera
David Greene	....	camera operator: second unit
Jeff Hand	....	Steadicam assistant
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Doug Hart)
Chaim Kantor	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Stan Keitt	....	second assistant camera: second unit
David Knox	....	Steadicam operator
Dave Lowry	....	grip
Edward W. Lowry	....	dolly grip (as Edward Lowry)
Martin Lowry	....	dolly grip
Bruce MacCallum	....	camera operator: second unit
Bobby Mancuso	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Billy Miller	....	key grip: second unit
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator
John Panuccio	....	best boy grip (as John Pannuccio)
Peter John Petraglia	....	lamp operator (as John Petraglia)
Tom Prate	....	key grip (as Tom Prate Jr.)
Frank Rinato	....	camera trainee
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer (as Andy Schwartz)
Lance Shepherd	....	lamp operator
William H. Steiner	....	camera operator (as Bill Steiner)
Joseph Trammell	....	video playback operator (as Joe Trammell)
Joseph Viano	....	grip
Mark Volpe	....	grip
Roy H. Wagner	....	additional photographer: second unit
Alicia Weber	....	consulting cinematographer (as Alicia Webber)
Tom Weston	....	camera operator: second unit
Ron Zarilla	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)
Eric Leigh	....	generator operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jeff Block	....	casting associate
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Timothy McDowell	....	extras casting assistant (as Tim McDowell)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Timothy Alberts	....	set costumer
Robert Musco	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (as Robert E. Musco)
George Potts	....	assistant costume designer
James Roberts	....	costumer: second unit
Guy Tanno	....	costume supervisor: second unit
Rose Trimarco	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (as Rose Cuervo)

Editorial Department
Dale Caldwell	....	color timer
Emma E. Hickox	....	assistant editor
Robert Hyams	....	assistant editor
Jeff Jones	....	associate editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Dallas Puett	....	associate editor
Ray Sabo	....	negative cutter
David Tweet	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John D. Berkman	....	musician: keyboard (as John Berkman)
Bruce Botnick	....	music mixer
Dennis Budimir	....	musician: guitar
John Caper Jr.	....	supervising music editor
Chuck Domanico	....	musician: bass
Michael Fisher	....	musician: percussion (as Mike Fisher)
Mark Hoder	....	orchestrator (as Mark J. Hoder)
Douglas M. Lackey	....	music editor (as Doug Lackey)
Joel C. Peskin	....	musician: saxophone
Arthur B. Rubinstein	....	musician: keyboard
David Rubinstein	....	musician: keyboard (as David S. Rubinstein)
Steve Schaeffer	....	musician: drums
Richard Stewart	....	assistant music editor (as Rick Stewart)
Efrain Toro	....	musician: percussion
Don Williams	....	musician: percussion
Bob Zimmitti	....	musician: percussion

Transportation Department
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation coordinator (as Steve Hammond)
Tom Heilig	....	transportation captain
Edward O'Donnell	....	transportation captain: second unit
Peter Tavis	....	transportation captain: second unit (as Pete Tavis)
Richard Curry	....	driver: James Wood (uncredited)

Other crew
Ken Aguado	....	staff: Badham/Cohen Group
Alexis Alexanian	....	production coordinator: second unit
Gardner E. Baldwin	....	location production assistant (as Gardner Baldwin)
Paul Bode	....	location production assistant
Jonathan Brandstein	....	staff: Badham/Cohen Group
Kelly Breidenbach	....	assistant: Mr. Cohen
Judith Lyn Brown	....	production coordinator: second unit (as Judith Lynn Brown)
Bobbie Bryan	....	stand-in: Michael J. Fox
Alexandra Cohen	....	office production assistant (as Alexandra 'Dusty' Cohen)
Christie Colliopoulos	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
Justin Cooke	....	location scout
Cammie Crier	....	assistant: Mr. Badham
Gail Crosby	....	assistant: Mr. Sackheim
Joe Daly	....	production assistant: second unit
Antoine Douaihy	....	location coordinator
Dianne Dreyer	....	script supervisor
Frank Dutro	....	computer consultant: Macintosh
Lee Falon	....	location assistant: second unit
T. Sean Ferguson	....	location production assistant (as Sean Ferguson)
John Fischer	....	production assistant: second unit
Jeff Flach	....	location coordinator
Patricia Freebery	....	office assistant: second unit (as Pat Freebery)
Lisa Fuelle	....	stand-in: Annabella Sciorra
Joie Gregory	....	location assistant: second unit
Alan Haft	....	assistant: Mr. Woods
Brad Hamler	....	stand-in: Stephen Lang
Ingrid Johanson	....	production coordinator
Caroline Kallas	....	assistant: Mr. Badham
Eddee Kolos	....	production assistant: second unit
Scott Kordish	....	production assistant: second unit
Nancy Kriegel	....	assistant accountant
Ilene S. Landress	....	assistant production accountant: second unit (as Ilene Landress)
Amy Lauritsen	....	production assistant: second unit
Kathleen McGill	....	production accountant
Carlos Moore	....	location production assistant
Deirdre Morgan	....	script supervisor: second unit
Mindy Morgenstern	....	office production assistant
Jeni Munn	....	staff: Badham/Cohen Group
Ed Murphy	....	stand-in: James Woods
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Daniel Nalepka	....	location production assistant (as Dan Nalepka)
Lois Nalepka	....	office production assistant
Peter Pastorelli	....	location manager: second unit
Bridget Pickering	....	assistant: Ms. Timmermann
Michael Risoli	....	armorer
Michael Risoli	....	studio manager
Patty Rivers Schisler	....	assistant accountant (as Patty Rivers Gillis)
Susan Rossi	....	location production assistant
Brigette Roux-Lough	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
Hope Shaw	....	assistant accountant
Carol Shedd	....	assistant production coordinator
Adam Stover	....	location production assistant
Les Sturkey	....	security: Mr. Woods
Neri Kyle Tannenbaum	....	location manager
Matthew T. Weiner	....	location production assistant (as Matthew Weiner)
Roni Wheeler	....	production assistant: second unit (as Roni Wheeler Poole)
Nicholas Wolfert	....	production assistant
James Wood	....	technical police advisor
Eric David Zoback	....	location production assistant (as Eric Zoback)
Nathan Gendzier	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Ethan Goldman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Geoffrey Kleinman	....	production office intern: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Aaron Sadovsky	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Phillip Schenkler	....	cost estimator (uncredited)
Adam M. Stone	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Douglas Tirola	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Badham-Cohen Group, The
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1991) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Italy:T | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Badham-Cohen Group, The

Trivia:

Mos Def's film debut.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Nick Lang first meets the captain in his office, the captain asks for a autograph. You hear Nick say "Absolutely" but his mouth does not move.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Operator: 9-1-1 Emergency.
Party Crasher: Hello there! It's me - again! Well, what can I say? I'm about to crash another party.

Movie Connections:

References Saboteur (1942)

Soundtrack:

La mare a (karnaval)

Wham! Pow! Bam!

"The Hard Way" is a good old fashioned popcorn flick which gets off to a fast start and keeps moving until the credits roll. Fox plays an Indiana Jones type adventure movie star who goes to NYC to hang with a badass cop (Woods) to learn what being a cop is like and becomes embroiled in a serial killer caper. The well crafted, unpredictable screenplay is chock full of action, comedy, stunts, suspense, light drama, etc. with nary a dull moment to be found. Good not-to-be-taken-seriously Hollywood fun stuff worth a second look for those who saw it a decade ago.