Making The Terminator

Time travel as a device has been used quite extensively in science-fiction since H.G. Wells wrote The Time Machine late in the 19th Century. Also the time travel device has been used in Time After Time, Somewhere in Time, The Final Countdown, and The Time Traveler's Wife. Time travel was used to good effect on television science fiction also; On The Twilight Zone, in particular "A Stop at Willoughby." On Star Trek, in "City at the Edge of Forever" (written by Harlan Ellison) and "Assignment: Earth" and in three of the best Outer Limits episodes, "The Man Who Was Never Born," "Soldier," and "Demon with a Glass Hand," the latter two written by Harlan Ellison.

In "Man," Martin Landau, later famous in Mission: Impossible, plays a mutant in the future who is visited by an astronaut from the past. Using the spaceship, he travels to the past to kill a woman who will mother the man who starts World War III. Ultimately, he succeeds, and vanishes, as his birth never occurred in the new future. In "Soldier," Michael Ansara (Kang in "Day of the Dove") is a robotic soldier from the future brought to the present in a vortex. He is pursued by an enemy soldier from his own time. In "Demon with a Glass Hand," Robert Culp is an android from the future who literally holds the fate of billions in his hand. All three are classics of science fiction television. In that tradition, apparently comes the science fiction film The Terminator. Nothing can escape the Terminator.

Sent from the future to present day Los Angeles, the cyborg (part man, part machine) is on deadly mission to kill a young woman whose life will have great significance in decades to come. Played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator will not stop until the mission has been carried out. Standing in the way of his plans, though, is Kyle Reese, a young, but hardened guerrilla fighter-portrayed by Michael Biehn—who has also been sent back in time to protect the Terminator's unsuspecting victim from the relentless onslaught of the killer machine. From their first terrifying fight to the deadly climax, the Terminator and Reese leave a path of destruction in their wake.

The Idea

In addition to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Biehn, the futuristic action-thriller also stars Linda Hamilton. The Hemdale Production was produced by Gale Anne Hurd and directed by James Cameron from a screenplay by Cameron with Hurd. John Daly and Derek Gibson served as executive producers of the film, which is an Orion Pictures release. The Terminator, which also stars Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen, Earl Boen, Rick Rossovich, and Bess Motta, was filmed in and around various Los Angeles locations, including downtown, for ten weeks. The idea for The Terminator came about while director/screenwriter Cameron and producer/screenwriter Hurd were working together on another film, Battle Beyond The Stars.

"I was a production manager and Jim was the art director and a director of photography for the special effects unit," Hurd explained. "Jim came up with the idea, which I thought would make an exciting film. He went off and started the script and eventually I worked on it. With Jim's background in special effects, it seemed like a natural for him to direct. Once the script was finished, we were both convinced that we had all the ingredients for a successful film."

Arnold Schwarzenegger was also convinced. "I have read a lot of action-adventure scripts," Schwarzenegger said, "and this is definitely one of the best I have ever read. I knew that I wanted to play the part of the Terminator as soon as I started reading the script." Cameron, who recently directed Piranha II, knew that Schwarzenegger would make the perfect Terminator. "To me, Arnold is the only actor to play the Terminator," he explained. "I knew right away that he would be perfect." For Schwarzenegger, who played a hero in the worldwide smash-hit, Conan, The Destroyer, the idea of playing a super-villain in "Terminator" seemed like a good one.

Schwarzenegger's First Bad Guy Role

"In every film I've been in, I always play a hero," said Schwarzenegger. "In this one I finally get to play a real bad guy. It's quite a bit different for me and I'm enjoying it. I also enjoy working with James Cameron. He's an excellent director who knows how to direct the exciting action scenes."

Michael Biehn, who is well-known for his appearance in The Fan and Lords Of Discipline, also enjoyed working with Cameron. "It was a good experience working with James," said Biehn. "He was able to combine a good story with a lot of action, which always makes an enjoyable film. The character I play is very interesting and that to me is very important. When a character is interesting, there is more that I can do as an actor."

The Terminator features a lot of exciting makeup effects and Stan Winston, nominated for an Academy Award and winner of two Emmy Awards for special makeup effects, admits that the work he did for The Terminator was some of the most complicated he has ever done. "All the different changes that the Terminator goes through during the film made it really very demanding," explained Winston. "This is probably the hardest film I have ever worked on." In addition to the special makeup effects, Winston also designed many of the mechanical effects and robots that were used in the film. The special effects coordinator for The Terminator was Ernie Farino, who has worked on numerous films, including Caveman,The Howling and The Thing. For "Terminator," Farino developed the numerous computer effects that are used in the film.

Photography and Animation

Gene Warren, Leslie Huntley, and Peter Kleinow of Fantasy II were responsible for the miniature photography and stop-motion animation that enhance the visual effects in The Terminator. They have worked on a number of films, including Spacehunter, Caveman, and Goliath Awaits. Many locations throughout Los Angeles were used for the filming of The Terminator. Art Director George Costello converted a restaurant in downtown into a new wave nightclub called Tech Nair and a steel mill, which was closed for years, became the set for many of the futuristic scenes, a police station, and a run-down motel. "It was really a challenge to design the sets at some of these locations," said Costello. "I was able to do some exciting things, which I think gave the film a great look."

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger who, prior to The Terminator, was an international star who is known for his ability both as an athlete and an actor. He has won a Mr. World Contest, four Mr. Universe titles, and seven Mr. Olympia championships. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous films, including Stay Hungry, for which he won a Golden Globe Award as Best Newcomer In Films, Pumping Iron, The Villain, Scavenger Hunt and Conan, The Destroyer, the sequel to the worldwide box office smash, Conan, The Barbarian. On television, he appeared in The Jayne Mansfield Story. He has written several bestselling books in bodybuilding, including Arnold: The Education Of A Bodybuilder, Arnold's Bodyshaping for Women,Arnold's Bodybuilding For Me, and Arnold's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.

In addition to Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn (Kyle Reese) had made his feature film debut in The Fan and has appeared in a number of other films, including Hog Wild, Coach,The Lords Of Discipline, and The Martyrdom Of St. Sebastian. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a model and eventually began appearing in commercials. His first professional job was in 1977 when he appeared in the television pilot for Logan's Run. His other television appearances include Operation Runaway, James At 15, Police Story, and Family. He also appeared in the television movies, Fire In The Sky and Zuma Beach.

The Other Stars

Linda Hamilton (Sarah Connor) had appeared in numerous feature films, including T.A.G., The Assassination Game, Nightflowers, Children Of The Corn and Stone Boy. Her television appearances include Rape And Marriage: The Rideout Case, in which she starred opposite Mickey Rourke, Mother and Daughter, Country Gold, and Reunion, in addition to two series, King's Crossing and Secrets of Midland Heights.

Finally, the sci-fi legend Land Henrik Sen. (Vukovich) who was in The Right Stuff and before that appeared in Nightmares, Prince Of The City, Network, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and Piranha II was a great addition to the cast. On television, he appeared in Blood Feud. He is a member of the Theatre Company of Boston and appeared in Richard III and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

The Terminator proved to be that right blend of science fiction, fantasy, sex, violence, and action that adventure fans crave. Surely director Cameron, a graduate of the Roger Corman film Kaplan, produced a slick piece of action melodrama that will thrill Saturday night audiences (and annoy feminists, hopefully.) Keep those android joints oiled, and watch out—Terminator is after you!

Terminator Vault was written by well known film aficionado Ian Nathan. The forward was written by Arnold himself. It takes a behind-the-scenes view of the making of the franchise. From the origin of Skynet's apocalyptic AI to reproductions of scripts, from concept art to the actual backstory of the the terminator units. With over 170 color images from the production, this book is a must for authentic collectors and all around sci-fi movie fans.