BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984)

MORGAN'S RATING

Eddie Murphy's hilarious portrayal of Detective Axel Foley has propelled Beverly Hills Cop into the ranks of the top ten biggest box office hits in history! Foley's a brash, street smart Detriot detective who follows the trail of friend's murderer to the posh surroundings of Beverly Hills. And before Axel gets his mane, he gets up to his neck in an international network of smugglers and drug peddlers. It's a fast-paced adventure that proves the difference between a really good comedy and a great comedy is Eddie Murphy.

Eddie Murphy (Axel Foley), Judge Reinhold (Detective Billy Rosewood), John Ashton (Sgt. Taggart), Lisa Eilbacher (Jenny Summers), Ronny Cox (Lt. Bogomil), Steven Berkoff (Victor Maitland), James Russo (Mikey Tandino), Jonathan Banks (Zack), Stephen Elliott (Chief Hubbard), Gilbert R. Hill (Inspector Todd), Art Kimbro (Det. Foster), Joel Bailey (Det. McCabe), Bronson Pinchot (Serge), Paul Reiser (Jeffrey), Michael Champion (Casey), Frank Pesce (Cigarette Buyer), Damon Wayans (Banana Man), Martin Brest (Hotel Check-out Clerk, uncredited).

THE HEAT IS ON!

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Martin Brest.

WRITERS: Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr.

PRODUCERS: Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Linda Horner.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Mike Moder.

ORIGINAL MUSIC: Harold Faltermeyer.

DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

QUOTES

FACTS

Axel Foley: Don't you think I realize what's going on here, miss? Who do you think I am, huh? Don't you think I know that if I was some hotshot from out of town that pulled inside here and you guys made a reservation mistake, I'd be the first one to get a room and I'd be upstairs relaxing right now. But I'm not some hotshot from out of town, I'm a small reporter from "Rolling Stone" magazine that's in town to do an exclusive interview with Michael Jackson that's gonna be picked by every major magazine in the country. I was gonna call the article "Michael Jackson Is Sitting on Top of the World," but now I think I might as well just call it "Michael Jackson Can Sit on Top of the World Just As Long As He Doesn't Sit in the Beverly Palm Hotel 'Cause There's No Niggers Allowed in There!"

RELEASE DATE: December 5th, 1984 (USA)

BOX OFFICE RESULT: $234.7 million (USA)

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $316.4 million

- During his tirade at the Beverly Palms Hotel, Axel pretends to be writing an article called "Michael Jackson: Sitting on Top of the World" for Rolling Stone magazine. In real life, Playboy ran an article called "Eddie Murphy: Sitting on Top of the World."

- Axel Foley was originally going to be played by Sylvester Stallone or Mickey Rourke. Stallone left the project and used some of his script ideas to make Cobra.

- Nominated for one Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. - Followed by three sequels: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and Beverly Hills Cop IV (2004).

Axel Foley: Tell Victor that Ramon---the fella he met about a week ago?--tell him that Ramon went to the clinic today, and I found out that I have, um, herpes simplex 10, and I think Victor should go check himself out with his physician to make sure everything is fine before things start falling off the man.

CRITICAL COMMENT

"Sassy, tough, and very funny vehicle for Murphy, who's in peak form as a guy who's never caught off guard. Deft blend of comedy and violent action, extremely well cast, with a terrific song score." -- Leonard Maltin

Axel Foley: Disturbing the peace?! I got thrown out of a window! What's the fuckin' charge for getting pushed out of a moving car, huh? Jaywalking?!