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MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 81% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Dark Blue
"Sworn to protect. Sworn to serve. Sworn to secrecy."
2002 1h 58m EN
😐
6.2
MID
★6.2TMDB · 404
CrimeThrillerDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Set during the Rodney King riots, a robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.
“Sworn to protect. Sworn to serve. Sworn to secrecy.”
Cast
Kurt Russell
Eldon Perry
Scott Speedman
Bobby Keough
Michael Michele
Beth Williamson
Brendan Gleeson
Jack van Meter
Ving Rhames
Arthur Holland
Kurupt
Darryl Orchard
Dash Mihok
Gary Sidwell
Jonathan Banks
James Barcomb
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Ron Shelton
- Writers
- David Ayer, James Ellroy
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 24 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 3 countries: Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Ron Shelton, shot by Barry Peterson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Patrick Flannery shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Kurt Russell and Scott Speedman and Michael Michele carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Sworn to protect. Sworn to serve. Sworn to secrecy.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Ron Shelton directs. Barry Peterson behind the camera. Terence Blanchard scores. Patrick Flannery cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 81% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 2Released 24 years ago.
- 3International production across 3 countries: Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America.
- 4Directed by Ron Shelton, shot by Barry Peterson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Terence Blanchard. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Patrick Flannery shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Kurt Russell and Scott Speedman and Michael Michele carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Sworn to protect. Sworn to serve. Sworn to secrecy.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0279331 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 12 themes, including "police brutality", "corruption", "ghetto", "street war".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Barry Peterson
- Original score
- Terence Blanchard
- Editing
- Patrick Flannery
- Production design
- J. Dennis Washington
- Costume design
- Kathryn Morrison
- Makeup / hair
- Dennis Liddiard
- Sound
- Lance Brown
- Stunt coordinator
- Jeff Dashnaw
- Runtime
- 118 min · 1h 58m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $15,000,000
- Box office
- $12,150,301
- Return
- 81% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- IMDB
- Dark Blue (2002)
Also by
Ron Shelton
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Intermedia Films
GB
- IM
IM Filmproduktion
DE
Cosmic Picture
US
Alphaville Films
US
United Artists
US
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
US
Key crew
- ProducerCaldecot Chubb
- ProducerSean Daniel
- ProducerJames Jacks
- EditorPatrick Flannery
- EditorPaul Seydor
- CastingFrancine Maisler
- Executive ProducerMoritz Borman
- Executive ProducerGuy East
- Production DesignJ. Dennis Washington
- Art DirectionThomas T. Taylor
- Set DecorationJohn Leimanis
- Set DecorationDavid Smith
- Unit Production ManagerDavid Blocker
- Executive ProducerNigel Sinclair
- StuntsHenry Kingi Jr.
- ProducerDavid Blocker
- Sound DesignerLance Brown
- Sound DesignerBruce Fortune
- Costume DesignKathryn Morrison
- Makeup Department HeadDennis Liddiard
- Makeup ArtistWynona Price
- Key Hair StylistRomy Fleming
- Key Hair StylistMelissa Forney
- StuntsTony Brubaker
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- police brutality
- corruption
- ghetto
- street war
- hold-up robbery
- moral conflict
- special unit
- riot
- cop
- los angeles, california
- family
- urban setting
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2003-02-21R
Also known as
International titles
- 4-29-92US
- The Plague SeasonUS
- Dark Blue - Die Farbe der KorruptionDE
