A slapstick spoof of police thrillers and action films by the makers of AIRPLANE, THE NAKED GUN stars Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin. This comic cop and master car-crasher must protect Queen Elizabeth II when world terrorists target her for assassination during her visit to the U.S. Despite this high-level assignment, Frank still has time to fall in love with a younger woman (Priscilla Presley), and nearly destroy the world several times over while trying to save it. Considerably more successful than the TV series it was based on (POLICE SQUAD!), this zany parody led to two sequels and a comedy career for Leslie Nielsen, then known mainly for his role in FORBIDDEN PLANET.
Budget estimate $14.5 million.
Shot on location in Los Angeles, California, in Technicolor, Dolby sound.
Began shooting February 16, 1988; Completed shooting April, 1988; Released in USA December 2, 1988.
Rated BBFC 15 by the British Board of Film Censors.
Reviewed in the New York Times 12/2/1988.
Both "The Naked Gun" and the sequel "The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear" are based on the 1982 television series "Police Squad," created, written and produced by the comedy team of David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams. Their first film effort "Kentucky Fried Movie" in 1977 was directed by John Landis.
"The Naked Gun" marks the film debut of Priscilla Presley, already a star from the hit TV series "Dallas."
Available to buy in the UK.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case - Sensormatic
Anamorphic Widescreen - 16:9
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital Mono - French
Additional Release Material:
Trailer - 1. Theatrical
Audio Commentary - 1. David Zucker - Director/Writer, Robert Weiss - Producer,
Peter Tilden - Host
Interactive Features:
Scene Selection
Interactive Menus
Director of Photography
Robert M. Stevens:
Production Designer
John Lloyd:
Costume Designer
Mary E. Vogt:
Review 1:
"...High spirits may be all that a film like this really needs....[It's] impossible not to laugh..."
Source: New York Times
p.C16 12/02/1988
Review 2:
"...The result is, no kidding, funnier than all six POLICE SQUAD shows put together..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C10 12/02/1988
Review 3:
"...This often uproarious elaboration on ABC's short-lived 1982 series never stoops to the trite..."
Source: USA Today
p.3D 08/25/1989