Police Academy (1984, Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall)

The original Police Academy has suffered, like many other films, from being tarred by the brush of inferior sequels but in fact, it’s stood the test of time as a bright, original comedy with some outstanding performances. When a city’s Police Academy drops its entrance requirements, in a bid to stem the mounting crime wave, it attracts misfits and losers, led by Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), who enrolled rather than end up inside, Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall), the statutory beautiful blonde, man mountain Moses Hightower (ex-NFL star Bubba Smith) and Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), who can imitate any noise.

The bunch of misfits come under the stern tutelage of Lt Harris (G W Bailey) and Sgt Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) but, after the initial misgivings on both sides, Mahoney decides he actually wants to be a good cop and persuades the rest of the class to join him in making the grade despite Harris’ suspicions. Guttenberg, who knocked aside Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks and Judge Reinhold for the lead role, is genuinely good at comedy while Harris, a veteran of the TV series M*A*S*H , is suitably strait-laced as the martinet instructor. The film spawned six sequels and a TV series but only Michael Winslow went the course in the films, appearing in all seven.

production details
USA | 96 minutes | 1984

Director: Hugh Wilson
Writers: Hugh Wilson, Neal Israel, Pat Proft

cast
Steve Guttenberg as Cadet Carey Mahoney
George Gaynes as Cmndt. Eric Lassard
G. W. Bailey as Lt. Thaddeus Harris
Kim Cattrall as Cadet Karen Thompson
Bubba Smith as Cadet Moses Hightower
Donovan Scott as Cadet Leslie Barbara
Andrew Rubin as Cadet George Martín
David Graf as Cadet Eugene Tackleberry
Leslie Easterbrook as Sgt. Debbie Callahan
Michael Winslow as Cadet Larvelle Jones
Debralee Scott as Mrs. Fackler
Bruce Mahler as Cadet Douglas Fackler
Ted Ross as Capt. Reed
Scott Thomson as Cadet Chad Copeland
Brant von Hoffman as Cadet Kyle Blankes
Marion Ramsey as Laverne Hooks
Roger Dunn as Booking Sergeant
Joyce Gordon as Mrs. Thompson
Georgina Spelvin as Hooker