DIRECTED BY: George Miller

WRITTEN BY: George Miller, Byron Kennedy

MEL GIBSON AS: ‘Mad’ Max Rockatansky

GENRE: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

TAGLINES:

- The maximum force of the future.

- The last law in a world gone out of control. Pray that he’s out there somewhere.

- When the gangs take over the highway … Remember he’s on your side.

PLOT SUMMARY:

George Miller’s vision of an apocalyptic future set in the wastelands of Australia. Total social decay is just around the corner in this spectacular cheap budget gang orientated road movie. Where the cops do their best to lay down the law and the outlaw gangs try their hardest to defy the system. Leather clad Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) husband, father and cop turns judge, juror and executioner after his best friend, wife and baby are killed. Here we see the final days of normality of a man who had everything to live for, and his slip into the abyss of madness. With its astounding car stunts, unbelievable bike chases and constant ultra violence Mad Max is the antihero on the road to vengeance and oblivion. Powerful. Dynamic. Honest. Brutal. –Cinema Fan

RELEASE DATES:

1979 April 12 (AUS)
1979 December 10 (UK)
1980 February 15 (Hong Kong)
1980 February 20 (West Germany)
1980 May 9 (USA – Los Angeles)
1980 June 6 (USA – Minneapolis, Minnesota)
1980 June 13 (USA – New York, New York)
1982 January 12 (France)
1983 May 12 (USA re-release)

BOX OFFICE GROSS:

United States :$8,750,000

TRIVIA:

- Director George Miller was inspired by A Boy and His Dog (1975).

- Mel Gibson didn’t go to the audition for this film to read for a part, he actually went along with a friend who was auditioning. But because he had been in a bar fight the night before and his head looked like “a black and blue pumpkin” (his words), he was told he could come back and audition in three week’s time because “we need freaks!”. He did return in three weeks’ time, wasn’t recognized (because his injuries had healed well), and was asked to read for a part.

- The car that Max drives (the “last of the V8 interceptors”) is a production car, the Ford “XB Falcon Coupe”, sold in Australia from December 1973 until August 1976. The car in the film had a standard 351 cubic inch (5.75 litre) V8 motor.

- Only two original Interceptors were used in the Mad Max movies. The one that was used in the first film was modified and reused in all of the interior and close up car shots in Mad Max 2: the Road Warrior. After filming was over, this Interceptor was bought and restored by Bob Forsenko and is currently on display in the “Cars of the Stars Motor Museum” in England. Another car was built for the chase scenes in the second movie but that one was destroyed when the script required it to be pushed off the road and blown up. The wreckage used to be viewable at Broken Hill, Australia but due to thefts it can’t be found there any longer. The Planet Hollywood Interceptor is a replica and was never used in any of the films.

- The stolen interceptor driven by the Nightrider in the opening scenes is another production vehicle; it is a “HQ Holden Monaro”, which was sold in Australia in the early 70’s with a variety of motors including large capacity V8’s. Also, the other police vehicles in the movie were sedan versions of the XB, although one was the previous model “XA”. They also had 351 cubic inch motors and are a common car on Australian roads.

- Max’s yellow interceptor car, a Ford Falcon XB sedan, was originally a police car from the Australian state of Victoria.

- Goose’s motorcycle is a 1977 Kawasaki KZ 1000.

- One of the yellow interceptors, a Ford Falcon XA GCI, was a decommissioned taxi cab.

- Some of the cars used as police interceptors were being constantly repainted for other scenes to pass as different cars. Often they were driven while the paint was still wet.

- Some of the things Nightrider says over the radio are lyrics from the AC/DC song “Rocker.”

- The van that is smashed in the opening chase was George Miller’s own vehicle, as the production was running out of money. About 20% of the chase scenes scheduled were not shot due to lack of money.

- Max’s MFP (Main Force Patrol) number is 4073, Jim Goose’s is 2241, Charlie’s is either 3840 or 3842.

- Early in the film there is a brief shot of 2 road signs. They read: “Anarchie” (Anarchy), and “Bedlam”. This Road sign actually exists in Australia

- Because he was relatively unknown in the US, trailers and previews did not feature Mel Gibson, instead focusing on the car crashes and action scenes.

- Because of the tight budget, actual decommissioned police cars were used in the film. Only Mel Gibson was wearing real leathers. All the other police officers were wearing vinyl costumes. The motorcycles, all late model demonstration units, were donated by Kawasaki. Many of the bikers kept them after the shooting was completed.

- This was the first Australian film shot in anamorphic widescreen.

- The blue van that was wrecked in the film’s opening chase had the engine removed and was pushed into the path of the oncoming cars by off-camera assistants. The lack of the engine’s weight caused the van to spin uncontrollably, adding to the spectacular crash.

- The bearded man wearing an apron in front of the roadside diner watching the police cyclists and tow trucks drive away is James McCausland, the film’s co-writer.

- The auto accident scene was made as realistic as possible, thanks to director’s George Miller’s experience as a medical doctor.

- The voice of Robina Chaffey, the singer of the Sugartown Night Club, was the only voice left undubbed in this film’s original USA release.

- George Miller, paid a truck driver $50 to run over the bike at the final scene. However, the truck driver didn’t want to damage his rig; thus the crew had to install a shield painted to look like the front of the rig.

- Hugh Keays-Byrne modeled his performance of Toecutter after historical records written about Mongolian warlord Temujin, also known as Genghis Kahn.

- Sheila Florance broke her knee when she tripped whilst running with the antique shotgun. She returned to complete her scenes with her leg and hip in plaster.

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