In the tradition of Airplane!, the ZAZ (Jerry Zucker/Jim Abrahams/David Zucker) triumvirate unleashed The Naked Gun in theaters in 1988. Based on their short-lived 1982 ABC television series Police Squad!, which was cancelled after six episodes, the frenetic pace and nonstop verbal zingers throughout the film proved to be a recipe for box office success.
In The Naked Gun, Leslie Nielsen stars as Lt. Frank Drebin of the Los Angeles Police Squad. He is, without question, the world’s dumbest policeman. But at the same time, you can’t help but respect his passion for the job. The story begins with Drebin in Beirut, where he thwarts an international terrorist plot against the U.S., breaking up a meeting of Khadafi, Khomeini, Gorbachev, Idi Amin, and Yasir Arafat. Upon his return to the States, he’s greeted by Capt. Ed Hocken (George Kennedy) informs him that his closest friend and partner, Detective Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) is seriously injured after being shot. No one knows what Nordberg was doing out on the docks that night, but witnesses suggest that he was dealing heroin. The Captain gives Frank twenty-four hours to clear Nordberg’s name before he’s removed from the force.
Drebin’s investigation leads him to the swanky offices of wealthy businessman Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban). Drebin is convinced he is hiding something. In an attempt to get Drebin off the scent, Ludwig sends his gorgeous (but klutzy) assistant, Jane (Priscilla Presley), to distract the meddlesome lieutenant. The two end up falling up in love; their mutual klutziness making them the perfect pair. Together, they are also too much for the villains, who turn out to be more than just drug smugglers but killers planning to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
Things culminate at a baseball game in Los Angeles where the Queen is to throw out the first pitch. The bad guys intend to shoot her during the seventh-inning stretch by using a person under sensory-induced hypnosis. Nielsen’s sidesplitting singing of the national anthem at home plate is worth the price of admission.
The subsequent sequels were never quite as funny as this, the original, The Naked Gun. It’s one of those films you might have to watch a few times to catch all the gags. There’s always something happening, whether it’s right in front of the audience or in the background. During his later years, Leslie Nielsen showed himself to be a master comedian; The Naked Gun just might be his best showcase.
Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, this 1080p transfer represents a solid upgrade from standard definition. Colors look warm and natural. There are occasional breakups and pixilation’s here and there, but it shouldn’t be enough to intrude on the overall viewing experience. Black levels are pure and inky and shadow detail is above average.
The film’s DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound mix is impressive but tricky. It’s still a mono film, but when the Ira Newborn score kicks in, the soundtrack opens up wonderfully with directional cues that fill up the room. Other directional and surround effects are heard but never with the fidelity and creativity of the score, although the .1 LFE does get activated with an occasional jolt.
French, Portuguese and Spanish Dolby Digital 1.0 tracks are included, as are English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.
Three isn’t much in the way of special features: We get a group commentary by director David Zucker, producer Robert Weiss, and host Peter Tilden. They laugh, joke and have a great time telling us about the making of the movie. The theatrical trailer is also included.
