Revealing mistake: In the scene where Axel throws the art dealer's henchman onto the buffet table, if you watch carefully (or use slow-mo) you can see the stunt double pulling off that manoeuvre. There is also a stunt double being thrown over the table.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Directed by: Martin Brest
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher
Continuity mistake: When Eddie Murphy is getting the bananas from the waiter in the hotel, the bananas he gets are straight. When he places the bananas in the tailpipe of the detectives' car, they are curved.
Continuity mistake: When the police arrive at Victor's house the two guards in the security room decide to run. At this time the one with the long sleeved shirt is wearing his gun in a shoulder-holster. In the next shot, when those two guards are running out the door and down the stairs, the long sleeved guy's shoulder-holster has vanished, but as they run toward the van, the shoulder-holster reappears again. (01:32:50)
Trivia: Was the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time for nearly twenty years until "The Matrix Reloaded" upseated it on June 3, 2003. In the history of R-rated films, it held the longest record for high grosser (19 years).
Trivia: The role of Axel Foley originally went to Sylvester Stallone. The producers decided to go with Eddie Murphy though after Stallone wrote in too much action, and they wanted it to be more of a comedy.
Police Chief Hubbard: What's this man doing here?
Axel Foley: Bleeding, sir.
Axel Foley: Is this your car?
Jenny Summers: Oh, no. In Beverly Hills we just take whichever car is closest.
Serge: Go and tell Miss Jenny Summers that Mr. Achmed Foley is here to see her.
Axel Foley: No, Axel Foley. Axel.
Serge: Acmel? Acwel?
Axel Foley: Axel.
Serge: Foley's here to see her.
Question: Did Eddie Murphy improvise his hotel meltdown speech (where he claims to be a reporter) or was it scripted?
Chosen answer: Much of Axel Foley's lines were improvised, including this scene, according to the commentary. But many other actors improvised their lines too, most notably Bronson Pinchot. The script was originally written with the intent of Sylvester Stallone playing Axel and as such, the issue of his race wasn't scripted and the director tried to avoid mentioning race in the film. It was Eddie Murphy that would bring it up in improvised lines.
Question: Why did the bus do a 180? You never saw the semi truck in that shot, so why did it make an insane turn like that when the truck had nothing at all to do with it?
Answer: There might be a deleted scene showing an extended chase scene, but as it is, it seems out of place. From what I can tell, the road was slick, like something oily was spilt on the road during the chase. I don't think it's from the fruit and vegetable truck either. The bus looks like it's breaking suddenly (perhaps to avoid an unseen wreck) and skidded out and the driver over compensated, spinning the bus out. In fairness, a licensed bus driver would probably be able to control the bus in that situation, so it was exaggerated for the film. It probably should have been cut, but I'm guessing someone liked it and kept it in for more action.
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Answer: Axel gets knocked out by one of the thugs as soon as he opens the door. His boss later make mention of the fact that he's lucky he didn't get killed too. They probably spared him because he didn't see who hit him and therefore could not tell anyone what they looked like.
XIII