Case Files, Crosswords and Corpses

"Well it says in your report, 'He was hit in the face with some thing, some kinda weird thing, that blew his face clean off'"

Its the little things that count, and often the most fun, enjoyable props are the ones you take for granted when watching a no-budget comedy set in 70s America. They are the un-sung heroes, pivotal "plot" devices, hilarious set-dressing, and quite often invaluable to an extra who doesn't have any lines, but would like to look busy and  have something to hold on to.

Case file cover

Miscellaneous contents

The PCPD case filing system was designed quite early on so that when shooting fragments from different episodes, there would always be the correct case file on hand, filled with correct and appropriate contents. Most of which would never actually be seen on film.

Militia Malone's artistic rendering of a kumquat

And of course as different characters entered new stages of the investigation, more evidence would be added.

The crossword clue from Doyle's living room

And when it came to building a full-sized, deliberately unrealistic corpse, no expense was spent. Many cardboard boxes were liberated, abused and hewn into a new and glorious form.

The highly detailed stand-in for Doyle would mean that the actor Alan Wadlan wouldn't have to spend many hours lying across a very uncomfortable brick hearth.

Confusion

Realisation

Ambition

Success!

Among the other props in Doyle's flat were photos of Crash and Burn, a vintage Radiogram, and a collection of photos of Doyle throughout his career.

Doyle's favourite LP, and a police camera

An official PCPD fingerprinting kit

Doyle's head fragments and photos of his career

Doyle's memoir of the time he punched Hitler to death

In every scene, there is a unique and unsual prop, or piece of set dressing, even the detritus that is needed to fill criminal dens, and sordid lairs are carefully crafted (often during the wee hours of the night) to be amusing and fit into the world of Patriot City.

Can you be the ultimate fan and spot them all?

More blogs coming soon...

Cop Killa's Drawings...

Cop Killa being brought in

"And this? This is my gun, making sweeeet red-love, all over your faces. Ker-Pow!"

In one of the scenes in Shields Of Justice, Cop Killa literally illustrates his intentions to Crash and Burn, drawing them a picture using one of CK's signature props - his own brand of Cop Killa crayons.

These crayons were one of several items in the film, where Cop Killa was running his own self-promoted franchise. Unfortunately a lot of the items didn't make the cut.

One prop that suffered this fate is CK's range of gum.

Template for the Killa Gum wrappers - you can make your own!

Although Cop Killa had gum wrappers in his pockets for the entire film, they never appeared on screen. The only mention of them is in CK's Cop Killing commercial.

Cop Killa's Crayons did however make it in!

Crayon wrapper detail

The real deal

CK's brand of crayons were one of many bizzare items that featured in the film.  Who knows - if it ever takes off, maybe we'll even licence them ourselves!

Jonty Depp as Cop Killa

Sebastian E. Crash's Costume

Crash's distinctive look of all-American good guy was pieced together by layers of red white and blue.

While developing the character of Crash, Tom Hutchings looked to the performances of Adam West and William Shatner for inspiration. The result was a blue-eyed blend of broad smiles and ex-miltary heroism.

The first piece of Crash's costume to be sourced was his distinctive belt buckle, shaped to resemble the chamber of a five cylinder revolver, this was purchased very early in the production, while Crash's character was still being developed.

Crash's unique belt buckle and dog tags from his military service

This was only the first step however, in piecing together his look, early costume tests for both Crash and Burn proved that every detail was important and soon the high-realism props began to appear replacing the early toy and plastic ones used for tests.

A very 80s test with plastic props

A very 90s Costume test

An original 70 jacket was sourced, in red leather which would frame the final costume. Crash's jacket features broad lapels, removable lining and unique panneling and venting, an item fit for a supercop.

Front view of Crash's Jacket

Back view of Crash's Jacket

A pair of womens flared jeans were added to Crash's costume as they had the correct shape for mens jean of the era. It was  decided that Tom's long hair would need to be replaced with a haircut which was altogether more 70s.

The old long hair

Crash's 70s hairstyle

Following the new, and wholly 70s hairstyle, a reproduction 70s shirt was sourced and his personal items were slowly assembled. One of the various accoutrements Crash carries is his wallet; filled with photos of himself with his old mentor Doyle O'Flennegan, and of his murdered wives, his wallet also contains his warrant card and numerous notes and small change.

Interior of Crash's Wallet

Crash's badge, and wedding rings

Alongside his Police Badge, Crash also wears the wedding ring of each of his four dead wives, who were visciously murdered by Scorpion Fandango, some of them more than once.

He also wears an original bianchi shoulder holster, for his 357 magnum. 

The final look was thus:

Crash's final costume

Crash's costume variant from "Hangman Dangle"

Crash has always been on the right side of the law, but after the murder of his first, second, third, and fourth wife, for the second time, he learned that sometimes its ok to bend the rules in the pursuit of justice.

Often charming and intense, Crash usually stays focused on defined goals, using his creative logic to solve mysteries or get himself out of tight spots, but likes to enjoy himself along the way.

For more information on the back story of Crash, visit:

Crash's Bio

Locations - Chief Rappappaport's Office

The Patriot City Police Department is headed by the might of Chief M. Rappapappaport - a gravelly, whiskey-swilling, Vietnam vet, whose uncompromising war on crime has led to the arrest of countless perps.

Chief Rappappaport

When scouting the location for the PCPD building, Tom and Ben knew that they had to find a room suitable for the Chief's Office
It had to fit in with 70's decor, but also give a kingly view of the PCPD. Luckily Kay house contained the perfect location - a room over-looking the main lobby though a wall of framed windows.

The view into the Chief's office from the lobby

Chief's desk as it was found on the scout

The Chief's desk where it was meant to be

One of the in-jokes throughout the film was to make Crash and Burn look as short as possible, by intentionally dwarfing them next to taller actors.

Duke Palmer, who played Rappappaport was given the biggest desk they could find and Crash and Burn were given the smallest chairs available to dwarf them.

Crash and Burn with Rappappaport - note temp stand-in police badge

Work then went into sourcing props for the desk. Items that were found included:

Countless golfing and snooker trophies, a selection of war medals, a vintage typewriter, letter rack - including letters with genuine Czechoslovakian Nazi commemorative stamps, fire arm certificates and fully equipped gun cleaning kit.

Some personal touches were a framed cover from 'Tempus' magazine and a photo of Rappappaport meeting his friend and hero, Richard Nixon, as well as an autographed baseball from Joe Dimaggio.

Ben, with the 'TEMPUS' cover and the Chief's Nixon photo

Ben enjoying some prop 'whiskey'

Tom making last minute script alterations on the Chief's trusty typewriter

The set with sound proofing 'flats' in place

The Chief, hiding beneath his mighty desk

All in all the Chief's office was one of the most authentic looking sets with a large amount of period props and features.

Rappapport on the VT (which stopped working in the middle of shooting)

Grubby glass and detail of lettering

Jonts and Tom with Duke on set

Kris Darby, Duke Palmer and Tom Hutchings having a break

View out onto lobby

Shooting the Chief and Militia Malone

Rodrigo Umlaut Burn's Costume

Rodrigo Umlaut Burn's unique 'look' was inspired by Michael Tallamy, the father of Ben Tallamy, the actor who portrayed him in the film.

When Ben was developing the character of Burn he found an old photograph of his father from the seventies, sporting a stylish leather jacket which was still gathering dust in the family wardrobe.

Michael Norman Tallamy

This photograph was to be the inspiration for Burn -a moustachioed super cop who was righteous in every sense of the word. 

Unfortunately, being half-Japanese, Ben was about as likely to grow a decent moustache, as he was to sprout wings and fly.

Benjamin Akira Tallamy

The first costume test was impromptu - cheap fancy dress accessories were used, including a very itchy moustache and sideburns.

The smaller jacket was seconded by a long pimp style coat - hinting at Burn's seedy underworld connections.

Along with toy guns - this made for a disappointing first glance at Burn.

Disappointing first look

Prothstetic hair was ordered forthwith and the long coat discarded in favour of the original jacket.

Many accessories were missing but the next session proved to be more in line with look that was wanted.

Looking more like Burn

An interesting note is that although most of the clothing used in the film was actually vintage.  Crash and Burn are both seen throughout sporting women's trousers.  Modern flares for women were closer to the wider flare from the era.

With the addition of a few accessories - Burn was tweaked and trimmed.  His hair slicked back, his face aged and moustache shortened.

Burn's accessories included:

Burn's glow in the dark PVC rosary

Bianchi Shoulder Holster

Shield of Justice

Crash and Burn's Custom .357 6 inch Magnum revolvers

Other accessories included - A leather wallet, containing real US currency (even though it was never seen), lucky necklace (which broke numerous times during filming), handcuff pouch, with forensic kit (again, never used) and a tacky plastic flick comb.

The final look was thus:

Burn in front of a green screen

Costume details

 Whilst shooting other episodes from the series - several 'variants' of the costume also existed:

Burn from 'Kidnapped'

Burn from 'Hangman Dangle'

Burn from 'Exploding Nuns of Fury!'

The character of Burn was initially based upon Al Pacino in Carlito's way - a reformed gangster from the streets of Spanish Harlem.

Initial accent tests were too close to the accent of the main villain Cop Killa though and so the voice was shifted to a southern drawl.

Always coming from the seedier side of law enforcement, Burn is goofy, yet headstrong.  A guy who let's his fists do the talking.

He is prone to depression and alcoholism but these vices are tempered with a staunch and unwavering belief in God.

For more information on the back story of Burn, visit:

Rodrigo Burn's Bio