A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Bryan Brown | ... |
Roland Tyler
|
|
| Brian Dennehy | ... |
Leo McCarthy
|
|
| Diane Venora | ... |
Ellen
|
|
| Cliff De Young | ... |
Lipton
|
|
| Mason Adams | ... |
Colonel Mason
|
|
| Jerry Orbach | ... |
Nicholas DeFranco
|
|
| Joe Grifasi | ... |
Mickey
|
|
| Martha Gehman | ... |
Andy
|
|
| Roscoe Orman | ... |
Captain Wallenger
|
|
| Trey Wilson | ... |
Lt. Murdoch
|
|
| Tom Noonan | ... |
Varrick
|
|
| Paul D'Amato | ... |
Gallagher
|
|
 |
Jossie DeGuzman | ... |
Marisa Velez
(as Jossie deGuzman)
|
|
|
Jean De Baer | ... |
Whitemore
|
|
|
M'el Dowd | ... |
Miss Lehman (Joyce)
(as M'eL Dowd)
|
| Tim Gallin | ... |
Adams
|
|
| Patrick Stack | ... |
Sgt. Littauer
|
|
|
|
John Doumanian | ... |
The Director
|
| Ray Iannicelli | ... |
Charlie
|
|
| Ed Crowley | ... |
Ballistics Expert
(as Edward Crowley)
|
|
| Gibby Brand | ... |
Reporter 1
|
|
|
|
Jim Elliott | ... |
Car Pound Attendant
|
| Christopher Curry | ... |
Mitchell
|
|
| Jim Lovelett | ... |
McCoy
(as James Lovelett)
|
|
|
|
George Kodisch | ... |
Capt. Tolosa
|
|
|
Jim Cordes | ... |
Captain Watts
|
|
|
Richard Hayes | ... |
State Trooper 1
|
|
|
Christopher McHale | ... |
State Trooper 2
|
| James Pickens Jr. | ... |
Ambulance Driver
|
|
|
|
Michael Fischetti | ... |
State Police Chief
|
| Angela Bassett | ... |
TV Reporter
|
|
|
|
Yolanda Lloyd Delgado | ... |
Receptionist
(as Yolanda Lloyd)
|
|
|
Marvin Beck | ... |
Medical Examiner
|
|
|
John McLoughlin | ... |
Hospital State Trooper
|
|
|
Jim Babchak | ... |
Trooper 3
|
|
|
Bernie Friedman | ... |
Bum
|
|
|
Drummond Erskine | ... |
Boat House Guard
|
| Joe Pentangelo | ... |
Police Officer
(as Joseph Pentangelo)
|
|
|
|
Gerald Campbell | ... |
Doctor
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Kevin Deon | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
|
| Jeff Mazzola | ... |
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Ron Turek | ... |
Dinner Guest (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Robert Mandel | ||
Written by
| Robert T. Megginson | ... | (written by) & |
| Gregory Fleeman | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Mohamed Al-Fayed | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Dodi Fayed | ... | producer |
| Michael Peyser | ... | executive producer |
| Jack Wiener | ... | producer |
Music by
| Bill Conti | ||
Cinematography by
| Miroslav Ondrícek | ... | director of photography (as Miroslav Ondricek) |
Editing by
| Terry Rawlings | ||
Editorial Department
| David R. Brooks | ... | second assistant editor (as David Brooks) |
| Kris Cole | ... | second assistant editor: U.S. |
| Stephen Cox | ... | first assistant editor |
| Joanna Jimenez | ... | assistant editor |
| Adrian McCarthy | ... | post-production coordinator |
| Debra McDermott | ... | associate editor: U.S. (as Debra L. McDermott) |
| Beverley Lamb | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Alixe Gordin | ||
Production Design by
| Mel Bourne | ||
Art Direction by
| Speed Hopkins | ||
| Hilda Stark | ||
Set Decoration by
| Steven J. Jordan | ... | (as Steven Jordan) |
Costume Design by
| Julie Weiss | ||
Makeup Department
| Joseph Coscia | ... | hair stylist |
| Carl Fullerton | ... | special makeup supervisor |
| Allen Weisinger | ... | makeup artist |
| Doug Drexler | ... | makeup lab (uncredited) |
| Bryant Tausek | ... | 'Rosebud' creator (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Bob Kellett | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Jon Landau | ... | production manager |
| Tom Razzano | ... | production manager (as Thomas A. Razzano) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gary Davis | ... | second unit director: chase |
| Timothy J. Lonsdale | ... | dga trainee |
| Ken Ornstein | ... | second assistant director |
| Thomas A. Reilly | ... | first assistant director (as Thomas Reilly) |
Art Department
| Claudette Didul | ... | art department coordinator |
| William Durnin | ... | set dresser (as Bill Durnin) |
| Jim Fredericks | ... | assistant prop man (as James Fredricks) |
| Stan Graham | ... | stand-by scenic |
| Daniel K. Grosso | ... | set dresser (as Dan Grosso) |
| Bob Martin | ... | lifelike figure creator |
| James Mazzola | ... | property master |
| Jeff Mazzola | ... | assistant property master |
| Arne Olsen | ... | head construction grip |
| Ron Petagna | ... | shop craftsman |
| James Sorice | ... | master scenic artist |
| Hilda Stark | ... | storyboard artist |
| Chris Vogt | ... | set dresser |
| Ron von Blomberg | ... | set dresser (as Ron Von Blomberg) |
| Dave Weinman | ... | lead set dresser (as David Weinman) |
| Frank Didio | ... | head carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Glenn Freemantle | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Frank Graziadei | ... | sound recordist (as Frank J. Graziadei) |
| Les Lazarowitz | ... | sound mixer |
| Ray Merrin | ... | assistant sound re-recording mixer |
| Linda Murphy | ... | boom operator |
| Bill Rowe | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jim Shields | ... | sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Connie Brink | ... | chief special effects man (as Conrad Brink) |
| Al Griswold | ... | special effects man |
| John Stears | ... | special effects consultant |
| Harold McConnell Jr. | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Carl Morano | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Bill Traynor | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Annie Allman | ... | stunt player |
| Denise Amirante | ... | stunt player |
| Pete Antico | ... | stunt player |
| Kenny Bates | ... | stunt player (as Ken Bates) |
| Peter Bucossi | ... | stunt player |
| John Cade | ... | stunt player |
| Lisa Cain | ... | stunt player |
| Ursula Canci | ... | stunt player |
| Richard Caselnova | ... | stunt player |
| Joe Cirillo | ... | stunt player |
| Don Costello | ... | stunt player |
| Lisa Dalton | ... | stunt player (as Lisa Loving) |
| Steve Dash | ... | stunt player |
| Bud Davis | ... | stunt player |
| Gary Davis | ... | stunt player |
| John DeBello | ... | stunt player |
| Steve DeLuca | ... | stunt player |
| Albert DeVito | ... | stunt player |
| Daniel Dod | ... | stunt player |
| Jennifer Elizabeth | ... | stunt player (as Jennifer Elizabeth Davis) |
| Frank Ferrara Jr. | ... | stunt player |
| Frank Ferrara | ... | stunt coordinator / stunt player (as Frank Ferrara Sr.) |
| Ralph Ferrara | ... | stunt player |
| Fred Greene | ... | stunt player |
| Jery Hewitt | ... | stunt player |
| Peter Hock | ... | stunt player |
| Buddy Joe Hooker | ... | stunt player |
| Tommy J. Huff | ... | stunt player (as Tom Huff) |
| Gary Hymes | ... | stunt player |
| Henry Kingi | ... | stunt player |
| Mike Lisenco | ... | stunt player |
| Gino Lucci | ... | stunt player |
| Harry Madsen | ... | stunt player |
| Victor Magnotta | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Gary McLarty | ... | stunt player |
| John Meier | ... | stunt player |
| Phil Neilson | ... | stunt player |
| Connie Picard | ... | stunt player |
| Don Picard | ... | stunt player |
| Chuck Picerni Jr. | ... | stunt player (as Charles Picerni Jr.) |
| Charlie Picerni | ... | stunt player (as Charles Picerni Sr.) |
| Larry Randles | ... | stunt player |
| Sandy Richman | ... | stunt player |
| Michael Russo | ... | stunt player |
| Dennis Scott | ... | stunt player |
| Franklin Scott | ... | stunt player |
| Brett Smrz | ... | stunt player |
| Brian Smrz | ... | stunt player |
| Gregg Smrz | ... | stunt player |
| Ron Van Clief | ... | stunt player |
| Debra Walen | ... | stunt player (as Debra Welan) |
| Nelson Cabrera | ... | assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
| John Hayden | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dan Brunner | ... | second assistant camera (as Daniel Brunner) |
| Robert Connors | ... | best boy electric (as Robert Conners) |
| S. Karin Epstein | ... | still photographer |
| Tom Gilligan | ... | best boy grip |
| Jack Kennedy Sr. | ... | dolly grip |
| Billy Kerwick | ... | best boy grip |
| Tom Priestley Jr. | ... | camera operator / director of photography: second unit |
| Richard Quinlan | ... | gaffer |
| Ed Quinn | ... | key grip |
| Richard Reis | ... | first assistant camera |
| George Binnersley | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Gábor Kövér | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Lisa M. Marfleet | ... | casting assistant |
| Jordan Thaler | ... | additional casting assistant |
| Todd Thaler | ... | additional casting (as Todd Michael Thaler) |
| Claudine Bonis | ... | casting: Switzerland (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| William A. Campbell | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Patricia Eiben | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Tom McKinley | ... | assistant costume designer |
Location Management
| Lydia Dean Pilcher | ... | location staff |
| Sharon DeMocker | ... | location staff |
| Tom Paolucci | ... | location staff (as Thomas Paolucci) |
| Gilbert S. Williams | ... | location staff (as Gilbert Williams) |
Music Department
| Michael Davis | ... | orchestra leader |
| Keith Grant | ... | music recording engineer |
| Stephen A. Hope | ... | music editor |
| Harry Rabinowitz | ... | conductor |
| Bill Conti | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Paul Edmund-Davies | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | music performed by (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Anne Gyory | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Bill Curry Jr. | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Daniel Burns | ... | production staff (as Danny Burns) |
| Fred Cassidy | ... | production staff |
| Wojciech Debowski | ... | production staff |
| Jonathan DeCamp | ... | production staff |
| Deren Getz | ... | production staff |
| Mary Glucksman | ... | production staff |
| John J. Healey | ... | production staff (as John Healey) |
| Anna Graham Hunter | ... | production staff (as Anna Hunter) |
| Thomas A. Imperato | ... | assistant auditor |
| Julie Lamm | ... | production accountant |
| Rodney Liber | ... | production staff (as Rodney M. Liber) |
| Peter Lombardi | ... | production accountant |
| Jackie Martin | ... | production office coordinator |
| Dale Pierce-Johnson | ... | production staff |
| Reid Rosefelt | ... | unit publicist |
| Christian W. Russhon | ... | production staff (as Chris Russhon) |
| David Sinclair | ... | production staff |
| Jonathan Slon | ... | production staff |
| Caroline Stevens | ... | assistant: Mr. Mandel |
| Cathy K. Stoia | ... | assistant production office coordinator (as Cathy Keller-Stoia) |
| Cheryl J. Sutton | ... | production staff |
| Al Cerullo | ... | helicopter pilot (uncredited) |
| Rick Washburn | ... | weapons coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Orion Pictures (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Aries Cinematográfica Argentina (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1986) (Norway) (theatrical)
- L.T. Técnicas Audiovisuales S.A. (1986) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1986) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors (1986) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Orion Pictures International (1987) (India) (theatrical)
- Vesna Film (1987) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
- Vesna Film (1987) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
- LK-TEL (1987) (Argentina) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (1987) (Japan) (VHS)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Orion Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (double feature with "F/X2)
- LK-TEL (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Suevia Films (2010) (Spain) (DVD)
- Thorn EMI (2011) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2013) (Australia) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Movie Mix (2016) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- NSM Records (2016) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- NSM Records (2016) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- 101 Films (2017) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Boxxz Screen Entertainment (Netherlands) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (Spain) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- Tubi TV (United States) (video) (streaming)
- United Video (Germany) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Olympic Studios (music recorded at)
- The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) (orchestra)
- Varèse Sarabande (score album released by) (limited edition)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Rollie is an expert in the art of special effects (F/X) and has a reputation built on many low-budget hack-and-slash films (including such titles as "I Dismember Momma") and is quite surprised to find that the FBI has a job for him. He is to stage the murder of a gangster who is about to enter the Witness Protection Program. He agrees, but then things get complicated. All the while, a New York City police detective, Leo McCarthy, is investigating the faked murder and can't understand why the FBI is even less helpful than usual.
Written by John Vogel |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Murder by Illusion See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $10,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $3,240,695, 09 Feb 1986 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Special effects man John Stears claimed that he had been offered money by government agencies to simulate various things as depicted in the film. See more » |
| Goofs | The car's condition when it is being deliberately smashed up. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Clan of the Cave Bear/The Delta Force/Wildcats/F/X (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | JUST AN ILLUSION See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Just at the start of the end credits, the camera flashes briefly through out-take type shots of the eight principal players (Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora, Cliff De Young, Mason Adams, Jerry Orbach, Martha Gehman, and Joe Grifasi). Each actor smiles out-of-character at the camera as though in appreciation to the audience of their performances. See more » |
| Quotes |
Rollie Tyler:
[Mason grabs the Uzi Rollie has just set down]
In this hand is the ammo for the gun. And this is Krazy Glue. A thousand and one uses. Now, a thousand and two. [shoves him out the front door] See more » |