Escape from L.A. Making of (TV special, 1996)

Rarely-seen behind the scenes special on the making of the film. Not included on any home video release as of December 2017.
Uploaded for pop culture archival purposes without monetary gain. No rights implied or given.
"Copyright Disclaimer: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research and is permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[@volvlov759]

It’s so cool to see “Snake” smile and laugh.

[@SubZerotheoneandonly2675]

So that's how Snake looks with both eyes

[@C.A._Old]

Solid Snake Born here.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

For those wondering, the 5 movies John and Kurt made together are: Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Escape From L.A. (1996) and Elvis (1979 TV movie).

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@KZbin Stalker81 Gee, I guess I didn't anticipate that ALL viewers of this video would have a COMPLETE knowledge of Kurt Russell's movie anthology. MY BAD.

[@wowerman]

I am fan of first therr you mentioned.Also Tango and Cash.

[@thefinerthingsinlife4557]

3 out of 5 isn't bad. Especially if the 3 are great classics, and they are.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@thefinerthingsinlife4557Escape from L.A. has its charm, but I'll accept your ratio of 3/5. Still a passing grade (and as you say, those 3 are cult classics)!

[@insaneguitarboyw]

JC is the reason I love Kurt Russell so much. Kurt owes him his whole career!

[@dman1848]

They need to make another one

[@The2ndQuest]

I remember this airing on HBO or something back in the day. The whole BTS of the basketball scene being difficult because of the eye patch stuck with me. Awesome to see it again finally.

[@DemonBoy3223]

That's what I love about John Carpenter, his films in the 1990s may have been flawed, but you can tell he puts a lot of passion into them, it's not a corporate thing with him (esp. given his anti-authority stance), and he is even willing to admit some mistakes in his films. For that, I am willing to give him a huge pass. I think _Escape from L.A._ is awesome, even with its flaws. I mean it's got Snake Plissken surfing with Peter Fonda, how cool is that?!

[@philmellor4885]

About as cool as dad dancing. I wanted to weep when I saw this abomination.

[@PhoenixLyon]

Wicked cool! Not just any wave, either....a tidal wave, (tsunami if you prefer)!!✌😺

[@DemonBoy3223]

@@PhoenixLyon For reals man, one scene that is worth watching this film. And even the final ending, what a great way to end the film, Snake is one hell of a badass pulling a huge stunt like that (bright side: no more pollution). Love when he smokes the cigarette and he then looks at us like "What are you looking at?" Nice touch of humor. I'd love to see an *animated* third _Escape_ film with Russell voicing Snake, that'd be interesting, better than a reboot/remake I'll say.

[@paulatreides4274]

It was okay but totally lacked the grit of the original. The updated opening theme was good though.

[@himbradley6299]

@@DemonBoy3223 I hope Kurt Russell dose a redo on escape from NY it would make me very happy to see him have a better movie of him

[@Albert87nl]

for those intrested in the song on the end credits.... Gravity Kills - Blame , also used in the 1997 game. Test Drive: Off-Road xD!

[@WotanSkyFather]

Amazing making of. Never seen this. Now I wish there was a behind the scenes of how John Carpenter made all the music for Escape From LA

[@soljoez]

imagine not unironically loving this movie ... absolutely COULD NOT be me

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

I love this quote from wiki about Snake: "Snake is given an assault rifle, a personal holographic projector, a thermal-camouflage overcoat, and a countdown clock for how long he has to live...At the deportation center, Utopia expresses her surprise that Snake shut down the Earth and thus saved her. Snake lights a cigarette and blows out the match used to light it, uttering "Welcome to the human race." Wow!

[@aleksandardjordjevic2729]

You can see Kurt is a hell of an actor (I know movies, from my childhood, rewatched them recently), but Kurt's voice is is so much softer, especially being younger, and then Snake/Plisken, having that rough voice, facial expressions completely different, during interview, etc.. BTW "LA" is underrated, not far from "NYC". This is my first time watching "making of". My real heroes, 20 years ago were Terminator, Snake, among a few others never really cared for "Spiderman" "Batman" SUPERHERO, unrealistic stuff, liked it, but never got attached to it.. Kurt, if you accidendally see this, big fan of yours, last time was "Hateful Eight", if I didn't forget something.....

[@B0X666]

You forgot Robocop and Rambo

[@jimmypopt.v.3037]

Kurt has seen your post and he thanks you for your kind if somewhat stumbling narrative. Thank you Alek, ironically yours- Kurt Russell x

[@aleksandardjordjevic2729]

@@jimmypopt.v.3037 Does your sht PoP out regularly, I mean normally every morning, or are you constipated? Or other extreme, your but ruined? Sorry for my stumbling narrative. BTW, how many languages do you speak?

[@seandavis908]

Thank you SO much for uploading this! Never knew this existed. Amazing!

[@alucard624]

Shout Factory could've at least put this on their Blu Ray release of the film.

[@GuillermoNicris]

I'm glad they had so much fun! I need to revisit this movie...

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Great movie. I remember watching this on TV many years ago. I had never heard or seen Escape from New York and I didn't know Escape from L.A. was a sequel to a classic movie that came out 15 years earlier. I now own both Snake Plissken movies on DVD.

[@cwrichardson3]

Good for you 👍

[@ruthlessedgeboy8591]

One of the most underrated action movies ever.

[@philmellor4885]

Really? It was a ropey remake when it came out and the passing years have been very cruel.

[@DurkMcGerk]

Sure but we got to see a better ending.

[@franksmith4277]

it was a piece of shit.

[@JeremyLeal1695]

This movie was great. I honestly enjoy it more than the first movie (controversial, i know but hear me out). It’s not really a remake as much as it is a satire/parody of.....well, a lot of things, but big budget Hollywood action sequels are definitely one of it’s targets. I love how ludicrous it goes. The action scenes are really fun (and unlike the first movie are more prominent and much cooler). The cultural and political satire was much more pronounced and a bit more relevant today and honestly I thought the cast and music was much better than the first. Yeah, the CG is really bad, but it’s not there a whole lot and the staff didn’t have a whole lot of time or budget so cut em’ some slack.

[@obscure.reference]

jeremy leal at a certain point doing something bad ironically is still just doing the thing badly

[@themanwithnoname4385]

Never knew that was Bruce Campbell

[@eddieingalls534]

In a curious way, the manner of Kurt Russell fits the character of Snake so, so well. He never has been a Hollywood actor who wants to ram it down throats that he is ....a Hollywood actor. He is more laid back about it and himself - you can clearly see it as when he is in costume for the character in the rehearsals and off screen, it STILL feels like you are watching Snake Plissken. Essentially meaning no-one could ever replicate the character. Russell made it his own and as far out as the dangers are Plissken gets through, you still believe! Incredible performance from one of the easy going actors in Hollywood.

[@georgioquestor597]

I was thinking the same thing. He is not posturing at all, he knows what's going on and just wants to be left alone in the last vestiges of freedom he has like smoking. He is not cocky and is forced to be heroic while not wanting to be. He is afraid but his courage is his cool factor. Love the ending, shuts down the entire planet then lights up an American Spirit cigar,... the irony.

[@SNESDude]

Never seen this before, thanks so much for the upload. I really love Escape from LA and have been a Carpenter fan since I was in my early teens

[@Ur2ez4me81]

John Carpenter is a legend...

[@djchosenfewofficial]

Never seen this making of before, thank you for uploading, and what a great cast 👊

[@raremedia6051]

Thanks so much for uploading this!!

[@gabrieledaleo5042]

Amazing, thanks for uploading this!

[@moviemayhem3780]

Thanks for the nightmare teasers

[@stylishboy004]

Awesome behind-the-scenes footage. Awesome work. Thanks, man, for uploading this. Uploader.

[@darkestfugue]

its weird seeing snake being kurt russel in this lol , i actually really like this movie, it has its flaws but as time goes by it just gets better and better for me, like the plastic surgery freak shows, those people actually exist now, and theyre famous lol, it also has a great ending, one thing about movies so many of them have a shit finish with no payoff, this one does

[@robertfhart6941]

Love to see a third movie.

[@reeyees50]

There is kind of a third movie, it's called ghost of Mars, carpenter's last movie

[@georgioquestor597]

Don't forget that the 2nd sequel was suppose to be Escape from Cleveland but that was just suppose to be a backstory which was mentioned a few times in Escape from L.A. There is a comic book of it though found in the dvd of Escape from N.Y. I heard there is an Escape from Earth rumor based on the story of Ghost of Mars & Elysium. Carpenter would do a great job on that hopefully.

[@taunteratwill1787]

Why? To see some people in action who are dying from old age? 😂

[@pontiacGXPfan]

The 90s was one of those rare decades where America didn't take itself that seriously. Ahhhh, good times

[@Kehwanna]

I would say the 80s and 90s were the epitome of acceptable cheesiness. Watch Lawn Mower Man 1, it is so damn cheesy.

[@opaljk4835]

These sweeping generalizations about decades don’t make sense outsides of the general perception of pop culture only.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

It's true, thanks for the technology and the end of the cold war era, but when 2001 happened it wasn't surprise at all, we knew something gonna happen soon. The USA is just too good business to not exploit it.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

@@opaljk4835 If it works it works.

[@opaljk4835]

@@Zodroo_Tint ehhh, it doesnt

[@onepunch5907]

Pratical effects will always beat cgi

[@JoaoFederle]

this movie is full of cgi

[@dieteradam2124]

Snake looks pretty cool, much more than todays actors...

[@MethosChannel]

I dont know if this was John Carpenters intentions but i always saw this as a parody.

[@andrewjames7438]

Watched XrazorfistsX video essay?

[@Harlock2day]

I would do a sequel with Wyatt Russell going to rescue his dad Snake Plisken and the son behaves exactly like his dad, a bit like Ford and Connery in the Last Crusade. It could be fun.

[@plissken2156]

Better yet, do two prequels with Wyatt Russell as a young Snake Plissken. Call the first one 'Operation: Leningrad' and the second one 'Operation: Siberia'. You can introduce characters in Snake's platoon like Harold Hellman (aka Brain), Fresno Bob, Taylor, and Car-Jack Malone (aka Hershe).

[@FLYBOY409]

I would do a film adaptation of Snake's time in Cleveland.

[@jimmypopt.v.3037]

Fuck yeah, i dig that.

[@garinsparks7041]

I miss these!!!!

[@Legoflymaster89]

Love both movies

[@dafrog491]

Snake plisskin is John Carpenter.

[@tokyosmash]

Nah, he is actually cool.

[@Moviefan2k4]

They should put this on a reissued Blu-Ray, preferably from a distributor like Shout Factory.

[@mrbossai1]

It's coming out in April thru shout

[@kamdan2011]

This ain’t on it.

[@crazyrabbits]

@@kamdan2011 - There's a lot of stuff they should have put on the release. They should have waited for Carpenter/Russell's schedules to clear to record a commentary (how did they not have time given the current pandemic restrictions?), and added some more material like ad galleries, the deleted scene/FX reels that were found earlier this year and the associated behind the scenes specials.

[@himbradley6299]

Good movie seen it 90 million times I love it

[@emperorscott252]

Call me Snake

[@thefinerthingsinlife4557]

Indeed Sir!

[@christopherbell4543]

I love how campy and over the top this movie is this is John's Troma film imo.

[@Harlock2day]

Kurt son, Wyatt, could play some of the films that his father can no longer do

[@albertwesker9592]

He already say that he will not play any of his father character especially snake plisken

[@MegaJetJaguar]

Who knew, that "Escape From L.A". would predict the future?

[@guts5379]

kind of cool how Solid Snake from metal gear solid is based off of Snake Plisken. hideo kojima was really inspired by carpenters creation.

[@gutz1981]

Its odd to see Snake Pliskin with two eyes.

[@fjbsdoa1976]

Would have been cool if they had used dodger stadium as one of the set pieces

[@bubbabearhuntington2295]

2023: movie is fairly accurate

[@aleksandardjordjevic2729]

The thing that bothered my eyes big time is his Cobra tattoo. In NYC, it's full, in LA, it't just the lines, not finished, which happens latter?? It bothers me, I have a big tat over my chest, we just see that.

[@akshaytrayner1960]

I enjoyed it for what it was

[@fjbsdoa1976]

Kurt Russell's diamond jewelry. The escape from movies

[@aprilgosa5779]

when movies were fun and not all serious

[@johnmh3180]

Cool 😎 snake, nice movie.

[@NemeanLion-]

I didn’t like how Carpenter kept rehashing the original script, but the ending was fantastic.

[@EfftupSmith]

it was supposedly done on purpose as a satire on Hollywood and lazy sequels.

[@NemeanLion-]

@@EfftupSmith lol, how convenient

[@Zodroo_Tint]

I liked how Snake found a moment to just sit on a chair waiting the plot to continue. :)

[@sunslap]

Fun fact, John Carpenter is a director.

[@philmellor4885]

He was...until in the late 80s when what the fuck happened I've no idea.

[@georgioquestor597]

Same thing happened to Spielberg, the magic he created early on turned to dust. ie: Kingdom of the Crystal Dust.

[@B0X666]

@@georgioquestor597 Spielberg turned obsessed with Aliens

[@bradyking9778]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYvQYpuGl9Kthtk

[@BenRangel]

17:45 funny coming from a man who's memoirs are "If chins could kill" (highly recommended as an audiobook btw)

[@Zodroo_Tint]

So I sort of draw the L.A. island in g-map, it's approximately 2,000 km2 what is two times bigger than the Just Cuase 2 map or 4 times bigger then the Just Cause 2 landmass (~550km2). It could be an awesome open world computer game.

[@maryjane8735]

Sure could use Snake Pliskin in present day Washington D.C.!!

[@maxrockatansky3017]

Escape from LA is an absolute masterpiece!👏👏👏😊

[@franksmith4277]

hardly

[@virnan]

Garbage movie. Watch escape from new york.

[@maxrockatansky3017]

@@virnan I have watched Escape from New York and it’s good however I personally prefer Escape from LA.

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

Even John Carpenter cannot do Escape From North Korea because not only it becomes North Korea's banned movie but also might not work this way unless filmed in other East or South East Asian nation alternatives. Imagine how North Korea become the new worldwide maximum security prison.

[@kitchenerleslie2755]

I now see a big reason as to why people dislike this movie. I think it has to do with how the film looks on digital conversion( be it Blue-ray, DVD) The gritty, grainy, purposely-cheesy look doesn't look that good on digital conversion hence kind of missing the point and completely lacking the intended grind house feel. On watching this special ..this movie looks amazing. I can totally see the art that went into this movie.

[@Moviefan2k4]

Its an underrated movie, that gets a bad rap simply because it partially copies the formula of the first film. But that's what most sequels do anyway, like the much-loved "Back to the Future" trilogy for example.

[@danteinferno4785]

@@Moviefan2k4 they went a bit over the top with this - surfing - basketball etc

[@JM-cf8zy]

Didn't see it in the cinema but watched it on TV 📺 4:3 as a kid and thought it was an epic film..... Can't get into escape from new york though tried it and lost interest.

[@franksmith4277]

compared to the original, it's a total piece of shit.

[@ordersforsplitdogs4315]

What is the rock/metal song playing throughout the very beginning?

[@zerosystem86]

Kurt Russle is Morgan Blackhand in Cyberpunk 2077.

[@anthonycarlisle6184]

Escape from ny & la are what we're culturally trying to escape nowadays. Prophetic shit.

[@l.jjacksonjr6623]

Its unreal to this day.. the sequel was in production hell. It took 15 years. 😑 Bruhh.

[@mehrunesrazor1140]

Cool

[@Gundal66]

I loved this movie... well I was 10 when I saw it 🤣

[@user-ug1yq6zt5t]

They don't make em like that anymore..

[@finallegendario8950]

Me gustaría ver esta película en 4D

[@666Necropsy]

escape from LA riots 2020

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

Why is John wearing a LVMPD hat?

[@adriamaral300]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@fjbsdoa1976]

The surgery rejects look exactly like half of the celebs in real life

[@papiXchuko]

The happy kingdom sounds to me like a slap at Walt Disney cause Kurt Russell was ther kid and he took on snake plissken to get out of the Disney image

[@savage1469]

Make the thing 2

[@wolfganghaarer6954]

Escape from New York was much better. Iconic!

[@Zodroo_Tint]

You know there is a problem with your thinking if you go somewhere telling the people how something else is better.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

Never seen anything like it... until Hideo Kojima copies the entire plot and makes Metal Gear Solid two years later.

[@zoltancsikos5604]

Lieutenant Dude Nonsense.

[@albertwesker9592]

Metal gear solid plot is completely different

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Hideo Kojima

[@stefjevtic]

Prequel film. With Fresno Bob.

[@donlarocque5157]

I always thought that Jeremy Renner would have been great for a retro Snake movie.

[@rachellfuselier1183]

People comreseses watch those back video.

[@bhays71]

Too bad it bombed, low budget special effects and the storyline could've been so much better.

[@arielg7000]

OMG 😋😋😋😋😋

[@butchvorn1988]

Lol kirt Russell with glasses on looks like the cult leader from Waco

[@abba3642]

First of all Namaste!

[@iena1997]

masterpiece (as the first one)

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Not really.

[@iena1997]

@@Zodroo_Tint shut up

[@whitebread940]

Escape from NY will always have a place in my heart, but I never watched this one. It seemed a little too silly for me.

[@serigraph73]

after MANY years of hating this film, I finally learned to appreciate and enjoy it for what it is, BUT there are a few things that will forever bug me: bad SFX, and its basically a cartoon parody of the first film. Would have loved to see it take a grittier tone like the first film and not follow the first movie as if it was the blueprint for this one as far as characters and sequences go

[@d.a.b8756]

Visually stunning😂 New York looked way better

[@suhanakhalib]

I think jaguar in rick & morty copied snake plissken.

[@jeannettewidick]

Oops anyways my boyfriend David Desi macias jr now from Kramer nebraska worked on this with Kurt you see him as they get to the basketball court and he gives Kurt a push thru the gate 😎 Kurt was awesome and John and Debra too ...thanx for the memories 😁

[@Generic_3ric]

Snake Pliskin or Hass Delgotto. Billy & Mandy? Lol

[@aleksandardjordjevic2729]

Cuervo shouldn't be cliche CHE, too much look-a-like, but I like Mr. Carpenter. What could we say nowadays, about the world?

[@Darkschool6]

This feature actually spoils a lot of the movie.

[@joselopez6990]

The Beverly Hills scene is literally reality

[@Zodroo_Tint]

This is not what "literally" means.

[@geixiong5749]

The movie Is ahead of its time. It fits today cenareo life. All the shits are about to go down that way. America is screwed. Soon there will be nothing just like it. No smoking , no sex , no Meat , no life.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

You don't know what "ahead of its time" means.

[@dannooooooo]

ive never seen this movie. that first minute killed me, the surfing, wtf, this cant be serious

[@scruffy7443]

L.A. today looks worse, you'll want to escape !

[@Bozha_Kapetanovic91]

Serbia loves Plissken!

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Serbia also loves other nation's territories.

[@philmellor4885]

Was crushed when I saw this flick. They got it so wrong.

[@jjrj8568]

still has some great sequences and a jaw-dropping ending

[@philmellor4885]

@@jjrj8568Sorry, not for me. Was like watching one of your fave bands get back together and realising the magic has gone...time has moved on.

[@jjrj8568]

@@philmellor4885 in my opinion this movie should have been made in 1990

[@Zodroo_Tint]

@@philmellor4885 The ending fixed the whole shitshow of a movie. If you don't see it it is your loss.

[@jeannettewidick]

My boyfriend worked on this with kurt

[@xxxjordandangerouslyxxx]

The women parts are filled with some of the hottest lady's at the time 👯‍♂️👯🏾‍♂️👯🏻‍♂️

[@valdenirdefreitas7241]

Filminho sem vergonha hein vamo fala a vdd kkkkk

[@danielclements2811]

I heard this guy was dead .

[@QuandalePringle-hg4uf]

Escape from New York took on the more realistic side of what would happen if New York turned into a prison, therefore I loved it but with escape from la I felt like there wasn’t any good music horribly bad cgi and bad storyline.