A news item in the 6 Aug 1989 LAT reported that actor Richard Dreyfuss was under consideration for the role of “Camparelli.” Also in the cast were Brad Johnson and Richard Gere, but neither Dreyfuss nor Gere remained with the project. As stated in production notes in AMPAS library files, the initial phase of principal photography began 16 Oct 1989 at Pearl Harbor, HI, which substituted for a U.S. Navy air base in the Philippine Islands. Other locations included a remote section of the island of Kauai that resembled the terrain of Vietnam; the town of Hanapepe, which served as Po City in the Philippines; and a Navy missile facility on the west shore of Kauai. Eight days of the filming schedule were dedicated to location work at the foot of Mt. Waialeale, reputedly among the “wettest locales on earth.” However, the crew experienced only three hours of rain during its stay. Based on his experiences at the same location years earlier, while making King Kong (1976, see entry), executive producer Brian Frankish had a “kahuna” bless the cast, the crew, the ground, and all of the equipment to prevent any mishaps. An A-6 Intruder aircraft was transported to the location in pieces, trucked from St. Augustine, FL, to Long Beach, CA, and shipped to Kauai, where it was assembled by crane.
       Production continued aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Independence, during a cruise from Ensenada, Mexico, to San Clemente Island off the southern coast of CA. The 110-man company was at sea for ten days, and coordinated the shooting schedule with Navy flight operations. The Navy assisted by transporting exposed film to and from the laboratory, and providing a makeshift screening room to view dailies. Producer Mace Neufeld made special mention of Captain Thomas Slater, who allowed the placement of cameras throughout the ship, and regularly repositioned the vessel to maximize natural light. Filming proceeded for one week in San Diego, CA, followed by additional shots on the Independence. Photography concluded at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA, which housed a 150-foot set resembling downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, and a miniature missile base.
       Air battles were simulated using computer imaging, miniatures, matte paintings, animation, “Introvision shots,” and an array of other special effects techniques. The airplanes were radio-controlled scale models, capable of dropping bombs, firing missiles, and ejecting crewmembers. The 17 May 1990 LAT reported that model-builder Richard W. Booth and his company, Eaglery Movie Stunt Models, were paid more than $100,000 for their work, but went $28,000 over budget because Booth underestimated the amount of hours needed to complete the job. Flight of the Intruder was the first motion picture to employ Booth’s technique for creating more realistic “model footage” by replacing a stationary camera with one traveling at the same speed as the airplane.
       Prior to filming, technical consultant Captain Samuel Lee Sayers, USN (Ret), acquainted the actors with the operation of the A-6 Intruder using technical manuals and footage of bombing missions from the Vietnam War. Cast members underwent “physiology tests,” such as treading water while in full “flight gear,” being placed in a simulated high-altitude environment without an oxygen mask, and undergoing the ejection-seat process. The actors also met with Navy pilots to better understand their “philosophy and attitude,” and experienced an actual flight in a Navy jet.
       A report from the American Humane Association stated that a scene depicting contact between a merchant seaman and a crocodile was simulated through editing, and no actual contact was made. However, a brief altercation between two crocodiles resulted in one being treated for a bite on the nose. The film was rated “Acceptable.”
       The 19 Jan 1990 DV announced the retirement of director of photography Fred J. Koenekamp following completion of the film.
       An article in the 16 Sep 1990 LAT revealed that actor Ed O’Neill played a minor character, but his footage was removed after preview audiences laughed at his performance, due to his starring role in the television comedy, Married…With Children (Fox Network, 1987 – 1997). O’Neill was cast in the uncredited part by director John Milius, a longtime friend.
       The 15 Mar 1990 HR announced a 13 Jul 1990 opening, although the article questioned the appeal of the picture’s Cold War theme as relations were improving between the U.S. and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). On 6 Jun 1990, Var reported that the opening would be delayed for at least two more months while changes were made to special effects sequences. Two weeks later, the 20 Jun 1990 Var noted that the film’s excessive running time elicited a lukewarm response from preview audiences. Paramount Pictures removed several scenes, including those featuring actress Rosanna Arquette. Mace Neufeld disapproved and collaborated with John Milius on a final edit that satisfied all parties. The release was postponed once again, attributed by the 29 Jul 1990 LAT to competition with two other war films scheduled for summer openings. Also, John Milius had only recently filmed “an optional scene,” featuring actors Danny Glover and Brad Johnson, aboard the USS Ranger. Because of scheduling conflicts with the Navy, Milius had to wait for an aircraft carrier to dock at San Diego before the scene could be completed. The final production budget was estimated at $30 million. After several more delays, the 23 Aug 1990 DV announced a Jan 1991 opening over the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend. According to the 7 Nov 1990 HR, Available Light, Ltd., had recently completed the special effects sequences.
       Flight of the Intruder opened 18 Jan 1991 to negative reviews, several of which complained about the strong presence of stock war film clichés. The May 1991 California owed the picture’s failure to the fact that it opened during the final weeks of the 1991 Gulf War, making it a reminder of “the current, unresolved tensions in the Middle East,” rather than the Vietnam conflict of two decades earlier. Opening weekend receipts were estimated at $5 million nationwide.
       Opening credits are preceded by the statement: “The A-6 was the U.S. Navy’s medium attack bomber during the Vietnam conflict. It flew at tree-top level in any weather at night and alone. The aircraft had no defensive weapons. It was called – the Intruder." A title card establishes the setting as: “Off the coast of North Vietnam after 7 years of war. September 10, 1972.”
       End credits include “Special thanks to the U.S. Navy A-6 pilots: CDR. W. H. ‘Otis’ Shurtleff USN, Commanding Officer; CDR. ‘Too Tall’ Indorff USN, Executive Officer; LCDR. ‘Bank’ Bankowski, Jr. USN; LCDR. J. A. ‘Chief’ Bloom USN; LCDR. G. H. ‘Buck’ Gordon USN; LCDR. J. W. ‘Emmet’ Kelley USN; LCDR. R. O. ‘Charge’ McHarg USN; LCDR. R. J. ‘Yak’ Yasky USN; Lt. M. S. ‘Slinger’ Briddell USN; Lt. M. F. ‘Felcher’ Greene USN; Lt. J. D. ‘Beeker’ Hirsch USN; Lt. D. A. ‘Frenchy’ Lafleur USN; Lt. H. ‘Donger’ Le USN; Lt. T. R. ‘P-Nuts’ Lowry USN; Lt. M. L. ‘Tattoo’ Mahan USN; Lt. R. E. ‘Scrape’ McClain USN; Lt. B. C. ‘Brews’ Miller USN; Lt. T. E. ‘Mole’ Molitor USN; Lt. K. S. ‘Odie’ O’Donnell USN; Lt. J. W. ‘Gramps’ Pettigrew USN; Lt. R. D. ‘Mr. Niceguy’ Russell USN; Lt. R. L. ‘Simo’ Simon USN; Lt. R. T. ‘Neck’ Steeneck USN; Lt. D. E. ‘Sticks’ Stickles USN; Lt. W. T. ‘Lipton’ Teasdale USN; Lt. J. J. ‘Welder’ Wilczynski USN; LTJG. R. C. ‘Prince’ Fawcett USN’;
       An additional statement reads: “The cooperation of the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy is gratefully acknowledged, specifically the following persons and units: The Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Navy; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director Carrier and Air Station Programs Division; the Commander Medium Attack Electronic Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet; the Navy Chief of Information; Captain Thomas Slater, USN, and the officers and men of USS Independence (CV 62); Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands; Attack Squadron One Two Two; Attack Squadron One Two Eight; Attack Squadron One Nine Six; Fleet Composite Squadron One and; the maintenance and support officers and men of “The Boomers”—Attack Squadron One Six Five”; “The producers wish to thank: The commanding officer and crew of Coast Guard Group San Diego, CA; the Film Commission and City of Savannah; the City of Savannah Airport Commission; the State of Georgia Air National Guard, Colonel Carl Poythress, Major Pat Welch, Sergeant Dave Bassinger; Lieutenant Mike Rowlands and Lieutenant Eric Tibbets; Lynn Thompson of Cold Steel”; “Special thanks to: Don Zimmerman; Tom Younger, NATC Patuxent River; The Grumman Aerospace Corporation; Richard Milligan, Joe Ruggiero, John Gilbert"; and, "Filmed on location on the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii.”