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RoboCop was released into theaters on July 17th, 1987. Filming locations include Dallas, Tx. Filming ran from August 6th, 1986 to November 8th, 1986. It was directed by Paul Verhoeven, who also directed Sci-Fi genre films Total Recall, Starship Troopers and Hollow Man. Verhoeven also makes two cameos in the film. The first occurs when RoboCop is searching through the computer for Emil's face, one of the other faces is his. The other being at the club right after Leon kicks RoboCop in the groin, it briefly cuts to a man laughing hysterically, which was that of Verhoeven. Apparently that was the director demonstrating what he wanted some of the actors to do for the scene, he ended up liking it so much he kept it in the film. The lead of RoboCop was played by Peter Weller, who would go on to reprise his role in RoboCop 2, there years later. RoboCop's gun in the film was a modified Beretta M93R. The background music for the films theatrical trailer was actually the score from The Terminator. Both films were distributed by Orion. Basil Poledouris did the score for the film. The films first DVD release was in 1998 as part of the Criterion Collection.
Detroit Police precinct (exterior) - 2218 Bryan St. Dallas, Tx. 75201
Formerly Dallas High School. Designed by architect firm Lang & Witchell, the three and a half story building was erected in 1907. The school closed in 1995. On February 20th, 1996 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2019
Detroit Police precinct (interior) - 3414 Elm St. Dallas, Tx. 75226
(Sons of Hermann Hall)
The structure was built in 1911. It's registered as a Dallas Historic Landmark and a State of Texas Historic Landmark. The downstairs portion of the building serves as a bar while the upstairs portion is a dance hall. The police precinct interior was filmed in the upstairs portion. The doors were brought in and installed solely for the film. Those same doors still remain to this day. You'll even pass by a RoboCop poster while walking up the stairs. Aside from RoboCop, a scene from Dallas season two episode John Ewing III: Part 2 was filmed in the first floor meeting room. Also, in 2002 auditions for American Idol were held there and it's where Kelly Clarkson passed her first audition for the show.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
Car chase scene - Hotel St. Dallas, Tx. 75226
They used this street for the car chase scene in both directions. Some structures shown in the film have since been removed but some still remain, like Reunion Tower and the building in the distance with the "Sears" sign, which now reads "South Side On Lamar".
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
Assault scene - Cesar Chavez Blvd. (between Elm St. and Main St.) Dallas, Tx. 75201
A number of buildings in the scene have been torn down over the years, starting with the building in the background with the long orange neon light, which was demolished in 2013. Then, in 2014 the building with the "Girl" and "Open" orange neon light signs was demolished. And again in 2019, when a portion of the building that's directly behind the thugs when RoboCop arrives was removed in order to make room for the widening project for Cesar Chavez Blvd.
2019
City Hall - 106 S. Harwood St. Dallas, Tx. 75201
Designed by architect C.D. Hill, it opened on October 17th, 1914. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and jailed in the building on November 22nd, 1963. Two days later, he was fatally shot by Jack Ruby in the basement garage while being led out by police. Dallas City Hall vacated the structure in 1978 and at the time of my visit the building still looked mostly vacant. The structure is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The plot of holding Mayor Gibson and his staff hostage in the film was derived from the actual real life incident in San Francisco in 1978 where former San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Dan White, killed Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
2019
Emil encounters RoboCop - Arts Plaza and Ross Ave. Dallas, Tx. 75201
The gas station was torn down in 2007 but the building that stood behind it in the film is still there. I took my comparison picture from the shoulder of the US-75 which overlooks the area.
2019
Murphy's home (exterior) - 9233 Church St. Dallas, Tx. 75231
The apartments were built at some point during the early 80's.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
Murphy's home (interior) - 9028 Vista Creek Dr. Dallas, Tx. 75243
I'd like to thank fellow RoboCop fan Kenneth Jaykus, for sharing this location, as well as for the "Now" pictures.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2017.
OCP - 1500 Marilla St. Dallas, Tx. 75201
(Dallas City Hall)
The structure was built in 1978 and replaced the old Dallas Municipal Building which served as City Hall for RoboCop. I.M. Pei's modernist inverted design is a result of space requirements from city government. Public areas and citizen services required much less space than offices that ran the government and overhanging the upper floors allowed them to be larger than the public spaces below. The building slopes at a 34 degree angle, with each of the seven above-grade floors being nine and a half feet wider than the one below. The foundation and basement levels are considerably wider than the apparent footprint of the structure, extending out beneath the inclined fascade. Matte work by Rocco Gioffre was used to make the structure appear much larger than it actually was.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
OCP elevators - 600 N. Pearl St. Dallas, Tx. 75201
(Plaza of the Americas)
Construction on the structure started in 1978 and finished in 1980. The complex features a Marriott and two stories of retail shops enclosed in a 120,000 sq. ft. skylighted atrium. It's thirteen stories tall and just like the OCP exterior, matte work by Rocco Gioffre was used to give the illusion it went much higher.
All "Now" pictures taken in 2019.
