NAKED GUN (1988) (M) presented in 35mm

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! at The Revival House Perth

Hapless Los Angeles Police Department Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) stumbles through life causing chaos wherever he goes, yet somehow always saves the day through sheer dumb luck. When his partner Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) is brutally attacked while investigating a heroin smuggling operation, Frank becomes obsessed with finding those responsible. His investigation leads him to wealthy businessman Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalbán), who is plotting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to a California Angels baseball game. Complicating matters is Frank's attraction to Ludwig's assistant Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley), who has no idea her boss is a criminal mastermind. As Frank bumbles closer to the truth, leaving destruction in his wake, he must stop the assassination plot while navigating his feelings for Jane and surviving his own spectacular incompetence.

Director David Zucker brings his Airplane! sensibility to this 1988 big-screen adaptation of the short-lived Police Squad! television series, creating a rapid-fire comedy where every frame contains visual gags, verbal puns, and slapstick absurdity. Leslie Nielsen's deadpan delivery transforms ridiculous dialogue into comedy gold—his ability to say the most preposterous things with complete sincerity is the film's secret weapon. The supporting cast plays everything straight, which amplifies the humor. Zucker packs the film with sight gags that reward repeat viewings, from background details to impossible physical comedy. The baseball game climax—featuring Frank disguised as an umpire causing mayhem—is brilliantly choreographed chaos. Ira Newborn's grandiose score treats the silly material with mock-serious importance. It's a relentless joke machine that still lands laugh after laugh, proving that inspired stupidity executed with precision never gets old.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Saturday, May 23rd at 5:00PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: PG (Mild crude humour and violence)

Nielsen's deadpan detective disasters deliver non-stop laughs—experience Zucker's comedy masterclass on 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth