
August 1, 1986
Howard the Duck is a 1986 American science fiction comedy film directed by Willard Huyck and starring Lea Thompson, Jeffrey Jones, and Tim Robbins. Based on the Marvel comic book of the same title, the film was 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, 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 theatrically released feature film, coming after the serial Captain America.
Lucas proposed adapting the comic book following the production of American Graffiti (1973). After 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 critical and commercial failure, and in the years since, is considered one of the worst films of all time. It was nominated for seven Razzie Awards (winning four), and made about US$15 million domestically compared to its US$37 million budget.
Storyline[]
In this film based on the comic book character, Howard the Duck is suddenly beamed from Duckworld, a planet of intelligent ducks with arms and legs, to Earth, where he lands in Cleveland. There he saves rocker Beverly (Lea Thompson) from thugs and forms a friendship with her. She introduces him to Phil (Tim Robbins), who works at a lab with scientist Dr. Jenning (Jeffrey Jones). When the doctor attempts to return Howard to his world, Jenning instead transfers an evil spirit into his own body.
Sound Effects Used[]
- Hollywoodedge, Cannon Mortar Shot PE1094602
- Hollywoodedge, Leopard Snarl Inhale AT012202 (possible debut; used for the Dark Overlord.)
- Hollywoodedge, Siren Blast Alarm CRT051501 (possible debut?)
- Pro Sound Effects, Crash Master, Compilation of Large Crashes, Smashes, Glass Breaking, Wood, Metal, Impacts, Destruction 01
- SKYWALKER, AIRPLANE - MILLENNIUM FALCON POWER UP
- SKYWALKER, AIRPLANE - ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT FLY BY (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ALARM - POWER PLANT EMERGENCY SIREN (debut)
- SKYWALKER AQUARIUM BUBBLING SOUND (debut)
- SKYWALKER ASTROMECH CRITICAL SCREAM (Heard briefly once during the end of the film.)
- SKYWALKER, BEEP - ANSWERPHONE MACHINE BEEP (debut)
- SKYWALKER, BIRD - SEAGULL CALLING 02
- SKYWALKER BODYFALL SOUNDS (debut)
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - HOTH BLASTER RICOCHET
- SKYWALKER, CAR - BRAKES SQUEAL, LONG 04 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, CAR - VARIOUS TIRE SCREECHING
- SKYWALKER, CROWD - SCREAM IN PANIC
- SKYWALKER, CROWD - SCREAM IN PANIC 3
- SKYWALKER DUCK SQUEALING SOUND
- SKYWALKER, DUCK - BEVERLY'S DUCK PURSES QUACK (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - CHAINHOOK ELECTRICITY SPARKING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - ELECTRICAL HUMMING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - LIGHTNING BOLT POWER 01 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - LIGHTNING BOLT POWER 03 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - PLASMA BEAM ZAPPING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, ELECTRICITY - SPIELBERG "HEAT RAY" ZAP
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 01
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 02
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 03
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 04
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 05
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 07 (Might've been heard in a low quality sometimes, but otherwise mistaken for any of the Skywalker Sound's electrical sounds, I TMD the Hedgehog think.)
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 11
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 12
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 19
- SKYWALKER EXPLOSION 22 (Heard once during the introduction's of the title screen.)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - BILLBOARD LIGHTS EXPLODING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - LASER SPECTROSCOPE EXPLOSION (debut)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - MASSIVE INFERNO ROARING
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - MEDIUM SET-OFF WITH WHISTLE (possible debut)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - MULTIPLE LASER EXPLOSIVE ACCENT (debut)
- SKYWALKER, EXPLOSION - SCREAMING EXPLOSION SOUNDS
- SKYWALKER, FIRE - FLAMES QUICK ROAR BY 01
- SKYWALKER, FIRE - FLAMES QUICK ROAR BY 02
- SKYWALKER, FIRE - FLAMES QUICK ROAR BY WITH WHISTLE (debut)
- SKYWALKER, FOOTSTEP - DARK OVERLORD'S FOOTSTEPS (debut)
- SKYWALKER GLASS, SMASH - LARGE WINDOW CRASH
- SKYWALKER GLASS, SMASH - LARGE WINDOW CRASH 02
- SKYWALKER, HORN - BIG TRUCK HONKING (debut)
- SKYWALKER HOUSE SHAKING SOUND (debut)
- SKYWALKER, HUMAN - BIG BELCH 02
- SKYWALKER, HUMAN - YELL, LONG, MALE 02
- SKYWALKER, IMPACT - CHAIN GATE RAMMING IMPACT (debut)
- SKYWALKER, JET - ARTOO'S ROCKET THRUSTERS
- SKYWALKER LASER BLAST SOUND
- SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER SOUND (Steam hissing only)
- SKYWALKER MACHINE GUN 01
- SKYWALKER, METAL - BARREL CLANGING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - LARGE DEBRIS CRASHING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - LEVEL PULL 03 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - LIGHT CRACKLE AND SQUEAK
- SKYWALKER, METAL - SMALL JUNK METAL DROPPING, CLATTERING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - TIN CAN CLATTERING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - TOWEL RACK WHEELS SQUEAKING (debut)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - WEIRD CLANK
- SKYWALKER, MOTORCYCLE - GREASERS DRIVING, VARIOUS (debut)
- SKYWALKER PHONE RINGING SOUND 02 (debut)
- SKYWALKER POWERLINE SNAPPING SOUND
- SKYWALKER PUNCHING SOUNDS
- SKYWALKER RAINING SOUNDS
- SKYWALKER, ROAR - COLO CLAWFISH GROWL (debut; used for the Dark Overlord.)
- SKYWALKER, ROAR - DARK OVERLORD ROAR (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI - DARK OVERLORD'S VISION TELEMETRY (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI - PROBE DROID HUM 02 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - ION CANNON GUN
- SKYWALKER, SCI-FI GUN - NEUTRON DISINTEGRATOR FIRE (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SIREN - LAB BLAST ALARM (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SIREN - POLICE WAILER SIREN 02 (debut)
- SKYWALKER, SMASH - SLIDING DOORS FALLING DOWN
- SKYWALKER, SQUISH - TAUNTAUN GUTS
- SKYWALKER, THUNDER - DEEP, LOW CRACKLE
- SKYWALKER, THUNDER - LOUD CRACKLING IN A DARK NIGHT
- SKYWALKER, WATER - OUTDOOR WATER FOUNTAIN (debut)
- SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - CARTOON FALL WHISTLE
- SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - FIREWORK WHISTLE
- SKYWALKER, WHISTLE - VERY LONGWAY DOWN WHISTLE (debut)
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - ARTILLERY FALL 01
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - INDY'S WHIP CRACKS (reversed)
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - METALLIC PIECES FLY BY (debut)
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - POWERFUL SCI-FI WHOOSH (condensed)
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SCREAM-LIKE PASS BY
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - SINGLE SWISH
- SKYWALKER, WIND - REACTOR SHAFT EXPLOSION, WIND, WEATHER
- SKYWALKER WORMHOLE SOUNDS (debut)
- SoundDogs, Crash - Glass - C U - Two Glass Crashes W Large Shard Clunks
- SoundDogs, Explosions - Incoming Artillery - C U - Very Good, Explosions With Incoming Whoosh Of Shell, Large Concussive Whumps From Explosion, Some Whistles An
- SoundDogs, Train: Trains - Freight Cars Coupling Impact - MCU - Bg Engine Noise, Also Rattles, Clunks, Squeaks, & Creaks, All Coupling Related, Several Ambiance Changes
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, SCREAM - INTENSE, STRAINED, COMPLEX SCREAM: BATTLING DINOSAUR 04 (possible debut; used for the Dark Overlord.)
- Sound Ideas, BIRDS, JUNGLE - AFTERNOON JUNGLE BIRDS CALLING, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, DOG - DISTANT BARK, NEAR & FAR DOGS BARK AT NIGHT, ANIMAL (debut)
- Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - INCREASING RUMBLE LEADING TO EXPLOSION
- Sound Ideas, INSECT, CRICKET - SINGLE, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, MOTOR, ELECTRIC, SMALL - COFFEE GRINDER (debut)
- Sound Ideas, MUD, SPLASH - GIANT GLOP & BUBBLE BLAST (debut)
- Sound Ideas, PIG, SCREECH - C.U. SCREAMS, ANIMAL (possible debut)
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 03
- Sound Ideas, WEATHER, LIGHTNING - BOLT OF LIGHTNING STRIKES CLOSE BY, THUNDER 10
- Sound Ideas, WIND - BLAST, MODULATION & HOWL, WEATHER
- Sound Ideas, WWII Explosion With Flare 04 - Single, World War II era explosion with flare-up (possible debut)
- Sound Ideas, WWII Explosion With Flare 05 - Single, World War II era explosion with flare-up
- Sound Ideas, WWII Explosion With Flare 09 - Single, World War II era explosion with flare-up
- Sound Ideas, WWII Explosion With Flare 10 - Single, World War II era explosion with flare-up
- Sound Ideas, WWII Explosion With Flare & Fire - Single, World War II era explosion with flare-up and fire finish
- Space Lightning 01 (Heard once during the introduction's of the title screen.)
- Wilhelm Scream