TODAY’S GAME ON FILM IS…
MIKE TAYSON’S PUNCH-OUT!! (Nintendo, 1987)
Desperate Hours is a 1990 remake of the 1955 classic “The Desperate Hours,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Fredric March. Does the lack of “The” make any difference? No. The remake is a so-so thriller that forgets most of the thrills.
To be fair, the film does have some redeeming qualities (not listed); critics of the time were perhaps a little too harsh. The film is just fine. Consider this: If there weren’t mediocre movies, how else would we know when a good one comes along?
Anyway, the main reason to watch this film is for the on-screen appearance of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987, NES).
A brief overview
With help from his rat lawyer Nancy Breyers (Kelly Lynch), criminal Michael Bosworth (Mickey Rourke) escapes capture. On the run, Bosworth picks a house to hide out in. The house belongs/belonged to Tim Cornell (Antony Hopkins), a Vietnam vet, who is having marital problems after having an affair.
Tim returns to reconcile with his ex-wife, Nora (Mimi Rogers), and their two kids, May (Shawnee Smith) and Zack (Danny Gerard). Bosworth and his two knucklehead heavies, Wally (Elias Koteas) and Albert (David Morse), take control of the house, then a bunch of bull shit happens, then Bosworth gets taken out by the FBI.
Punch-0ut!!
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, released on the NES in 1987. The game was based on the 1984 arcade game Punch-Out!!, which was notable for its dual monitor setup. (Psst, the arcade version of Punch-Out!! shows up in the background of the film, Over the Top. See GOF #5)
Players control Little Mac as he fights his way through bouts, taking on a variety of lively characters, spurred on by his trainer, Doc Louis. Until facing off against Mike Tyson himself and claiming the World Video Boxing Association champion.
Unlike most boxing games of its era, Punch-Out takes a “behind the fighter” point of view, almost like you’re in the crowd watching. The gameplay has elements of rhythm and what could be called puzzle mechanics, in that you have to figure out each box’s move set and work out their “tells” before they throw a punch, so you know when to dodge. The series remains popular today, although there hasn’t been a new game in the series for a while. However, Little Mac has appeared as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018, Switch) As well as SSB on 3DS/Wii U (2014)
The scenes
By this point, the bad guys have already taken control of the house. When little Zack comes home from school, unaware of what has happened. He rushes to the TV and turns it on. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! immediately appears on screen, already in mid-gameplay. (What!?) The kid is currently fighting Bald Bull on the major circuit.
Wally and Albert approach him in the living room. The kid takes them in stride, but knows something is up. Albert actually offers advice on the game.
Albert: “Hit him. You want to beat Tyson? … Duck and hit from the same side he did”
Zack: “..Well, I’m not even past Bald Bull.”
Albert: When you get your star punch, use it as soon as you get it.”
In a later scene, it’s bedtime at the Cornell residence. Mickey Rourke’s character is trying to take control. He asks the kid what he wants to do. Zack replies, “ I don’t know, Play Nintendo, maybe.”
But, instead of doing this in an act of defiance (and fun), he yells back to his captors, “I’m going to bed!”
Are they playing?
At first, I was hopeful; all the conditions seemed right, they were naming characters correctly, and even advising on how to play the game. All is for nought, I’m afraid. The kid comes in, turns on the TV, and immediately starts playing Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!. Sure, he must have left his game on pause all day. This would be fine, and all except Punch-Out!! The NES doesn’t have a pause function!
That’s right, the START button is used to throw a star punch. Pressing the SELECT button between rounds can increase Litt Mac’s stamina. (Note: In most NES games, the START and/or SELECT buttons are used to pause or bring up a menu.)
Throughout the scene, it soon becomes apparent that Little Mac continues to move and throw punches even when the kid isn’t looking at the screen or pressing any buttons.
This happens to the point that Bald Bull actually starts to go down, but the scene ends before we see if he gets back up. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this scene is that one of the bad guys gives the kid advice on how to beat Mike Tyson. Even though he’s currently fighting Bald Bull. The kid actually corrects him on this point. Zack is currently on the major circuit, noted by the green boxing ring. Bald Bull is the last bout of the major circuit. Bald Bull for a rematch as the 3rd opponent in the world circuit, where the ring is teal.
The gameplay footage is clearly pre-recorded, and there even seems to be what looks like some artefacts from the recording. This would also explain why the kid moves so quickly to pick up the NES controller. He has to start play acting before the recording starts.
They get the lingo down, even if the bad guys’ advice isn’t that useful. They call everything by its correct name. This could have been a prime example of a Game on Film; the video game tech-no babble is actually sort of correct for once, and the game screen is clearly shown, but it’s all let down by basic errors. Finally, the NES isn’t even on. There is clearly no red power light, and the power button doesn’t even seem to be pressed in.
Why was this done?
Likely for quickness, they just wanted to show the kid come home and play video games and for the bad guys to have a little back and forth with the kid. They likely didn’t want to waste time seeing the kid have to turn on the NES and start at Glass Joe or take time inputting the password.
The gameplay footage is pre-recorded. So why not just have gameplay of Mike Tyson? Then the bad guys’ line would make more sense. Didn’t they have the code for Mike Tyson’s stage? Or maybe the person who obtained the footage was only able to get up to the Bald Bull.
Mike Tyson!? In your dreams.
Tyson’s contract with Nintendo eventually ended, so this is the main reason Tyson was removed from later versions of the game. Also, by early 1990, Tyson was no longer the World Champion (losing to Buster Douglas).
Tyson was replaced with an original character called Mr Dream. The gameplay remains largely the same, but the in-game sprites are different.
As for Bald Bull, he has remained a recurring opponent in the Punch-Out!! series, appearing from the very start in the arcade version of Punch-Out!! In 1984, the two NES games, 1987, 1990, and then again in 1994, in Super Punch-Out!! (SNES). Bald Bull returned in 2009’s Punch-Out!! (Wii).
Bald Bull appears as an opponent in the arcade game Arm Wrestling (1985). He has also made cameos as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U (2014) and as a spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).
The one seen in the film is without question the 1987 version. The second version of Punch-Out!! that removed Tyson came out in the same year as the film, 1990. Desperate Hours’ production took place in late 1989. So it would be impossible for it to have been the revised Punch-Out!!.
(Please be aware that this is likely the most thought anyone has given Desperate Hours since its release.)
More Games on Film on the way…
Punch-Out!! Nintendo
Desperate Hours (1990)
Dino De laurentils Communication
Canon Films
Film and Television Company
MGM/UA Distribution Co
Mike Tyson/Mr.Dream/Bald Bull sprites (The One and Only Brett Via Punchout.fandom)
Mike Tyson’s punch out Box scan (Kirby128 Via punchout.fandom)