Blue Thunder
MTC
1983
When the Roy Scheider led Blue Thunder hit theaters in 1983, it quickly became the number one movie at the box office, and would remain in second place during its second and third weeks. The film would all but double its budget of twenty-two million by bringing in forty-two million, which ironically, by today's standards would qualify as a box office flop.
However, twenty million certainly went a much longer way in 1983, and with the film's success, a television series was quickly put into production. The show was headlined by James Farentino, and a relatively unknown Dana Carvey were cast as the pilot and engineer of Blue Thunder. The duo were aided by their ground control crew member played by Bubba Smith, and answered to their chief, played by Sandy McPeak. Additional cast members included Dick Butkus, and Ann Cooper.
Unfortunately, the series didn't pan out to be as popular as the feature film, and the show was cancelled after eleven episodes were completed. It probably was not helped that the series didn't air as the normal fall lineup. Instead, it was among the mid-series replacements, shows which typically aired between December and May, most likely developed as result of another show being cancelled mid-season.
Multi Toy Corporation produced a very small line of toys based on the show, and while the company intended to make more than was was ultimately released, the series cancellation also resulted in the toy line being shelved. However, this was not before MTC produced prototypes for additional figures of the cast, as well as a handful of ground vehicles.
The first piece to actually hit store shelves was the 3 3/4 figure sized Blue Thunder helicopter. Though it looks like it could fit in with your average G.I. Joe figure, I've read comments on other sites from folks who received this toy as a child, and were none to impressed, returning it to the store it was purchased from. The now adults remember the toy being cheaply made, falling apart in their hands, and lacking any seating inside the cockpit for the figure to even sit in.
What's interesting to note is that there are two known versions of the copter to have been produced. The first features a figure decked out in an all blue flight suit. The second version features a character which has an orange vest over the flight suit. Is this meant to represent Farentino and Carvey? I have no clue.
MTC also released a smaller Flying Helicopter which came with a launcher, and boasted the craft could reach upwards of thirty feet in the air. However, this vehicle was not compatible with the figures produced for the larger vehicle above.
The launching mechanism worked much like the traditional launching toy of the era. Put it on the stand, pull the zip cord, and watch it fly...and then crash to the ground.
The larger helicopter is by far more common than the smaller launching version. In fact, I've never seen the latter on any secondary markets. As such, I have no clue what one would set you back, if you found it.
The larger copter, on the other hand, comes and goes relatively often, and can range from one hundred dollars loose (without the figure), and upwards of five to six hundred dollars complete in the box. Despite its lackluster appeal to kids of the 80's, clearly adults of today want this item.
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