First Blood

For other uses, see First Blood (disambiguation).
First Blood

Theatrical release poster by Drew Struzan
Directed by Ted Kotcheff
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based on First Blood 
by David Morrell
Starring
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography Andrew Laszlo
Edited by Joan E. Chapman
Production
company
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release dates
  • October 22, 1982 (1982-10-22)
Running time
 93 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $15[2]-18 million[3]
Box office $125.2 million[2]

First Blood is a 1982 American action adventure film directed by Ted Kotcheff. It is co-written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a troubled and misunderstood Vietnam veteran who must rely on his combat and survival senses against the abusive law enforcement of a small town. It is based on David Morrell's 1972 novel of the same name and is the first installment of the Rambo series. Brian Dennehy and Richard Crenna also appear in supporting roles.

The film was released in the United States on October 22, 1982. Despite initial mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing $47.2 million at the box office. Since its release, First Blood has received reappraisal from critics, with many praising the roles of Stallone, Dennehy, and Crenna, and has been recognized as a cult classic and an influential film in the action genre. The film's success spawned a franchise, consisting of three sequels (all which were co-written by and starred Stallone), an animated series, comic books, and novels. A fifth film, tentatively titled Rambo: Last Stand, was cancelled in Jan 2016 when Stallone stated that he is retiring the character.[4]

Plot

Seven years after his discharge, Vietnam War veteran John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) travels by foot to visit one of his old comrades, only to learn upon his arrival that his friend had died from cancer due to Agent Orange exposure during the war.

Distraught, Rambo continues to travel, wandering into the small town of Hope, Washington.[5] He is intercepted by the town's arrogant and abusive Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy), who considers him an unwanted nuisance. When Rambo asks for directions to a diner, Teasle drives him out of town and tells him not to return. Rambo does so anyway, so Teasle arrests him on charges of vagrancy, resisting arrest, and possessing a concealed knife.

Led by sadistic chief deputy Art Galt (Jack Starrett), Teasle's officers humiliate and abuse Rambo, reminding him of the torture he endured as a POW in Vietnam. When they try to dry-shave him with a straight razor, Rambo snaps, attacks them, and flees into the woods. A furious Teasle organizes a search party—complete with automatic weapons, dogs, and a helicopter—to recapture him. During the search, it is learned that Rambo is a former Green Beret who received the Medal of Honor for his service. Galt spots Rambo and resorts to lethal force in defiance of orders, attempting to snipe Rambo from the helicopter. He hangs from the outside of the chopper in an attempt to get a better aim at shooting Rambo. Rambo then throws a rock at the helicopter's windshield, fracturing it; the pilot is surprised and his sudden reaction causes Galt to lose his balance and fall out of the chopper to his death.

Rambo attempts to surrender, but the police open fire and pursue him into a wooded area. Rambo disables the deputies non-lethally one by one, until only Teasle is left. Holding a knife to his throat, Rambo threatens to kill him if he continues the pursuit.

Teasle chooses to press the issue, and the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Army National Guard are called in to assist the manhunt. At the same time, Rambo's mentor Colonel Sam Trautman (Richard Crenna) arrives in Hope. Warning of his former soldier's abilities, Trautman advises that Rambo be given time to cool off before the chase is resumed. Confident that Rambo is hopelessly outnumbered, Teasle refuses.

A National Guard detachment corners Rambo at the entrance of an abandoned mine; against orders, they use a M72 LAW rocket, collapsing the entrance and apparently killing Rambo. However, he survives, finds an alternate way out of the mine, and hijacks a supply truck, which he uses to return to town. To distract his pursuers, he starts a fire at a gas station, shoots down power lines, and destroys several storefronts with a stolen M60 machine gun.

Teasle positions himself on the roof of his station to search for Rambo, unaware that Rambo is directly below and has spotted Teasle's ambush. The two engage in a brief firefight, which ends with Teasle falling through a skylight, badly injured. Rambo prepares to kill him, but Trautman arrives and warns Rambo that he will be shot if Teasle dies. Rambo, in tears, talks about the treatment he received when he returned from Vietnam and suffers a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-triggered breakdown before surrendering. He is put into state custody and driven away as Teasle is sent to the hospital.

Cast

Production

Development

Shortly after David Morrell's novel was published in 1972, Columbia Pictures bought the filming rights at the behest of producer Laurence Turman for a reported $75,000. Richard Brooks was originally attached to direct. Brooks spent a year on the project, researching it and writing a never completed 115 page script, which was to place more emphasis on the character of the sheriff, and end with an unarmed Rambo being killed. Brooks did not have an actor in mind for Rambo but wanted Lee Marvin or Burt Lancaster to play the sheriff, and Bette Davis to play a psychiatrist who deals with Rambo. However Brooks was not happy with the script and did not want to make the film when Columbia wanted to, and the project fell apart.[3]

John Calley at Warner Bros. then spent $125,000 to acquire the project from Columbia. Clint Eastwood and Robert de Niro were discussed for the lead and Martin Ritt agreed to direct from a script by Walter Newman (Newman did three drafts). In this version both Rambo and the sergeant died, and Trautman, "the true villain of the piece", according to Ritt, was allowed to live. Ritt says he wanted Bob Mitchum to play the sheriff and Paul Newman to play Rambo.[3]

The Ritt version was never made. The next director to be attached was Sydney Pollack, who in late 1974 considered doing it with Steve McQueen as Rambo and Burt Lancaster as the sheriff. However ultimately he decided against it.[3]

In 1975, Martin Bregman became attached and developed the project as a vehicle for Al Pacino. David Rabe was hired to write a script. However Pacino declined to make it. Rabe's script then briefly attracted the attention of Mike Nichols; and for a time Ray Stark and Martin Ritt (again) were interested.[3]

In 1977, producer William Sackheim became involved and wrote a script with Michael Kozoll. Sackheim wanted to make the film with director John Badham starring John Travolta as Rambo, George C. Scott as Trautman and Gene Hackman or Charles Durning as the sheriff. Sackheim spent eight months on the project but could not get finance.[3]

Producer Carter De Haven then optioned the project from Warner Bros for $25,000 and attached John Frankenheimer as director. Powers Boothe, Nick Nolte and Michael Douglas were considered for Rambo; in the end Brad Davis, coming off Midnight Express, was cast. Cinema Group were to finance and Filmways to distribute. However, before filming started Filmways were taken over by Orion and the movie went into limbo.[3]

Carolco then brought the property from Warner Bros for $375,000 and paid Cinema Group $150,000 for the Sackheim-Kozoll script. They then approached Sylvester Stallone who agreed to play the role.[3]

It was later estimated there were eighteen versions of the script. A writer who turned down the job was John Milius, who was approached in the late 1970s. However Milius' producer, Buzz Feitshans eventually produced the movie after the original producer, Ed Carlin, died of a heart attack.[3]

Ted Kotcheff had been approached with the project in 1976. He only returned to work on First Blood after Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna of Anabasis offered to finance one of his projects. Kotcheff offered the role of John Rambo to Sylvester Stallone, and the actor accepted after reading the script through a weekend.[6]

Stallone did an estimated seven revisions of the script. Ted Kotcheff requested further work be done on the script. This was performed by Larry Gross and David Giler.[3]

Casting

Long before Stallone was hired to play Rambo, other actors were being considered for the role such as Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Paul Newman, Nick Nolte, Ryan O'Neal, James Garner, Kris Kristofferson. Terence Hill, as recently confirmed during an interview to an Italian TV talk-show, was offered the role but rejected it because he considered it "too violent". Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta declined the role for the same reason. When Al Pacino was considered for the role of John Rambo, he turned it down when his request that Rambo be more of a madman was rejected. Prior to Stallone taking the lead role, Steve McQueen expressed interest in it.

When David Morrell wrote the novel in 1972 the producers first considered McQueen but then rejected him because they considered him too old to play a Vietnam veteran from 1975.[7][8]

For the role of Sheriff Teasle, the producers approached Academy Award winners Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall but both turned the part down. Lee Marvin, another Oscar winner, turned down the part of Colonel Trautman. Kirk Douglas was eventually hired, but just before shooting began, Douglas quit the role of Colonel Trautman over a script dispute; Douglas wanted the film to end as the book did, with the death of the Rambo character. Rock Hudson was approached but was soon to undergo heart surgery and had to pass up the chance to work with Stallone. Richard Crenna was quickly hired as a replacement; the role of Trautman became the veteran character actor's most famous role, his performance of which received much critical praise.[6]

Screenplay

Various screenplays adapted from Morrell's book had been pitched to studios in the years since its publication but it was only when Stallone, who at the time had limited success outside of the Rocky franchise (most of his non-Rocky films either barely broke even or were flops altogether), decided to become involved with the project that it was finally brought into production. Stallone's star power after the success of the Rocky films enabled him to rewrite the script, to make the character of John Rambo more sympathetic. While Morrell's book has the Rambo character violently kill many of his pursuers—Kozoll and Sackheim's draft had him killing sixteen people—in the movie version Rambo does not directly cause the death of any police or national guardsmen. Stallone also decided to let Rambo survive the film instead of keeping the book's ending where he dies. A suicide scene was filmed but Kotcheff and Stallone opted to have Rambo turn himself in at Trautman's urging.[6]

Shooting

The film was shot in British Columbia, Canada in the winter.[6] The town scenes in the movie were shot in Hope,[9] while the rest of the movie was shot in Golden Ears Provincial Park and Pitt Lake in Pitt Meadows. The weaponry used in the film had to be imported into Canada. Over 50 of the imported firearms were stolen midway through the filming.[10][11]

Post-production

The first rough cut was over three hours, possibly three and a half hours long and according to Sylvester Stallone, it was so bad that it made him and his agent sick. Stallone wanted to buy the movie and destroy it thinking that it was a career killer. After heavy re-editing, the film was cut down to 93 minutes; this version was ultimately released in theaters.[12]

Music

The film's score was composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith, whose theme "It's a Long Road" added a new dimension to the character, and featured in the film's three sequels and animated spin-off. The soundtrack was originally released on LP by the Regency label, although it was edited out of sequence for a more satisfying listen. The album was reissued on CD with one extra track ("No Power") twice, first as one of Intrada Records' initial titles, then as an identical release by Varèse Sarabande. The complete score was released by Intrada in a 2-CD set, along with a remastered version of the original album (with the Carolco logo [previously released on La-La Land Records' Extreme Prejudice album] and the Rambo: First Blood Part II trailer music added), on November 23, 2010, as one of their MAF unlimited titles.

CD 1 – Complete Original Soundtrack
  1. "Theme from First Blood" (pop orchestra version)
  2. "Home Coming"
  3. "My Town"
  4. "Under Arrest"
  5. "The Razor"
  6. "A Head Start"
  7. "Hanging On"
  8. "Over the Cliff"
  9. "A Stitch in Time"
  10. "Mountain Hunt"
  11. "No Truce"
  12. "First Blood"
  13. "The Tunnel"
  14. "Escape Route"
  15. "The Truck"
  16. "No Power/Night Attack"
  17. "Hide and Seek"
  18. "It's a Long Road" (instrumental)
  19. "It's a Long Road (Theme from First Blood)" (vocal: Dan Hill)
CD 2 – Original 1982 Soundtrack Album
  1. "It's a Long Road (Theme from First Blood)" (vocal: Dan Hill)
  2. "Escape Route"
  3. "First Blood"
  4. "The Tunnel"
  5. "Hanging On"
  6. "Home Coming"
  7. "Mountain Hunt"
  8. "My Town"
  9. "The Razor"
  10. "Over the Cliff"
  11. "It's a Long Road" (instrumental)
  12. "It's a Long Road" (recording session piano/vocal demo)
  13. "Carolco Logo"
  14. "Rambo" (Special Summer 1984 trailer)

Release

Box office performance

First Blood topped the North American box office for three weeks in a row,[13] and its $6,642,005 opening weekend was the best October opening at the time.[6] The film ended as a significant financial success, with a total gross of $47 million domestically, ranking as the 13th highest-grossing film of the year,[14] and $125 million worldwide, against a $14 million budget.[15]

Critical reception and legacy

First Blood originally received generally mixed reviews, with several critics noting that the plot lacks any sense of credibility.[16] Variety called the film "a mess" and criticized its ending for not providing a proper resolution for the main character.[17] Although Bill Chambers of Film Freak Central praised Stallone's performance, stating that he "hits his climactic breakdown monologue out of the park" with a performance that was "sweet and moving", he gave the film two stars out of four. He stated "devotees of Joseph Campbell embrace First Blood because it has clear mythological roots, but recognizable art isn't always valid art".[18] Leonard Maltin gave the film one-and a half stars out of four, saying that it "throws all creditability to the winds about the time [Rambo] gets off with only a bad cut after jumping from a mountain into some jagged rocks."[19] In 2008, First Blood was named the 253rd greatest film ever by Empire magazine on its 2008 list of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.[20]

Contemporary and retrospective reviews of the film have been positive, and it is considered by many as one of the best films of 1982.[21][22][23][24] First Blood's release on DVD sparked a series of contemporary reviews, earning it an 87% "Fresh" rating from Rotten Tomatoes[25] and a score of 62 ("generally favorable") from Metacritic.[16]

The film's three lead actors received much praise for their performances. In his review, Roger Ebert wrote that he did not like the film's ending, but that it was "a very good movie, well-paced, and well-acted not only by Stallone... but also by Crenna and Brian Dennehy". He commented, "although almost all of First Blood is implausible, because it's Stallone on the screen, we'll buy it", and rated the film three out of four stars.[26] In 2000, BBC film critic Almar Haflidason noted that Stallone’s training in survival skills and hand-to-hand combat gave the film "a raw and authentic edge that excited the audiences of the time".[27] James Berardinelli of ReelViews called the film "a tense and effective piece of filmmaking". He noted that the film's darker tone, somber subtext, and non-exploitative violence allowed the viewer to enjoy the film not only as an action/thriller but as something with a degree of intelligence and substance. On Stallone's performance, he wrote "it seems impossible to imagine anyone other than Stallone in the part, and his capabilities as an actor should not be dismissed". [28]

First Blood has received the most positive reception of the Rambo series, whilst the next three sequels received mixed or average reviews. Still they did develop strong cult followings.[29][30][31]

In a 2011 article for Blade Magazine, by Mike Carter, credit is given to Morrell and the Rambo franchise for revitalizing the cutlery industry in the 1980s; due to the presence of the Jimmy Lile and Gil Hibben knives used in the films. In 2003, Blade Magazine gave Morrell an industry achievement award for having helped to make it possible.[32]

Home media

Author Morrell recorded an audio commentary track for the First Blood Special Edition DVD released in 2002. Actor Stallone recorded an audio commentary track for the First Blood Ultimate Edition DVD released in 2004. This edition also includes a "never-before-seen" alternate ending in which Rambo commits suicide (a brief snippet of which appears in a flashback in the fourth film) and a "humorous" ending tacked on afterwards. Lionsgate also released this version on Blu-ray. Both commentary tracks are on the Blu-ray release.

Momentum Pictures released an HD DVD version of First Blood in the United Kingdom in April 2007. Lionsgate also released First Blood as a double feature on February 13, 2007, along with the 2004's The Punisher.

The film was re-released as part of a 6-disc box set, which contains all four films in the series, on May 27, 2008. However the box set is missing the David Morrell commentary, even though the packaging clearly states it is included.[33] In anticipation of the release, the film was shown back in theaters for one night, May 15, 2008, through Fathom Events; the alternate ending was shown after the main feature.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "FIRST BLOOD (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 10, 1982. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "First Blood (1982) - Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Log In - ProQuest". proquest.com.
  4. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin. "Sylvester Stallone Is Retiring From Playing Rambo". Variety.
  5. ↑ This fictional town is portrayed in the film by Hope, British Columbia, Canada.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Drawing First Blood. First Blood DVD: Artisan. 2002.
  7. ↑ "Steve Mcqueen Bio". Yuddy.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Trivia for First Blood". IMDb.com. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Filming locations of First Blood in Hope, BC, Canada". Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Movie Review - First Blood". The New York Times. October 22, 1982.
  11. ↑ "Hope Celebrates 25th Anniversary of First Blood". British Columbia Film Commission. September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013.
  12. ↑ First Blood DVD Commentary by Sylvester Stallone. YouTube. July 19, 2014.
  13. ↑ "First Blood (1982) - Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  14. ↑ "1982 Yearly Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Box Office Information for First Blood". The Numbers. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
  16. 1 2 "First Blood (1982): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Review: First Blood". Variety. December 31, 1981. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  18. ↑ "First Blood, DVD Reviews". Film Freak Central. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  19. ↑ Maltin, Leonard (2009), p. 462. Leonard Maltin's 2010 Movie Guide. ISBN 978-0-452-29557-5. Signet Books. Accessed October 21, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Empire's The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time". Empire Magazine. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  21. ↑ "The Greatest Films of 1982". AMC Filmsite.org. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  22. ↑ "The 10 Best Movies of 1982". Film.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Best Films of 1982". listal.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Most Popular Feature Films Released in 1982". IMDb.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  25. ↑ "First Blood (1982): Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  26. ↑ "First Blood Movie Review, Roger Ebert". Chicago Sun-Times. January 1, 1982. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  27. ↑ "BBC Film Reviews, First Blood". BBC. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  28. ↑ "First Blood: A movie review by James Berardinelli". ReelViews. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Rambo: First Blood Part II". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  30. ↑ "Rambo III". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  31. ↑ "Rambo (Rambo IV)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  32. ↑ Carter, Mike (2011). "Naked Edge". Blade (F&W Media) 39 (5): 126–130.
  33. ↑ "Rambo (2008): DVD and BluRay Details". MoviesOnline.ca. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  34. ↑ "First Blood, In Select Movie Theaters Nationwide". Fathom Events. Retrieved July 18, 2010.

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