Lewis Smith Talks Buckaroo Banzai

Actor Lewis Smith discusses his role and making the 1984 W.D. Richter film. From 2016.

[@darkshadow31415]

Can we talk about the fact that, if Jeff Goldblum improvised the watermelon line, the "I'll tell you later" is also improvised; and it's the punchline that makes the scene so classic.

[@reedsawyer5704]

So, we learned "Why is that watermelon there", "I'll tell you later". It WASN'T part of the script, it was just thrown in there, and Jeff Goldblum elevated it into a meme that perfectly encapsulated the feel of the movie. The F/X were terrible, but this is one of my favorite movies. It's wild, it's crazy, but it WORKS, man. (Little bit of Monty Python reference). This movie was not easily understandable but for those people that GOT IT, we really GOT IT. One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@thepayne7862]

Hands down my favorite 80's movie as well as my favorite Peter Weller movie. I make sure I watch it at least once a year. I know the movie by heart but still enjoy it every single time I watch it.

[@erakfishfishfish]

It seems to contradict the director’s explanation for the watermelon. During production, they were constantly getting notes from the studio to make changes. One day, the notes stopped, so they put a watermelon in the scene. When nobody from the studio said anything about it, they knew nobody was paying attention and thus they could do whatever they wanted. (Though it would make sense if the director added the watermelon to the scene and asked Jeff Goldblum to comment on it during the take.)

[@x-crisis]

@@erakfishfishfish Could be that nobody from the studio noticed the change but Jeff Goldblum did. The notes from the studio could've been from set visits or whatever not necessarily from watching the film dailies or whatever, just a thought.

[@paulpizzlewizzle]

It’s an organic battery

[@katfishzomby]

As I got older, I found how fascinating how Perfect Tommy's style is close to anime. Even the jail scene sorta has a Lupin vibe. lol

[@gregfalco4528]

Some of those poses and style is reminiscent of Jojo.

[@platinumspider7859]

I want the Press Conference suit.

[@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or]

Wouldn't surprise me if some anime were inspired /influenced by BB....

[@wbbartlett]

Perfect Tommy - never was a character so perfectly named.

[@saraphys5555]

"Because you're Perfect!" Absolutely!

[@peterzerfass4609]

It's such a throwaway line, but that interchange between the two is somehow one of the most memorable scenes.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

"Perfect Tommy". Yup, now that's a badass nickname. I saw that movie back when I was in HS when it came out. Loved it. It encapsulated the 80s in a wild sci-fi movie. Cheers from America.

[@DurkMcGerk]

It's not a nickname. He was born Perfect Tommy

[@davep8221]

Every moment is one of the funniest moments in the movie.

[@ericbrett3095]

Do you know why Lewis Smith became a star?.........Because he's perfect.

[@AlexCBrandon]

All of the Hong Kong Cavaliers were iconic in their own way. Perfect Tommy = perfect example!

[@edwardpate6128]

I saw this film when it first came out and I was still in the US Navy at the time. It was a big hit among my circle of friends and shipmates, but we were the target demographic! 63 now and still one of my all time favorite films!

[@ericbrett3095]

I am 58 I remember this movie fondly.

[@skatepark1ful]

It was absolutely natural, when buckaroo says give her your coat, because you’re perfect.

[@andyfalstad5711]

in interviews, Peter and John said the filmmakers trusted the audience to be smart enough to figure it out. I love that! And it is the filter of who liked this movie and who did not.

[@outerrealm]

I think they trusted us to not have to figure it out, to be sort of in on the whole tongue in cheekyness, to devour it like a pizza with everything on it. To “get” it without having to think about it. They did a great service to everyone in allowing the actors to create their characters as they improvised scenes.

[@erakfishfishfish]

I liken the film to Primer: the filmmakers trusted that the audience didn’t have to understand the film in order to understand the film, if you get my meaning.

[@elfpimp1]

Hey Hollywood!! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU to re-release this movie in theaters!!!

[@jules-pierremalartre7800]

Good idea. Hell, they did it for bad movies, about time they do it for a great movie.

[@douglassun8456]

Interesting that so many of the little but memorable moments in the film were ad-libbed. That actually explains a lot about why I found its energy so infectious. Turns out a good deal of it was off-hand, off-the-wall.

[@Tusitala1967]

Everyone knows Chekhov's Gun, but few can comprehend Goldblum's Watermelon.

[@Jim-Tuner]

I still wish they had done a homage to the end credits of Bukaroo banzai in a guardians of the galaxy movie. It would been perfect.

[@martynjones7354]

So far the only homage to the end credits is in "The life aquatic with Steve Zissou"

[@steztoyz]

This was awesome. I didn't know the "give her your coat" bit was unscripted; that scene is a brilliant piece of business.

[@coolnegative]

One of my favorite characters!! Also an underrated actor!

[@steprockmedia]

Thanks for sharing these interviews. This is such a cult classic that only the fans truly understand. And even we can't properly explain it. Kind of like everyone in Pawnee loves Little Sebastian, but can't tell you why because it's, duh, so obvious why. It's...I mean, it's Little Sebastian.

[@cathystrachan4403]

ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES.

[@district12-]

I had such a crush on Perfect Tommy ❤️💕😍... Ok still do🥰

[@kellyj.azania4371]

I had THE BIGGEST CRUSH on Perfect Tommy!💖

[@santoven]

Still holding out hope for the World Crime League sequel.

[@frederickburke9944]

I have watched BB twice in the last week and somehow I missed the costume changes in the credits scene. Thank you!

[@thepayne7862]

I love this movie and had no idea that so many of the great moments were improvised.

[@Mak10z]

I'll tell you later :p gotta be quick on your feet when acting next to Goldblum

[@penguinista]

@@Mak10z It is the 'I'll tell you later' that makes that moment iconic, IMHO. His timing is probably because he is trying to think of something to say as improv, but it comes across as if there is a some significant thing he decides he can't summarize. It is so amazing to find out almost 40 years later!

[@penguinista]

All those _iconic_ moments were unscripted! 🤯

[@JustinKase1969]

Love these behind the scenes insights and stories - especially that the jail cell scene and watermelon scenes were adlibbed.

[@Gamble661]

One of the greatest movies ever made and it's amazing that it got made at all. Not surprised about the improve though because the entire movies is like that, it's one of the things that makes it so special. And I've seen it over a dozen times and am ashamed to admit that I never noticed that Perfect Tommy's outfits changed during that end scene. Probably too busy looking at Ellen Barkin....

[@anagram8]

Here's a little known trivia. As quiet as it's kept this film crossed over into the HIP HOP culture back when rapper LL COOL J references Buckaroo Banzai in his 1987 hit track, "I'm Bad!" Check it: "… I eliminate punks, cut 'em up in chunks You were souped, you heard me, and your ego shrunk I'm devastating, I'm so good it's a shame 'Cause I eat rappers like a cannibal, they call me insane I'm as strong as a bull, of course you know I have pull I enjoy what I'm doin', plus I'm paid in full Not Buckaroo Banzai but bust it out as I Say the kind of rhymes that make MC's wish that I died..."

[@insidernj8933]

a PERFECT performance in a wonderful, classic movie.

[@loginregional]

You were Perfect.

[@justyagre6296]

"That doesn't make any sense!" Exactly.

[@BoBo0807]

"Welcome to Buckaroo Banzai!" Perfect.

[@mizer9510]

Loved him in The Heavenly Kid. An underrated actor.

[@MotiviqueStudio]

That watermelon is perennially on my mind.

[@JustinKase1969]

There is a Battletech novel where they reference the watermelon as well ;)

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

I named my cat Perfect Tommy, after this

[@numb3r5ev3n]

I want to go live in the timeline where he did become the teenage idol.

[@platinumspider7859]

The same one where Buckaroo Banzai was a huge hit and became a franchise?

[@mattmiller8720]

What a great character such a standout!

[@manofthetombs]

Found the DVD in a bargain bin, about 20 years ago. !%*snatch*%! I grabbed it immediately. Sadly, it is a low resolution offering. But I will never have to rent or stream it again!

[@hawkname1234]

For YEARS I thought that the guy who played Perfect Tommy was Guy Pearce who later did Memento.

[@loginregional]

Yeah, I can see that. Pearce also gave us his worst in Time Musheen

[@Datan0de]

Me too! If you compare BB with Memento, they look strikingly similar, sound similar, and carry themselves the same.

[@cathystrachan4403]

ME TOO!!!!

[@chiefscheider]

*_ME THREE!!!!!_*

[@hastingscutoff1304]

So Robert Fripp is W.D. Richter. Honestly, that makes sense.

[@semperfi7372]

Great movie definitely a must see

[@stephenschroeder6567]

Great interview - thank you for sharing. It was many years ago I read something about that watermelon. From what I briefly remember, it was explained that Buckaroo was working on a watermelon that could withstand being airdropped so they could be flown over areas were people need food. Or at least something along those line. As I said, it was a long time ago. LOL

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

In a DVD easter egg it said it was put in to annoy an executive that hated the movie because it didn't make sense.

[@Datan0de]

​@@EthelredHardrede-nz8yvYeah, they started to suspect that the studio wasn't even looking at the dailys anymore, so they put it in to see if anyone said anything. When they got no comments from the studio they realized that they were free to do whatever they wanted. Thankfully, they did!

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

@@Datan0de They watched Real soon now!

[@insidernj8933]

You were perfect as Perfect, Lew. Well done - and thanks.

[@adamsoriano8004]

How the hell did I never figure he was channeling Billy Idol?!? God i love this movie.

[@WilliamJames48]

The Heavenly Kid

[@jdraven0890]

How did I never notice before that Tommy's outfit changes in the end credits?

[@leovalverde1508]

I thought it was only one change!!

[@johnspooner1403]

That throwaway Jeff Goldblum voice is brilliant!

[@nokomarie1963]

Perfect Tommy, I loved that movie. We saw it in the theaters bought it in Betamax and watched the hell out of it. The Betamax eventually died (longer life than any VHS) now, I have to get it in Blue Ray. It is time.

[@chiefscheider]

The blu-ray is really hard to get. It sold out almost immediately on the Shout Factory website a few years ago and prices on Amazon and eBay are through the roof.

[@romangoomba1234]

Underrated actor. I wonder what happened to him today

[@chiefscheider]

I'd google Lewis Smith for ya but my internet's down at the moment.

[@romangoomba1234]

@@chiefscheider Well I did a little research, I discovered that he opened an academy but most of the videos date from 6 years ago. And as it is unfortunately not well known enough,we don't really know what happened to him now. Did he retire? Does he continue classes at his academy? So many questions in my head! But frankly yes, he is underestimated as an actor. I loved his role as Bobby Fontana Edit : On his Instagram, he's still posting videos so he's probably still active in his academy

[@JaneMoraes-ye1rz]

Acabo de assitir, o sonho de Mary, pela segunda vez, ótimo ator ❤

[@cathytrottier8944]

I remember this nutty movie

[@jglenn2282]

Yay!

[@eltitan2414]

Buen actor

[@XavierKatzone]

Next - Perfect Timmy in "A Christmas Carol"!

[@platinumspider7859]

I'd watch.

[@holgerschulz4104]

Is it true Michael Boddicker´s score hasn´t been completed up to the point of shooting the end credit ("the parade") scene, thus they had to go with Billy Joel´s "Uptown Girl" as a proxy?

[@erakfishfishfish]

Pretty much. The composer had them shoot it to Uptown Girl since it had the same tempo as what he was writing.

[@Datan0de]

I've gotta say, still hot.

[@seereadnhear]

Is this from a new Blu-ray /DVD release?

[@ChristineFraina-nj1vi]

Where did you get these clips. DVD extras?

[@chiefscheider]

Shout Factory blu-ray from 2016. Documentary "Buckaroo Banzai: Into the 8th Dimension" -- 2+ hrs of awesomeness 👍

[@elfpimp1]

​@@chiefscheideroh!?!? 😬👍

[@potato_kake]

Anything's possible...nice odyssey 5 reference

[@theclaybeartravels3596]

Welcome back from the dead. Mandela Effect before my eyes. Lewis Smith died in another universe.

[@BabbleOn777]

I'm shocked nobody mentions buddy was in Suburbia.

[@chiefscheider]

I checked his IMDb credits and it's not listed. Was his appearance an uncredited cameo or something?

[@chrissimpson1183]

I'll tell you latter....

[@PeteKay]

Trapper John, eat your heart out.

[@speabody]

I need to watch this movie again already