Blue Thunder (1983)

Plot of Blue Thunder: Frank Murphy is a police helicopter pilot who had flashbacks to his time in Vietnam. With his navigator, Lymangood, they are distracted by a woman doing naked calisthenics, and so miss a robbery to which they were assigned. Murphy is grounded, but nevertheless is taken by his boss to see a military style helicopter, Blue Thunder, doing its stuff, piloted by Colonel F.E. Cochrane an enemy of Murphy’s from Vietnam. On learning that Murphy is scheduled to fly Blue Thunder he sabotages Murphy’s current aircraft, but both he and Lymangood survive the resulting crash.  Then out in Blue Thunder the pair record a conversation involving Cochrane which seems to be directed at the assassination of those who might prevent the helicopter from being purchased by crime prevention organisations. Lymangood is killed in a hit and run. Murphy steals Blue Thunder and directs his girlfriend Kate to a dumpster where the tape of the conversation is hidden. She finds it and drives off to get to the TV news, Murphy takes on the police cars, F-16s and Cochrane in an armed aircraft.

Content: No sex, but the lady doing the naked exercises is seen. No drinking and a bit of smoking. It was 1983. We see Murphy’s flashbacks which in the end involve Cochrane. The special helicopter shows off its paces in the desert. It is impressive. Murphy interacts a bit with his girlfriend. He has arguments with the lieutenant and he and Lymangood fly about in a normal police helicopter. Then he and Lymangood fly about in Blue Thunder using its various technical wizardry. Then Murphy flies about in Blue Thunder by himself taking on others. Kate meanwhile has a car chase, with Murphy shooting up the police cars.

A View: So by now you can tell that there is a lot of flying about in helicopters. You can turn the sound down a bit while this is going on. It got an Oscar nomination for film editing, and actually you can see why. But the plot is extraordinarily weak. I was amazed when Cochrane sabotaged Murphy’s helicopter. Could any commercial requirement be that important? So unless you are a helicopter fan this is probably not a film for you.

Fun Fact: There were two Blue Thunders, made from modified French Gazelle aircraft. They do look the business.