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US TV series of 12 episodes, originally broadcast between January 4 and
May 16 1985 on ABC-TV. This first pilot episode was feature-length. Released
on VHS and laserdisc. TD did the original music score for all episodes of
the series.
More information about 'Streethawk':
'The Ultimate High-Tech Crimefighter'.
Streethawk is an action packed High-Tech thriller starring Rex Smith
as Jesse Mach, a hot shot motorcycle officer. Mach has been hand picked
for OPERATION STREETHAWK, to ride the ultimate machine. Jet black sleek,
low and fast, STREETHAWK is loaded with surprises: Hyperthrust to propel
the bike up to 300 mph, a compressed air vertical lift system, and an attack
gun which utilizes laser particle beams.
STREETHAWK is linked to a computer control centre which monitors and
guides its every move.
After an unsuccessful and almost fatal assignment against a notorious
drug ring, Jesse is approached by Norman Tuttle (Joe Regalbuto) who is a
Federal Government Research Engineer and creator of STREETHAWK. Mach agrees
to undergo restorative surgery and join the secret OPERATION STREETHAWK.
The two combine as an extraordinary crime fighting team.
Mach and his super powered bike use their unorthodox ways to fight crime
in the city - and to avenge the death of a friend.
Christopher Lloyd makes a special appearance as the drug baron who ultimately
must combat the full force of STREETHAWK.
VHS, 1984, 90 minute, Not Rated, color, SP mode, USA, MCA Home Video.
Originally aired January 4, 1985.
Cast includes in no particular order:
Rex Smith .... Jesse Mach
(Richie Rich: A Christmas Story, Passion to Kill, Danielle Steel's 'Once
in a Lifetime', DareDevil TV Series as Matt Murdock/DareDevil, As the World
Turns TV Series as Darryl Crawford, Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced
Singer, Transformations, Sooner or Later, Street Hawk TV Series, Pirates
of Penzance, Solid Gold TV Series as Host, Headin' for Broadway)
Joe Regalbuto .... Norman Tuttle
(Murphy Brown TV Series as Francis 'Frank' Fontana)
Christopher Lloyd .... Anthony Corrido
(Chasing Destiny, Fate Totally Worse Than Death, Interstate 60, Kids
World, Wish You Were Dead, Dinner at Fred', Baby Geniuses, My Favorite Martian,
Changing Habits,Angels in the Endzone, Anastasia, Quicksilver Highway, Things
to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Angels in the Outfield, Dennis the Menace,
Addams Family Values, Addams Family, as. Uncle Fester Addams, Back to the
Future: The Animated Series, Back to the Future... The Ride, Back to the
Future Part III, Dream Team, Back to the Future Part II, Eight Men Out,
Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Clue, Back to the Future as Dr. Emmett L. "Doc"
Brown, Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Star Trek
III: The Search for Spock, To Be or Not to Be, Mr. Mom, September Gun, Postman
Always Rings Twice, Schizoid, Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, Lady in
Red, The Onion Field, Goin' South, Taxi TV Series as "Reverend Jim"
Ignatowski, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
Richard Venture .... Capt. Leo Altobelli
Jeannie Wilson .... Rachel Adams
Raymond Singer .... Bernie
R.J. Adams .... Sgt. Mike
Robert Beltran .... Marty Walsh
(Trekkies, "Star Trek: Voyager TV Series as Chakotay, Star Trek:
Voyager - Caretaker as Chakotay, Models Inc., Night of the Comet, Calendar
Girl Murders, Lone Wolf McQuade, Eating Raoul)
John Carter .... Elliott Kirby
Doug Cox .... Eddie Williams
Jayne Modean .... Sandy McCoy
Lawrence Pressman .... Thomas Miller
(Dark Angel TV Series as Jonas Cale, American Pie as Coach Marshall,
Mighty Joe Young, Very Bad Things,Doogie Howser, M.D. TV Series as Doctor
Canfield, Little Girl Lost, Hanoi Hilton, Winds of War TV Series as Bunky
Thurston, Nine to Five, Gathering, Part II, The Gathering, Man from Atlantis,
"Rich Man, Poor Man, Shaft as Sergeant Tom Hannon )
Directed by Virgil Vogel
("One West Waikiki, "Walker, Texas Ranger, "Quantum Leap,
"Spenser: For Hire, "Miami Vice, "Airwolf, "Scarecrow
and Mrs. King, "Voyagers! TV Series, "Knight Rider, "Magnum,
P.I., "White Shadow, "Man from Atlantis, "Police Woman, "Six
Million Dollar Man, "Police Story, "Barnaby Jones, "Cannon,
"Mission: Impossible, "Big Valley, "Bonanza, "Cimarron
City, "Wagon Train TV Series )
Written by Robert Wolterstorfff
(1990, 1991 Emmy nomination as supervising producer for Outstanding Drama
Series for: Quantum Leap. Other works include: Incredible Hulk TV Series,
Eight Is Enough TV Series)
and Paul M. Belous (Incredible Hulk TV Series, Eight Is Enough TV Series)
Original music by Christopher Franke and Tangerine Dream
Jim Michaels .... 24 frame computer playback operator
Jesse Wayne .... stunts
Under-rated super vehicle with superb soundtrack
Back in the "super vehicle boom" with Airwolf, Knight Rider,
The Highwayman and this show, teenagers everywhere watched week after week
with anticipation for the next episode.
Yeah well, KNIGHT RIDER made it because a 4 wheel crime-buster was always
going to win out over a two-wheeled vigilantemobile! Street Hawk's "Harley
with attitude" might have had a 200 mph speed capability and a $3 million
price tag (bit suss, that one!) but when all was said and done, Rex Smith
was no Steve McQueen! More like crime-fighter Disney style.
While Airwolf was the only adult show of the whole lot, Knight Rider
the most family orientated, Street Hawk was aimed at a teenage demographic.
Why it failed is anybody's guess (probably time-slot or competition on the
other channels at the time), but while Airwolf and Knight Rider both made
4 successful seasons each (and now run in syndication today), Street Hawk
was cancelled after a half season of 13 episodes - which was a real shame.
The action, the bike, the music... especially the music by Tangerine
Dream (they actually did 3.5 hours of a musical suite for the show which
was then split up for each individual episode - a well overdue soundtrack
release would be appreciated!) added to the high-tech production values
of this comic-book type show. It never got a chance.
Best of the offerings, the actual Pilot telemovie entitled STREET HAWK.
It ran for 75 minutes and was released in many countries as a one-off video.
Besides some skimpy background to Street Hawk's existence - The rookie cop,
consigned to Public Relations, mega-bike wages war against the local "Mr
Big" (Christopher Lloyd in a most un-Disney role). Not only does Jess
Mach (Smith) take out Lloyd's cronies, he performs an aerial ballet that
sees Lloyd and his 4 Wheel drive nose dive DUEL style off a desert cliff! |
