“Police Academy” was perhaps the best comedy film in 1984. Subsequent sequels were less popular, but in general, this project was remembered for a long time. This article is dedicated to the main actors in the cult film about inept policemen.
Everything ingenious is simple!
One day, screenwriter Neil Israel hit the police station. He did not demand to let him go, but sat peacefully on the sidelines, recording everything that was happening. Returning home, he finalized the material, anticipating that something could come of it. If this happens, it will become a kind of revenge: the police will appear in a completely different light! Together with a friend Hugh Wilson, Neal began to make his way to Warner Bros. Considering the script is not bad for a possible comedy, the company gave permission for production. If the writers knew what this idea would subsequently lead to ...
She led to seven independent parts and a television series. The project quickly gained success, having barely hit the screens in 1984, and the actors of the film “Police Academy” woke up the next morning famous.
What an educational institution!
The first thing that the audience liked was a mixture of comedy and parody. In the picture, not only the police are played out, but also many socio-social stereotypes. Well, is it possible that the mayor of the city will issue a decree according to which you can take the first person you come to the police academy? This is not just unreasonable, it is unsafe! From now on, the ranks of inept law enforcement officers are replenished by sluts, hooligans and simply those who do not have obvious mental abilities.
Search for the main screen losers
When developing the project, it was planned to invite Tom Hanks. An unknown actor Steve Guttenberg came to the audition, interrupting with small television roles, and showed his full comedic potential. The creators approved him for the role, especially since he requested a lower fee.
At the casting, many beginners were tried, as well as actors who had already gained popularity. The “Police Academy” included a rich, and most importantly, a diverse range of characters, which would be the cadets of the academy and their mentors. Because all kinds of actors were required - from small to large. In general, the cast was selected for a short period of time, which allowed us to start shooting as soon as possible.
Actors “Police Academy”: a good start
Steve Guttenberg played the role of cadet Carey Mahoney. At the time of filming, he was 26 years old. For several years he tried to make his way to the cinema, but was forced to take up any work due to the lack of suitable offers. With the “Police Academy”, which served him as a good launching pad, his entire subsequent career was connected. The owner of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Steve starred in more than a hundred films. Among his most famous works are the films Cocoon, Short Circuit, and Three Men and a Little Lady. In addition to his main activity, he tries himself as a screenwriter, producer and director. After the hurricane, Katrina acted as a volunteer.
Perhaps the cutest of all female cadets, Karen Thompson, was played by Kim Cattrall. The British actress, still not a star, at the age of sixteen she moved to the New York Academy of Art, after which she signed a contract with director Otto Preminger for shooting in several films. Participated in television programs. In 1979, she starred in The Incredible Hulk, playing Dr. Gabriel White.
The most popular actress brought the HBO series “Sex and the City”, where she played the role of the windy Samantha Jones. Kim instantly receives worldwide recognition. For the subsequent advertising of Pepsi, she actively uses the image of the lustful Samantha, to which the audience is accustomed. While filming the series and two of his feature films, the actress starred in other projects: “Crossroads”, “Devil and Daniel Webster”, “Ice Princess”. Cattroll is a writer - she has published the books Find Yourself and Sexuality Dossier.
The cadet of Moses Hightower was played by Bubba Smith, known not only as an actor, but also as an American football player. He received recognition thanks to the “Police Academy”, which became for him one of the first serious works. With the completion of the film and its sequels, he was actively filming, participating also in an alternative sequel - the 1997 series of the same name.
Michael Winslow played the role of cadet Larwell Jones. Famous actor and comedian. Its characteristic feature is the ability to use a voice to imitate a variety of sounds, for which he received the nickname “a man of ten thousand sound effects”. He began his career with the comedy “The Next Chich and Chong Film,” where Chich Marin acted as his partner.
Other actors played in the film. The Police Academy boasts stars such as George Bailey (Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris), George Gaines (Commandant Eric Lassard), Leslie Easterbrook (Sergeant Debbie Callahan), Marion Ramsey (Cadet Laverne Hooks), David Graf (Cadet Eugene Talkberry) .
New attempt: success or failure?
The final part about the service and adventures of the new cadets was released in 1994. But the story of the Police Academy franchise did not end there. The series, named after its predecessor, started in 1997. It was conceived as a revival of the cult original film and consisted of twenty-six episodes. Michael Winslow became the only actor whose character plays a major role. The actors familiar from the film appear in some episodes: David Graf, Bubba Smith, Leslie Easterbrook, George Gaines, George R. Roberston, Art Metrano, Tim Kazurinsky.
And yet, no matter what the attempts to recreate the series of parts of the Police Academy turn out to be, it is unlikely that the successor will be able to surpass the original. The success of the comedy was obvious and confirmed by audience love and critics' ratings. The characters remained in the memory of fans for a long time, as did the actors, the “Police Academy” for whom became a whole era in creative life.