When it was released in 1984, Beverly Hills Cop not only cemented Eddie Murphy’s reputation as the biggest comedian of the ’80s, but it also helped establish the action-comedy as a viable genre. It may seem unfathomable now, but at the time the merging of two very different types of films was still considered a dicey prospect by Hollywood execs whose default setting was to play it safe. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, resulting in one of the most consistently entertaining movies of the past 30 years. Along with the fish out of water laughs that come from having Murphy’s unorthodox Detroit cop Axel Foley suddenly thrust into the less hazardous environs of Beverly Hills, the film also plays as a gritty crime story. (After all, it is the brutal murder of Foley’s friend Mikey that sets the plot in motion). With Beverly Hills Cop 4 recently placed back in development hell by Paramount, it seems only fitting that we look back at the film that reminded us that the heat is on. Tell me, can you feel it?
“I see you look at this piece.” – Serge
“Yeah. I was wondering how much something like this went for.” – Axel Foley
“One hundred and thirty thousand dollar.” – Serge
“Get the f*ck out of here!” – Axel Foley
“No, I cannot! It’s serious! Because it’s very important piece.” – Serge
Stealing a scene from Eddie Murphy at his prime was a gargantuan challenge to say the least, but Bronson Pinchot managed to do just that as the ethnically ambiguous art dealer Serge. While watching this scene viewers find themselves asking if Murphy is merely acting bemused by Pinchot’s characterization or if he is genuinely entertained. Given the fact that Serge made a superfluous appearance in Beverly Hills Cop 3, I’m inclined to think the latter.
“I don’t know what you teach these fellows but they’re not just regular cops. They’re super cops. And the only thing missing on these guys are capes.” – Axel Foley
After thwarting a robbery at a strip club, Foley, the uptight Taggart (John Ashton) and Rosewood (Judge Reinhold at his most enthusiastic) have to explain their actions to Lieutenant Bogomil (Ronny Cox, one of two people involved with the film’s production — the other being director Martin Brest — whose last name makes me giggle uncontrollably). Ever the quick wit, Foley responds with an impromptu story that has inspired people to creatively lie to their bosses for over three decades now.
“You’re not gonna fall for the banana in the tail pipe?” – Axel Foley
Hands up if you’ve actually ever put a banana in a tail pipe as a prank. Does it work as depicted in the movie? Is there a Mythbusters episode devoted to this? Internet people, I need answers here! (In case you were wondering, the answers to these questions are no and yes).
“Is this the man who wrecked the buffet at the Harrow Club this morning?” – Axel Foley
As a bookend to the previous quote, here is Axel Foley’s other authority-mocking impersonation from Beverly Hills Cop. If police work didn’t pan out, he could always find a career in stand-up. Oh wait, surreal. Playing the hard-nosed Chief Hubbard here is Stephen Elliott, an actor who 1980s comedy connoisseurs may remember from his similarly stuffy role in Arthur.
“This is not my locker” – Jeffrey
Before he was mad about Helen Hunt or launched into outer space to f*ck over colonial marines for a g*ddamn percentage, Paul Reiser played Jeffrey, Axel’s pal back in Detroit. Here’s the weird thing about the character though, he is essentially in the film for comic relief. Which is incredibly strange given the fact that it, um, already is a comedy. Could Jeffrey be a holdover from when the movie was going to be a Sylvester Stallone flick? As that owl says in the Tootsie Pop commercials, the world may never know.
“Tell Victor that Ramon, the fella he met about a week ago, tell him that Ramon went to the clinic today, and I found out that I have, um, Herpes Simplex 10, and I think Victor should go check himself out with his physician to make sure everything is fine before things start falling off on the man.” – Axel Foley
Obviously this clip is a product of a less politically correct time, but even still the idea of a man’s trick showing up at an exclusive country club to report something amiss down below remains as awkwardly funny in 2015 as it did back in 1984. As George Constanza would agree, worlds colliding are rarely a good thing.
“You do that again, I’ll shoot you myself” – Taggart
Throughout Beverly Hills Cop, Rosewood and Taggart act more like an old married couple (a deliberate choice according to the DVD special features) than partners. This is clear in Rosewood’s red meat speech and here when Taggart lashes out at his partner’s recklessness — which strikes a chord with anyone who has ever questioned the choices of their significant other.
“This is the cleanest and nicest police car I have ever been in. This is nicer than my apartment.” – Axel Foley
Fact: The reason Beverly Hills police cars are so tidy is because they are cleaned nightly by the ghost of Shirley Booth, whose confusion over being trapped between worlds makes her believe she is still her Hazel TV character.
“Don’t you think I realize what’s going on here, miss? Who do you think I am, huh? Don’t you think I know that if I was some hotshot from out of town that pulled inside here and you guys made a reservation mistake, I’d be the first one to get a room and I’d be upstairs relaxing right now. But I’m not some hotshot from out of town, I’m a small reporter from “Rolling Stone” magazine that’s in town to do an exclusive interview with Michael Jackson that’s gonna be picked up by every major magazine in the country. I was gonna call the article “Michael Jackson Is Sitting On Top of the World,” but now I think I might as well just call it “Michael Jackson Can Sit On Top of the World Just As Long As He Doesn’t Sit in the Beverly Palm Hotel ‘Cause There’s No N*ggers Allowed in There!”- Axel Foley
As funny as Beverly Hills Cop is, it also marked a milestone for the entertainment business as it was a hugely successful action-comedy with an African-American lead. While the film doesn’t take too many serious detours, the subtext of Axel Foley’s speech at the Beverly Palm Hotel tellingly speaks of America’s racial climate in the 1980s.
“Can you put this in a good spot? ‘Cause all of this sh*t happened the last time I parked here.” – Axel Foley
31 years after its initial release, Beverly Hills Cop is still the blueprint most action-comedies try to follow. Understated moments like the one featured here are a prime example why. This is a throwaway line, but one that gives more insight into the personality of Axel Foley than minutes of expository dialogue ever could. That the filmmakers realized this and included such scenes in the film are a huge key to its enduring appeal.
