Saturday 11 February 1984

Airwolf Season 1 - Episode 5 - Proof Through The Night



WORKING TITLE: ????
FINAL TITLE: PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT
PCODE: #58207
SCRIPT FIRST DRAFT: 9th NOVEMBER 1983
SCRIPT REVISED: 22nd NOVEMBER 1983
SCRIPT REVISED: 15th DECEMBER 1983
SCRIPT REVISED: 16th DECEMBER 1983
SCRIPT REVISED: 19th DECEMBER 1983
SCRIPT REVISED: ??
AIRDATE: 11th February 1984 (7PM)



A deep undercover agent contacts the firm to arrange an extraction when he learns russia has been developing a deadly virus that kills within seconds. Unfortunately the only way to accomplish the mission at such a distance is to strip all of airwolfs weapons to reduce the weight. Things are further complicated when the double agent refuses to leave the country without his family while the russian army are closing in.

TRIVIA:
----------------------------------------------------

  • The opening scene featuring the death of the rat and the monkey were originally filmed in 1970 for a film called "The Andromeda Strain"  which was released in 1971.

  • At the top of the ID badge moses is wearing says Пропуск, IE Propusk, pronounced Propoosk, which means Pass. The name on the ID reads Belyaev Stanislav. The empty line should be where his job title is listed.
Vladimir 'Moses' Rostoff - Rick Lenz
  • Surnames in Russia end with "ov" not "off" and even then, there are no "Rostov" surnames in russia, look on facebook & view the profile URL's, no such surname thus far.
  • Rostov is actually is a town in western Russia, on the banks of Lake Nero.
  • In the original first draft of the script, Sgt. Tembrusco was actually listed as Sgt. Temebruso.
  • In the original first draft of the script Turgyev was actually listed as Ivan Turgay, but by the 5th draft he is just listed as Turgyev and Ivan is no longer noted on the cast page.
  • The original proposed opening for this episode in the first draft was much more elaborate. It also conveyed that Vladimer Rostoff was well known, respected and trusted as he travelled through the building making his way to the test lab. He also interacts with the other cast of scientists and one of the other doctors opens a safe to remove a box. A fight essentially ensues and a vile is broken. Before that fight the doctor called security too, meaning that the scene was much more dramatically charged and had a more violent and disturbing pace to it.
  • An elaborate slide show set up in the cabin was replaced with just a dossier that string is holding.
  • His codename in the original script was Rosy which was later changed to Moses.
  • There was a scene involving a coyote in the valley that was also scrapped.
  • In the final cut the mid air refuel guys talk about what it is and wage bets on it, however in the original draft they are ordered to refuel it with no observation of what they are refuelling.
  • The three migs who think they spotted them and turn around also had some dialogue that was later stripped from the final script.
  • They also dropped a bar scene based in a small tavern set shortly after picking Rostoff up.
  • The end of the episode is a lot different to, it feels like it’s set a few days after they returned from Russia and appears more personal.
  • We can always recall whenever dom is trying to land that tet’s in the way, but the original script for this episode also appeared to feature more animosity between Santini and Tet. Felt right out of character when i read those parts.

COMMON QUESTIONS:

Q:) What does the Technician say to moses when he speaks in Russian ?

A:) He says Bozhe moi, which means My God, then he says Nyet which means No.

Q:) How can you confirm who's face you portray as the Technician in your guide is in-fact Eric Goldner?

A:) By his credited and visual appearance in an episode of the A-Team tv series.

Q:) How can you confirm who's face you portray in your guide as the 1st Russian Soldier as being Scott Turchin?

A:) Confirmed via a tom hanks movie called (The Money Pit) where he was a mover, funny enough Radu Gavor was in the same scene from that film.


THE CAST:

Jan-Michael Vincent ... Stringfellow Hawke
Alex Cord ... Archangel Michael Coldsmith Briggs III
Ernest Borgnine ... Dominic Santini
Rick Lenz ... Vladimir 'Moses' Rostoff
Linda Grovenor ... Tanya Rostoff
Deborah Pratt ... Marella
Radu Gavor ... Ivan Turgyev
Maria Korda ... Natalya Rostoff
Chris Capen ... Tanker Plane Pilot (as Cris Capen)
Greg Winfield ... Tanker Plane Co-Pilot
Rick Garcia ... Sgt. Tembrusco (as Rick Garia)
Sam Kwasman ... Cpl. Munga
Scott Turchin ... 1st Russian Soldier
UnKnown ... 2nd Russian Soldier (uncredited)
Eric Goldner ... Technician
UnKnown ... Virologist (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker ... Russian Jeep Driver (uncredited)
Jack ... Tet (uncredited)

THE CREW:

Written by: 
Clyde Ware

Directed by:
Harvey S. Laidman (as Harvey Laidman)

Produced by:
Burton Armus ... producer
Donald P. Bellisario ... executive producer
John David ... co-producer
Carol Gillson ... associate producer
Alan J. Levi ... supervising producer
Leon Ortiz-Gil ... associate producer
Clyde Ware ... producer

Music by:
Sylvester Levay

Cinematography by:
Howard Schwartz ... director of photography

Film Editing by:
Mario Di Gregorio ... (as N. Mario Di Gregorio)

Art Direction by:
Gary A. Lee

Set Decoration by:
Richard B. Goddard

Production Management:
Mitchell L. Gamson ... unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director:
Ryan Gordon ... second assistant director
J. David Jones ... second unit director (as David Jones)
John Slosser ... first assistant director (as R. John Slosser)

Art Department:
Andrew Probert ... concept/storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department:
Don Sharpless ... sound
Sam F. Shaw ... sound editor (as Sam Shaw)

Special Effects by:
Clarence Fay Konkel ... special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts:
Ron Stein ... stunt coordinator
Bob Herron ... stunt double: Ernest Borgnine (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker ... stunt driver (uncredited)
Larry Kirsch ... stunt helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Armstrong ... assistant camera

Casting Department:
Donna Dockstader ... casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department:
Rudolph Garcia ... costume supervisor (as Rudy Garcia)
Barbara Lee Maccarone ... costume supervisor

Music Department:
Gene L. Gillette ... music editor
Sandy DeCrescent ... orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Ron S. Herbes ... first assistant music editor (uncredited)
James Thatcher ... musician: French horn (uncredited)

Misc Crew:
J. David Jones ... aerial coordinator (as David Jones)
Mike Dewey ... assistant aerial coordinator (uncredited)

 TV CLIPPINGS:

CBS Tv Guide Clipping

Saturday 4 February 1984

Blooper - 1x04 - Bite Of The Jackal

Written By: Nicholas Corea
Directed By: Alan J. Levi 

For this episode i am going to challenge a long posed question of just "who downed dom's helicopter"

That opening scene planting the bomb always makes me laugh because when it cuts to the hand reaching into the tool box, to take out the bomb, you could clearly tell that was either Ernest or Ernests stunt double (wearing an airwolf flight suit) You can actually see the "airwolf arm patch" for a moment too.

That is not JMV, the body mass is way off during the whole leaning into the box shot.
(could have been jmv If this had been in season 3)

Is That Ernest Borgnine ? Spot The Airwolf Arm Patch
 Also, by the looks of the Lighting perspective, this tool box moment appears to of been filmed indoors rather than outside, i mean that is jetcopters hanger floor right ?.

I have often wondered why they used this hanger because if Dom wasn't at the helicopter then one would assume Dom was in the hanger, same hanger the guy comes out of. Also this hanger he slips out of has the lights on inside?

Soldier Callan Stepping Out of Doms Hanger
Maybe he considered "i will hide in the hanger until they go home" now that's plausible, but to turn on the lights and leave them on, why did dom not have a gripe at anyone for leaving that door unlocked? or about the lights left on?. who the hell was in such a hurry last night to leave my lights on and the side door open?. Dom never asked because dom was inside all along as we later see.

What we know about the hanger, size, dimensions and the noise a metal door makes, i could never buy that scene as it was with the lights on, the colour of the hanger door (so for the patch to raise its wolfy head) made it's continuity much worse.

The scene had far more time spent on the "Lighting of it" rather than the "continuity of it" He could of and should of just been hiding around a corner. Over directing the drama (using the SA hanger) then showing them both inside was a bad move and sadly makes it more obvious on the remaster.


BUT!!!   The Lighting Is Great!
Clock & Lighting Has The Time As Proof To Being Inside at PM
This Further Proves It Is PM
As does this next shot


It's Night Time
Santini did it, he gave it to the guy?

What Other Bloopers Do You Remember From This Episode ?
"besides the usual guns are out and in moments"

Airwolf Season 1 - Episode 4 - Bite Of The Jackal