Buzz
Following his iconic role in Airplane!, Leslie Nielsen collaborated once more with Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker for the 1982 ABC parody series Police Squad!. Despite its cancellation after just six episodes, the show garnered attention and earned two Emmy nominations. Years later, it was revived as a highly successful comedy film series, starting with the 1988 hit The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!.
Nielsen reprised his role as Frank Drebin, a bumbling detective who thwarts a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II and becomes romantically involved with Jane Spencer, played by Priscilla Presley in her breakout film role. O.J. Simpson also starred as Detective Nordberg, enduring numerous comedic mishaps. These fascinating details about the film will make you appreciate life's little wonders, from birds chirping to the glow of a traffic light.
1. THE MOVIE'S INITIAL TITLE WAS CHANGED DUE TO ITS RESEMBLANCE TO ANOTHER POPULAR POLICE FRANCHISE.
Paramount Pictures advised ZAZ (Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker) that Police Squad was too close in name to Police Academy (with Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach releasing in March 1988). Presented with 20 alternative titles, they selected Naked Gun because it humorously suggested far more than it could ever achieve.
2. PRISCILLA PRESLEY WAS NEW TO COMEDY.
ZAZ cast Presley, known for her serious roles, to enhance the film's deadpan humor. Having previously starred in Dallas, her comedic debut was seamless, though Zucker joked that Elvis's occasional visits to the set were the only hiccup.
3. GEORGE KENNEDY HAD LONG DESIRED TO COLLABORATE WITH ZAZ.
In his memoir, George Kennedy (Ed Hocken) shared: “Meeting ZAZ at their Paramount office, I noticed a newspaper headline: ‘Legless Boy Cartwheels Down Hill to Save Dad.’ A pause, then laughter bonded us.” Kennedy was initially offered Lloyd Bridges' role in Airplane! but was tied up with the lucrative Airport series.
4. KENNEDY FOUND THE FILMING PROCESS CHALLENGING.
Kennedy mentioned that the Zucker brothers (David directed the first Naked Gun) insisted on filming each scene over 40 times, which made delivering jokes repeatedly “agonizing.”
5. THE ZUCKERS KEPT IT IN THE FAMILY FOR DOMINIQUE’S ROLE.
Dominique, Ludwig’s secretary, was portrayed by Charlotte Zucker, the mother of Jerry and David.
6. THEY BORROWED IDEAS FROM CLASSIC FILMS.
The scene of Priscilla Presley descending the stairs was inspired by the 1975 film Farewell, My Lovely starring Charlotte Rampling and Robert Mitchum (with the comedic fall added as a twist). The assassination plot targeting Queen Elizabeth II was drawn from The Day of the Jackal (1973). ZAZ also found inspiration in Mad magazine, the Dirty Harry series, and the police drama M Squad, which they humorously parodied.
7. THE PAINTING FRANK DREBIN RUINS IS A REPLICA OF THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH'S THE BLUE BOY.
The original artwork resides in The Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
8. JOHN HOUSEMAN’S LAST FILM APPEARANCE WAS IN THIS MOVIE.
Houseman portrayed the driving instructor who flips off another driver. Known for his work with Orson Welles on The War of the Worlds radio broadcast and Citizen Kane, Houseman also won an Oscar for The Paper Chase in 1974. A week before The Naked Gun premiered, he appeared in Scrooged.
9. WEIRD AL YANKOVIC’S CAMEO FULFILLED A LIFELONG DREAM.
Police Squad! was his all-time favorite series. Initially, he would have been thrilled just to appear as an extra. Upon learning of his fandom, the Zuckers crafted a special scene for him on the plane.
10. WEIRD AL SURPRISED HIS DATES BY TAKING THEM TO THE MOVIE WITHOUT REVEALING HIS ROLE.
Yankovic shared that his dates “were completely shocked” when they saw him on screen. He made sure to wear the same Hawaiian shirt as in the film.
11. THE QUEEN’S RECEPTION SCENE WAS FILMED AT THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL.
The hotel shut its doors to guests just one month later and was eventually torn down in 2005. It had been featured in several iconic films, such as The Graduate, Pretty Woman, Forrest Gump, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
12. THE ACTRESS WHO PLAYED QUEEN ELIZABETH II WAS A PROFESSIONAL IMPERSONATOR OF THE QUEEN.
Jeannette Charles began her career in 1971 after a portrait of her as the Queen, painted as a gift for her husband, caught public attention. Her striking resemblance to Her Majesty led to roles in films like European Vacation and Austin Powers in Goldmember. She declined a part in Ali G Indahouse, deeming the scene inappropriate, and retired in 2004.
13. TIM MCCARVER EARNED A MINIMAL FEE FOR HIS ROLE AS ONE OF THE BASEBALL ANNOUNCERS.
McCarver admitted he would have returned his “meager” paycheck just to share the set with Nielsen, whom he admired after watching Airplane!.
14. REGGIE JACKSON HAD ALREADY RETIRED WHEN THE FILM WAS RELEASED.
He spent his last season in 1987 as an Oakland Athletic, not an Angel.
15. THE ACTOR WHO YELLED "IT’S ENRICO PALLAZZO!" IS A FAMILIAR FACE.
Mark Holton, known for playing bike thief Francis Buxton in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and Chubby in Teen Wolf, delivered the iconic line.
16. NIELSEN ENTERTAINED QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN 2005.
Both Nielsen and the Queen attended the Saskatchewan Centennial Gala, celebrating Nielsen’s Canadian roots. Nielsen entertained a crowd of 13,000, including Her Majesty.
17. THE NAKED GUN THEME WAS PLAYED AT NIELSEN’S FUNERAL.
Nielsen, who passed away on November 28, 2010, at 84, was honored with Dominik Hauser’s theme as the Canadian Mounted Police escorted his casket in Fort Lauderdale.
18. ED HELMS WILL LEAD A REBOOT OF THE NAKED GUN SERIES.
David Zucker confirmed he declined involvement in the project, even after being approached.
