Buckaroo Banzai: A Pictorial

After ransacking the web for images for my The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai review, I ended up with quite a lot of unused pics. Rather than deviate from my two-pic format for the  reviews, I thought I’d post some more here in honor of one of the most distinctive looking movies of the 80s.’

The most striking image from the start of the film, Buckaroo Banzai’s jet car (a real vehicle with a jet engine attached — though I’m sure the Oscillation Overthruster was just a prop).

In the extended edition, an introduction sequence featuring young Buckaroo and his parents begins the film, but wasn’t used in the theatrical cut (shame, as I think it explains things better than the opening info dump). Banzai’s mother is played by Jamie Lee Curtis.

John Lithgow heads a team of zany and odd looking character actors, staples of film and TV of this era. Lithgow’s fellow Red Lectroids include Christopher Lloyd as John Bigbooté, Vincent Schiavelli as John O’Connor, and Dan Hedaya as John Gomez.

Lord John Whorfin calls Yoyodyne during his breakout.

Buckaroo Banzai can do it all — no wonder he has his own comic book.

Red Lectroids from Planet 10 by way for the 8th dimension — battery-sipping bad guys.

Buckaroo Banzai in Whorfin’s Shock Tower — “I’ve got nothing but time!”

Hong Kong Cavaliers — Banzai’s team of scientists, thinkers, musicians, and adventurers. Jeff Goldblum as New Jersey, and Clancy Brown as Rawhide.

Publicity still, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, and Peter Weller.

Remember when video phones where a dream of the future? Here Banzai calls the President, sporting the red glasses that where a bone of contention between director W.D. Richter and studio boss David Begelman, who apparently said “Heroes don’t wear red glasses!”

The Black Lectroids’ organic-looking space ship, in orbit around the Earth. Apparently it was a lump of coral.Blurry pic of Banzai and John Parker in Whorfin’s Thermopod.

Our hero bids farewell to Black Lectroid John Parker in his Thermopod.

Musical end credits sequence — the gang’s all here and ready for the sequel (ahem).