Mad Dog and Glory
Encyclopedia
Mad Dog and Glory is a 1993
American
comedy-drama film directed by John McNaughton
and starring Robert De Niro
, Uma Thurman
and Bill Murray
.
) is a meek and lonely Chicago police officer who has spent years on the job without ever having to draw his gun. A crime scene photographer, he decorates his apartment with pictures he has taken on the job that have the careful craftsmanship of a man who really wanted to be a fine art photographer
but settled for a civil servant job because of the security and benefits it offered.
Affectionately called "Mad Dog" by colleagues, he crosses paths one day with Frank Milo (Bill Murray
), a bystander at a hold-up in a convenience store who turns out to be a mob boss. Mad Dog saves Milo's life. The criminal believes he owes the cop and must grant him a favor, a debt that seems less motivated by Milo's code of honor than by the advice of Milo's therapist.
Mad Dog is invited to visit Milo at his comedy club
. It turns out that Milo is also an aspiring stand-up comedian
.
Glory (Uma Thurman
) is an attractive young woman who works at the club. She spills coffee on Mad Dog's hand. In a desire to be "the expeditor of your dreams," Milo promptly offers Mad Dog a gift -- the personal services of Glory over a week's time to take care of his hand (and any other needs he might have).
Mad Dog learns that Glory is trying to pay off a personal debt and wants nothing to do with Milo beyond that. They fall in love. The sensitive Mad Dog wants her to move into his apartment, where he also is concerned about a next-door neighbor named Lee who is the victim of domestic abuse.
Milo is aggravated. He had no intention of losing Glory on a permanent basis. Milo says that Mad Dog has to pay $40,000 to give Glory her freedom.
A large thug named Harold is sent by Milo to back up this threat with physical intimidation, but the mild-mannered photographer knows a much tougher fellow officer, Mike, his police partner, who is gladly willing to fight the thug on his behalf. Mike is a bad-ass who intervenes on Lee's behalf as well.
Mad Dog does his best to get the money but falls short by $13,000. Knowing that Mike can no longer fight all of his battles, he works up the courage to fight for Glory himself. He ends up brawling with Milo in a fistfight in the street. Mad Dog is beaten but never gives up. Milo is touched by this and ultimately lets Glory go with no strings attached.
, the film was delayed by a year because of studio-required changes. Jones and director McNaughton were contractually required to deliver the film with absolutely no changes to the script written by Price. After doing so, Universal test-screened
the film, then insisted on reshooting the film's final scene. As written, when Milo and Mad Dog fight, Milo dominates Mad Dog. Mad Dog's one connecting punch did no damage, but did serve to prompt Milo to realize that Glory wasn't worth fighting over.
It was reshot to respond to an audience typecasting
of De Niro, who they saw as the Raging Bull he had played more than a decade earlier. Those who saw the test screenings couldn't accept the fact that De Niro's Mad Dog had done so poorly against Murray's Milo. Such a reaction was ironic because De Niro had actually been offered the Milo role, and had insisted on the Mad Dog role instead precisely because of its meekness.
Other reshoots for the film were done to make Glory seem less manipulative and Milo more of a puppetmaster behind Glory's actions.
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy-drama film directed by John McNaughton
John McNaughton
John McNaughton is an American film and television director, originally from Chicago, Illinois.-Biography:His first feature film, made in 1986, was Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, a film McNaughton directed, co-wrote, and co-produced. Numerous complications plagued the controversial film,...
and starring Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
, Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
and Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
.
Plot
Wayne Dobie (Robert De NiroRobert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
) is a meek and lonely Chicago police officer who has spent years on the job without ever having to draw his gun. A crime scene photographer, he decorates his apartment with pictures he has taken on the job that have the careful craftsmanship of a man who really wanted to be a fine art photographer
Fine art photography
Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism, which provides a visual account for news events, and commercial photography, the primary focus of which is to...
but settled for a civil servant job because of the security and benefits it offered.
Affectionately called "Mad Dog" by colleagues, he crosses paths one day with Frank Milo (Bill Murray
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
), a bystander at a hold-up in a convenience store who turns out to be a mob boss. Mad Dog saves Milo's life. The criminal believes he owes the cop and must grant him a favor, a debt that seems less motivated by Milo's code of honor than by the advice of Milo's therapist.
Mad Dog is invited to visit Milo at his comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
. It turns out that Milo is also an aspiring stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
.
Glory (Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
) is an attractive young woman who works at the club. She spills coffee on Mad Dog's hand. In a desire to be "the expeditor of your dreams," Milo promptly offers Mad Dog a gift -- the personal services of Glory over a week's time to take care of his hand (and any other needs he might have).
Mad Dog learns that Glory is trying to pay off a personal debt and wants nothing to do with Milo beyond that. They fall in love. The sensitive Mad Dog wants her to move into his apartment, where he also is concerned about a next-door neighbor named Lee who is the victim of domestic abuse.
Milo is aggravated. He had no intention of losing Glory on a permanent basis. Milo says that Mad Dog has to pay $40,000 to give Glory her freedom.
A large thug named Harold is sent by Milo to back up this threat with physical intimidation, but the mild-mannered photographer knows a much tougher fellow officer, Mike, his police partner, who is gladly willing to fight the thug on his behalf. Mike is a bad-ass who intervenes on Lee's behalf as well.
Mad Dog does his best to get the money but falls short by $13,000. Knowing that Mike can no longer fight all of his battles, he works up the courage to fight for Glory himself. He ends up brawling with Milo in a fistfight in the street. Mad Dog is beaten but never gives up. Milo is touched by this and ultimately lets Glory go with no strings attached.
Cast
- Robert De NiroRobert De NiroRobert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
- Wayne 'Mad Dog' Dobie - Uma ThurmanUma ThurmanUma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
- Glory - Bill MurrayBill MurrayWilliam James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
- Frank Milo - David CarusoDavid CarusoDavid Stephen Caruso is an American film and television actor and producer, best known for his role of Lieutenant Horatio Caine on the TV series CSI: Miami. The role that gained him initial significant recognition was the role of Det...
- Mike - Mike StarrMike Starr (actor)Michael "Mike" Starr is an American actor. Starr is notable for his large size, standing 6 ft 3 1/2 in , and has typically been typecast as thugs or henchmen....
- Harold - Tom TowlesTom TowlesTom Towles is an American actor.Towles was born and raised in Chicago. He became an actor after a stint in the U.S. Marines, beginning with an uncredited performance in Dog Day Afternoon . He has appeared in film and television extensively since the 1980s...
- Andrew the Beater - Kathy BakerKathy BakerKatherine Whitton "Kathy" Baker is an American stage, film and television actress.-Career:Baker began her career at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, performing in several of Sam Shepard's plays before getting her break in an off-Broadway production of Fool for Love opposite Ed Harris...
- Lee - Derek Annunciation - Shooter (as Derek Anunciation)
- Doug Hara - Driver
- Evan Lionel - Dealer in Car
- Anthony Cannata - Pavletz
- J. J. JohnstonJ. J. JohnstonJ.J. Johnston is an American theatre and film actor and boxing historian and writer.-Books:Johnston, a former amateur boxer, is the author of several books on the history of boxing....
- Shanlon - Guy Van Swearingen - Cop
- Jack WallaceJack WallaceJack Wallace was an American football player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Drake University from 1965 until 1976, compiling a record of 60–65–3....
- Tommy the Bartender - Richard BelzerRichard BelzerRichard Jay Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, author, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as John Munch, which he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in guest...
- M.C. / Comic
Changes after test screenings
According to a profile of producer Steven A. Jones written by Luke FordLuke Ford
Luke Ford is an American writer, blogger, and former pornography gossip columnist known for his disclosures and traditionalist Jewish religious views.-Personal:Ford moved to California in 1977...
, the film was delayed by a year because of studio-required changes. Jones and director McNaughton were contractually required to deliver the film with absolutely no changes to the script written by Price. After doing so, Universal test-screened
Test screening
A test screening is a preview screening of a movie or television show before its general release in order to gauge audience reaction. Preview audiences are selected from a cross-section of the population, and are usually asked to complete a questionnaire or provide feedback in some form. Harold...
the film, then insisted on reshooting the film's final scene. As written, when Milo and Mad Dog fight, Milo dominates Mad Dog. Mad Dog's one connecting punch did no damage, but did serve to prompt Milo to realize that Glory wasn't worth fighting over.
It was reshot to respond to an audience typecasting
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
of De Niro, who they saw as the Raging Bull he had played more than a decade earlier. Those who saw the test screenings couldn't accept the fact that De Niro's Mad Dog had done so poorly against Murray's Milo. Such a reaction was ironic because De Niro had actually been offered the Milo role, and had insisted on the Mad Dog role instead precisely because of its meekness.
Other reshoots for the film were done to make Glory seem less manipulative and Milo more of a puppetmaster behind Glory's actions.
External links
- Profile of producer Steven A. Jones, with details about the film, from the webblog of Luke FordLuke FordLuke Ford is an American writer, blogger, and former pornography gossip columnist known for his disclosures and traditionalist Jewish religious views.-Personal:Ford moved to California in 1977...