"Crocodile" Dundee (1986)

Richard Mason: New York City, Mr. Dundee.  Home to seven million people.
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee: That's incredible.  Imagine seven million people all wanting to live together.  Yeah, New York must be the friendliest place on earth.

An American reporter goes to the Australian outback to meet an eccentric crocodile poacher and invites him to New York City.


It comes as no surprise whatsoever to know that "'Crocodile' Dundee" premiered in Australia two days before it premiered in the US.  It was on September 26, 1986 that the film made its appearance to just 879 screens nationwide.  That may seem like a small number, and perhaps it was.  Costing an estimated 8.8 million in Australian currency, Peter Faiman's film made just over $8 million in the US on its opening weekend, blowing its only competitive opening film, "The Name of the Rose", out of the water ("The Name of the Rose" brought in less than $500,000).  Paramount Pictures eventually released "'Crocodile' Dundee" to a total of 1,495 screens and audiences flocked to them, making this film the second biggest Box Office hit of 1986 and earning over $174.8 million.

Considered a "sleeper film" or "underdog", "'Crocodile' Dundee" was remarkable in that it was the first feature film for many involved in the production.  It was the first feature film directed by Peter Faiman, the first feature film that Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie, and John Cornell wrote a screenplay for (which was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA), and it was the first feature film debut for its main actors, Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski.  Paul Hogan won a Golden Globe for his performance (Linda was also nominated for a Golden Globe, having lost to Sissy Spacek for her performance in "Crimes of the Heart").

"'Crocodile' Dundee" starred Paul Hogan as Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee and Linda Kozlowski as Sue, and co-starred John Meillon as Walter, Mark Blum as Richard, David Gulpilil as Neville, and Steve Rackman as Donk.

Filmed in various locations throughout Australia, New York City, and New Jersey (its one and only scene was at the Newark Liberty International Airport), here's some other bits of info on this comedic adventure film you might like to know...


1.  The "quotes" around "Crocodile" in the title were added for the American release to ensure people didn't think that Dundee was a crocodile.

2.  The Sydney Harbour Bridge is shown in the beginning of the movie from the hotel window while Sue is on the phone to New York.  Paul Hogan helped paint this bridge before he started his life as an actor and was said to have kept his co-workers laughing a good bit of the time.

3.  "'Crocodile Dundee'" was the feature film debut for not just director Peter Faiman, but also Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski.

4.  How did Mick get the buffalo to pass out like that?  Easy.  The buffalo that Mick Dundee pacified was drugged.

5.  There are two particular scenes in which Dundee assumes men are dressed as women.  Both of whom he assumes are men are actually women in real life. 

6.  The abandoned lower level of the BMT Ninth Ave. station in Brooklyn was used for the subway scene near the end of the film.  The route information signs were correct for service at 59th St.-Columbus Circle; however, double letter route markings had been dropped by the time the movie was released.  The AA marking, for instance, had become the K.

7.  "'Crocodile' Dundee" spawned two sequels: "'Crocodile' Dundee II" (1988) and "'Crocodile Dundee' in Los Angeles" (2001).  The first sequel was the 6th Top Box Office hit of 1988.  However, they should have stopped there as, in 2001, "'Crocodile' Dundee in Los Angeles" didn't even make to Top 80.  It ranked 87 out of 100.

8.  Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski were married on May 5, 1990 and had one child together.  Sadly, after 23 years of marriage, they filed for divorce on October 9, 2013 after a two-week separation.

And now you know.


When Paul Hogan gave an interview for "'Crocodile Dundee' in Los Angeles" (2001), he put to rest the myth that there was a real Crocodile Dundee.  He assured the interviewer that there was not, and that the idea for the character came from his own head.  Hogan admitted that on a trip to New York he felt like a complete fish-out-of-water and the idea began to form in his head.

Below are pictures of the key characters in "'Crocodile' Dundee" followed by picture stills arranged in chronological to that of the film itself.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now the storyline.  But no worries, mate.  I didn't share enough to spoil the story for ya!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue Charlton: People go to a psychiatrist to talk about their problems.  She just needed to unload them.  You know, bring them out in the open.

Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee: Hasn't she got any mates?
Sue Charlton: You're right.  I guess we could all use more mates.  I suppose you don't have any shrinks at Walkabout Creek.
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee: No back there if you got a problem you tell Wally.  And he tells everyone in town, brings it out in the open, no more problem.