Today let's talk about a classic action/comedy movie, 1987's "Lethal Weapon." This film certainly wasn't the first one in the "mismatched police officers forced to work together" plot, but it is one of the best examples. Clearly I'm not the only fan, as this movie was successful both at the box office and with critics, and it spawned three movie sequels and a remake television series. This will be one of my typical movie quizzes, full of incredibly detailed trivia, with questions being asked first, and the answers following. And beware of SPOILERS if you've somehow not seen this nearly 40-year-old movie. Finally, I rewatched the Director's Cut version for this quiz. Questions from scenes not in the original cut are marked with an asterisk (*).
Questions:
1) What popular song is playing at the start of this movie?
2) How many years old is Roger Murtaugh turning at the beginning of the movie?
3) According to Roger, how long has it been since he last spoke with Mike Hunsaker?
4) While working alone at the beginning, what is Martin Riggs' police call sign?
5) What are the names of Roger's three children?
6)* The sniper near the schoolyard is wearing an NFL team hat. For which team?
7) How old was Amanda Hunsaker, and where was she born?
8) What is the name of Amanda's mother?
9) How much do the cocaine dealers at the Christmas tree lot demand for their product, and how much does Martin offer them?
10) What was the full name of Martin's deceased wife?
11) According to the police psychiatrist, how long had Riggs and his wife been married?
12) The autopsy of Amanda Hunsaker reveals that the pills she'd taken had been poisoned, and she would have died soon anyway even if she hadn't jumped. What was the poison?
13) What is Martin Riggs' rank?
14) And what is Roger Murtaugh's rank?
15) What top secret project was Riggs in while serving in Vietnam?
16) What is Riggs' primary gun?
17) And what is Roger's primary sidearm?
18) Why does Roger owe Mike Hunsaker?
19) What is the police call sign for Roger's car?
20) What is the name of the man who threatens suicide, whom Riggs confronts, and makes jump off the ledge into the airbag?
21) How long has Roger been on the police force?
22) What kind of hard liquor does Roger offer Riggs at his home?
23) What was the name of Amanda Hunsaker's pimp, who's killed in the pool at his mansion?
24) Riggs says he made a shot in Laos at age 19 that probably only 8-10 guys in the world could have. How far away was his target?
25) Where did Amanda Hunsaker go to school? (We see her yearbook.)
26) What was the name of Amanda's sister?
27) What was the title of Amanda's porn video?
28) Who actually poisoned the pills that Amanda took shortly before her death?
29) What evidence led Riggs to conclude that the bombing of the prostitute's house was done by ex-CIA professionals?
30) What is the name of the neighbor kid that saw Mr. Joshua setting the bomb?
31) What is the name of General McAllister's criminal group, which started as a paramilitary squad?
32) How many major shipments of heroin a year does this organization make?
33) What role does Mike Hunsaker play in the criminal organization?
34) What is the registration number of the helicopter that is used in the shooting of Mike?
35) Rianne is kidnapped by McAllister's men, and they also kill her date. Who was this date?
36) What is the address number of Roger's house?
37) What is written on the ransom note to Roger about his daughter?
38) Sgt. McCaskey lies to Mr. Joshua, and tells him that Riggs was killed in the shooting. What television station does Joshua say he works for?
39) In what town is the dry lake bed where Roger is sent to pick up his daughter?
40) When and where does Riggs say he ran into McAllister's group before?
41) What is the name of the torture specialist in McAllister's gang?
42) What street is McAllister's bar/nightclub located on?
43) How does General McAllister die, specifically?
44) Riggs calls Roger by a nickname at least twice. Name it.
45) When Joshua enter Roger's house, a movie is playing on the television. Name it.
46) What is written on the note that Roger and Riggs leave for Joshua?
47) According to her gravestone, when were Riggs' wife birth and death dates?
48) What is the name of the Murtaugh's house cat?
49) Around the time that Riggs and Roger are talking to Mike at his bank, we clearly see a movie marquee across the street. What movie is on it?
50) Later, we see another marquee, for an adult movie theater. What films are listed on this one?
51) Aside from Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh, and Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs, what other characters, played by the same actors/actresses, appear in all 4 Lethal Weapon movies?
52) How many people do we see Riggs shoot in the movie?
53) How many people does Roger shoot?
54) Who is the film dedicated to? It's listed in the credits.
55) Are cops, even undercover ones, allowed to ingest illegal drugs, as Riggs does at the Christmas tree lot buy in the beginning?
56) Riggs makes two homophobic remarks in the movie. Name them.
57) How old was Danny Glover when the movie was released?
58) Is Riggs surviving a shotgun blast using his bulletproof vest realistic?
Answers:
1) "Jingle Bell Rock," performed by Bobby Helms in 1957. Like "Die Hard," this movie is set around Christmas time, without being much about the holiday itself.
2) 50.
3) 12 years.
4) 4 King 3-2.
5) In order of age, his oldest daughter is Rianne, his son is Nick, and his youngest daughter is Carrie.
6) The Chicago Bears.
7) 22, and Tennessee.
8) Claire.
9) $100,000, and then $100.
10) Victoria Lynn Riggs. Her maiden name is never mentioned.
11) 11 years.
12) An unidentified brand of drain cleaner.
13) He's a sergeant.
14) He's also a sergeant.
15) The Phoenix Project, which appears to be based on the real life Phoenix Program.
16) He uses a 9 mm. Beretta 92F. Which is the exact same gun later used by John McClane in "Die Hard." (1988).
17) He uses a Smith & Wesson Model 19, a .357 Magnum.
18) Mike saved his life in Vietnam at the 1965 battle of Ia Drang, and took a bayonet to his lungs.
19) 3 William 56.
20) McCleary, who's a salesman.
21) 20 years.
22) Canadian Mist, a whiskey. They also drink several beers on Roger's boat later.
23) It's unknown, as he's never identified, either in the movie or in the credits.
24) 1000 yards.
25) Palos Verdes.
26) Beverly. Since she's in the yearbook next to Amanda, maybe they're fraternal twins?
27) "Amanda and Her Friends." This might be a label, and not the actual title, I guess.
28) It's never proven conclusively, but all signs point to the prostitute named Dixie.
29) The mercury switches.
30) Alfred.
31) Shadow Company.
32) 2.
33) His bank launders the money for the criminals.
34) N230CA.
35) Mark.
36) 1444. We don't ever hear, or see the street name, though.
37) "Your daughter looks really pretty naked."
38) KCOP News. Which was a real channel.
39) Victorville, California.
40) 1969, in Saigon.
41) Endo.
42) Hollywood Boulevard.
43) The General's limo is hit by a bus, causing it to overturn and trap him. The resulting flames from the collision ignite the grenades that were on the seat, causing them to explode and kill McAllister.
44) Cochise.
45) "A Christmas Carol," the 1951 British version.
46) "Dear Bad Guys No One Here But Us Cops. Sorry! The Good Guys."
47) 1953-84. That death date doesn't really square with the psychiatrist saying Riggs lost his wife recently, but oh well.
48) Burbank, which is kind of a weird name for a cat.
49) "The Lost Boys," also 1987, but released several months after "Lethal Weapon." This was kind of a promotional joke, as "Lethal Weapon" director Richard Donner was involved with the production of "Lost Boys," as well.
50) It's playing "Star Angel" and "Debbie Does...." (presumably "Debbie Does Dallas"). I don't think Richard Donner was involved in the making of either of these, though!
51) Six others were in all four films. Darlene Love (who played Roger's wife Trish), Damon Hines (their son Nick), Ebonie Smith (youngest daughter Carrie), Traci Wolfe (Rianne), Steve Kahan (who played police Captain Ed Murphy), and Mary Ellen Trainor (who played police psychiatrist (psychologist?) Dr. Stephanie Woods).
52) He shoots the sniper (in the director's cut) dead, and then two of the drug dealers at the tree lot, although one looks definitely alive after. He then shoots Amanda's pimp fatally. He then shoots and kills 4 of McAllister's men at the lake bed before being captured. Next, he shoots 3 more henchman in freeing Roger and Rianne, and then 3 more in the bar, And finally Mr. Joshua. So all told, he shoots 15 guys in the director's cut, 14 in the theatrical cut. He also kills Endo and another guy by breaking their necks.
53) He shoots Amanda's pimp, non-fatally, and Riggs finishes the guy off later. He then kills one guy at the dry lake bed, and one more in the bar. Next, he shoots and kills the limo driver. And finally, he and Riggs both shoot and kill Mr. Joshua. So all in all he shoots 5.
54) Dar Robinson, who was a stunt performer on this film, and many others. Dar tragically died in an accident on another movie before "Lethal Weapon" was released.
55) From all I read, they are NOT allowed to, even while undercover, unless their lives are in immediate danger. Since Riggs identified himself as a cop right after ingesting the cocaine, he didn't even need to sample it. And even if this was disregarded, there's no way Riggs would have been allowed to continue working that day while under the effects of the cocaine he sampled.
56) While discussing the concept of another woman being in bed with Amanda, he says it's "disgusting" with real revulsion. Later, after Dixie's house explodes, Riggs' jacket is smoldering. When Roger pats out the flames, Riggs recoils and says, "What are you, a (gay slur)?" Given Gibson's real life prejudices, maybe these were even adlibs?
57) When the movie was released, in 1987, Danny Glover was 40, or 10 years younger than his character.
58) From what I read, it depends on the type of vest he had on. Some vests, or body armor, can save a person from a shotgun blast in addition to most handgun shots. Although, even if he was wearing the proper vest/armor, Riggs would probably not have shrugged it off so quickly, and been 100% healthy for a while.