Howard the Duck (film)
| Howard the Duck | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Willard Huyck |
| Produced by | Gloria Katz |
| Written by |
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| Based on |
Howard the Duck by Steve Gerber Val Mayerik |
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| Music by |
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| Cinematography | Richard H. Kline |
| Edited by |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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111 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $36 million |
| Box office | $38 million |
| Howard The Duck (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
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| Soundtrack album by John Barry | |
| Released | 1986 |
| Genre | Electronic, Rock, Stage & Screen |
| Length | 37:26 |
| Label | MCA |
Howard the Duck (renamed Howard: A New Breed of Hero in the UK) is a 1986 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Willard Huyck and starring Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, and Tim Robbins. Produced by Gloria Katz and written by Huyck and Katz, with George Lucas as executive producer, the screenplay was originally intended to be an animated film based on the Marvel comic book of the same name, but the film adaptation became live-action because of a contractual obligation. Although several TV adaptations of Marvel characters had aired during the preceding 21 years, this was the first theatrical released film after the serial Captain America.
Lucas proposed adapting the surrealist comic book following the production of American Graffiti (1973). Following multiple production difficulties and mixed response to test screenings, Howard the Duck was released in theaters on August 1, 1986. Upon its release, the film was a major critical and commercial failure. It was nominated for seven Razzie awards, and made about $15 million domestically compared to its $30 million budget. Contemporary critics saw the decision to shoot the film in live action instead of as an animated film and the appearance of Howard as primary obstacles to its success, while more recent commentators tend to focus on the film's writing. Despite the criticism, it has gained a cult following among fans of the comic-book series.
27-year-old Howard the Duck lives on Duckworld, a planet similar to Earth, but inhabited by anthropomorphic ducks and orbited by twin moons. As he is reading the latest issue of Playduck magazine, his armchair begins to quake violently and propels him out of his apartment building and into outer space; Howard eventually lands on Earth, in Cleveland, Ohio. Upon arriving, Howard encounters a woman being attacked by thugs. He defeats them using a unique style of martial arts. After the thugs flee, the woman introduces herself as Beverly Switzler, and decides to take Howard to her apartment and let him spend the night. The following day, Beverly takes Howard to Phil Blumbertt, a scientist who Beverly hopes can help Howard return to his world. After Phil is revealed to be only a janitor, Howard resigns himself to life on Earth and rejects Beverly's aid. He soon applies for a job as a janitor at a local romance spa. Howard soon quits and rejoins Beverly, who plays in a band called Cherry Bomb. At the club where Cherry Bomb is performing, Howard comes across their manager, and confronts him when he insults the band. A fight breaks out, in which Howard is victorious.
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