1985 continued @ Future Features

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OPENING CREDITS

Back to the Future, Part II

The opening credits sequence of Part II takes place outside of chronological time. It begins after a recap of the final events of BTTF as Doc Brown, Marty and Jennifer leave for the future. As we already know, their trip will be instantaneous, so this sequence of flying through clouds is not being made by the film's characters.

Continuing Zemeckis' tradition of homages to other films, especially films about the future, the opening sequence seems to be a nod to the opening shots of The Right Stuff (1983). While not a film about the future as we know it, The Right Stuff is an historical account of breaking barriers and how the future can be made better by scientific endeavour and pushing human endurance to the limits.

In The Right Stuff, the opening sequence of cloud shots represent early experiments in trying to break the sound barrier. The movements are not fluid and similar twists and turns are made in Part II.

The opening sequence of Part II ends as the clouds darken and we dip below them to see rain on a darkened skyway. The flying Delorean breaks the time barrier and emerges into the future

PART 2

NOTE

The following entries relate to the parallel dimension caused by Biff Tannen altering the timeline. They are easily distinguished by the white text on black background

This alternate version of 1985 is most often refered to as 1985-A, the notation Doc Brown uses in Part II to distinguish the two different versions of history

PART 2

9:00 PM

Doc, Marty and Jennifer arrive back 1985. The Delorean is almost hit by a jet

PART 2

NOTE

The smashed-up car in Jennifer's front yard. This is the first sign that something is wrong

PART 2

QUOTE

Marty: "I don't remember bars being on these windows."

PART 2

NOTE

Graffiti on the LYON ESTATE gates

PART 2

NOTE

The poster on the wall of what was Marty's bedroom is for Michael Jackson's 1983 best-seller, Thriller

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

NOTE

Saturday October 26, 1985 - No Headline Seen

PART 2

No wonder Principal Strickland's paper keeps getting stolen, it's still on his front porch after 9:00 PM

PART 2

QUOTE

Strickland: "So you're the son-of-a-bitch who's been stealing my newspapers."
Marty: "Mr Strickland. Mr Strickland, it's me sir. It's Marty."
Strickland: "Who?"
Marty: "Marty McFly. Marty McFly. Don't you know me? From school, sir."
Strickland: "I've never seen you before in my life but you look to me like a slacker."
Marty: "Yeah, that's right. That's right, I am a slacker. Don't you remember? You gave me detention last week."
Strickland: "Last week? The school burnt down six years ago. Now, you've got exactly three seconds to get off my porch with your nuts in tact. One -"
Marty: "I just wanna know what the hell is going on here."
Strickland: "Two..."
Ex-Students: (driving past with guns) "Strickland!"
Strickland: (firing back) "Eat lead, slackers!"

PART 2

CUT!

The TV special The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy (1990) includes a cut scene with Marty finding Hill Valley High ablaze

DVD alert! This scene is presented on the Part II disc - without the sound present in the Secrets special

PART 2

NOTE

Marty walks across a fallen sign which, after being graffitied, reads: "Welcome to the city of HELL VALLEY - A nice place to live."

PART 2

QUOTE

Marty bumps into Red Thomas, still destined to become a homeless drunk in 1985-A...
Red: "Watch where you're going. Crazy drunk pedestrian."
Marty: "Red!"

PART 2

NOTE

The courthouse square is now completely changed, filled with strips clubs, adult bookstores, a Toxic Reclamation Plant... It is populated by the homeless, bikers and a tank. The tank is actually owned by the Hill Valley Police (there is an insignia on the tank and flashing lights)

PART 2

OCT 27 SUN

12:00 AM

The clock on the courthouse, which is now Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise, seems to be working again

PART 2

MUSICAL NOTE

"I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar ... as Marty walks into the courthouse square

PART 2

CUT!

NOVEL APPROACH

Another scene shot for Part II is one in which Marty bumps into his brother Dave outside Biff's Pleasure Paradise. Dave is now a alcoholic and is thrown out of Biff's place. Dave can't remember where Marty has been, but gives Marty the first clue to what has happened to their parents. He also says, "did you sleep in your clothes again last night?" He said the same line to Marty at the end of Part I

DVD alert! This scene is presented on the Part II disc

PART 2

Craig Shaw Gardener's novelisation also reveals that the legal drinking age (at least for Hill Valley) is fourteen years old!

PART 2

NOTE

There is a sign in front of the Biff Tannen Museum which says, "Smoking Required."

PART 2

NOTE

The video at the entrance to the Biff Tannen Museum reveals a lot about the history of this alternate timeline. Including:
* Mention of Biff's great-grandfather, Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen, "the fastest gun in the west"
* 1958 – On his 21st birthday, Biff becomes a millionaire after betting on a horse race

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Date - March 27, 1958
HILL VALLEY MAN WINS BIG AT RACES
Other news items:
* Khruschev Becomes New Soviet Premier
* Hill Valley to get Added State Highway Funds

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Date - yet to be determined, 1959
BIFF WINS AGAIN
Other news items:
* Khruschev offers dates for summit

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Date - yet to be determined, 1959
Biff Tannen LUCKIEST MAN ON EARTH
* A picture of Biff outside Biffco Enterprises' Nuclear Power Plant
* A picture of Biffco's Toxic Waste Disposal plant
Other news items:
* Nasser Accuses Reds of Planning Its Overthrow
* State Likely To Start Payroll Tax in 1960

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Date - yet to be determined, 1979
Hill Valley GAMBLING LEGALISED
City Council Approves Tannen Initiative by One Vote Margin
Other news items:
* Toxic Waste Site Chosen by Shopping Mall

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Date - 1973
Biff marries his 'high school sweetheart' Lorraine Baines McFly

PART 2

MOM, IS THAT YOU?

Marty: "Mom? Mom, is that you?"
Lorraine: "Just relax Marty. You've been asleep for almost two hours."
Marty: "I had a horrible nightmare. It was terrible."
Lorraine: "Well, you're safe and sound now. Back on the good ol' 27th floor."
Marty: "27th Floor?! AAhhh! Mom, mom that can't be you."
Lorraine: "Yes it's me, Marty. Are you alright?"
Marty: "I'm fine. I'm fine. It's just that you're so, you're so big."
Lorraine: "Everything's going to be fine, Marty. Are you hungry? I can call room service."
Marty: "Room Service?"

PART 2

This scene recalls one in 1955 between Marty and young Lorraine and another in 1885 between Marty and ancestor Maggie McFly

PART 1 & 3

QUOTE

Biff: "Look Lorraine, you walk out that door, I'll not only cut off you, I'll cut off your kids."
Lorraine: "You wouldn't."
Biff: "Oh, wouldn't I? First your daughter Linda, I'll cancel all her credit cards. She can settle her debts with the bank all by herself. Your idiot son, Dave, I'll get his parole revoked. And as for Marty, well, maybe you'd like all three of your kids behind bars just like your brother Joey. One big happy jailbird family."
Lorraine: "Alright, Biff. You win. I'll stay."

PART 2

NOTE

The gravestone for George McFly reads:
In Loving Memory
George Douglas McFly
Born: April 1, 1938
Died: March 15, 1973

PART 2

NOTE

March 15 is also known as "The Ides of March," the date that Julius Caeser was murdered by friend and member of his Senate, Marcus Brutus. Choosing this date seems to imply that George and Biff were somewhat close before Biff murdered him. Perhaps after George hit him at the school dance, Biff respected him

PART 2

NOTE

H.V. TELEGRAPH

Newspaper archive binder

PART 2

March 1 - April 30, 1973

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

NOTE

Date: March 16, 1973
GEORGE MCFLY MURDERED
Local Author Shot Dead
Other News:
*Indians Continue Wounded Knee Occupation - South Dakota Standoff in 16th Day
* New Watergate Revelations

PART 2

Date is unconfirmed. This must have been at least the day after he was shot. Of course, it may have been longer before it was established that he'd been murdered

PART 2

QUOTE

Doc Brown: "Imagine that this line represents time-"
(He draws a line across the length of the blackboard)
"-here's the present, 1985. The future and the past. Prior to this point in time-"
(He points to 1985 on the timeline)
"- somewhere in the past, the timeline skewed into this tangent, creating an alternate 1985."
(He writes 1985-A on the tangent that he's drawn)
"Alternate to you, me and Einstein. But reality for everyone else."

PART 2

H.V. TELEGRAPH

NOTE

Date: May 23, 1983
EMMETT BROWN COMMITTED
Crackpot Inventor Declared Legally Insane
Other news:
* Nixon to seek Fifth Term - Vows to End Vietnam War by 1985
* Hill Valley Pollution Alert
* Biffco to Build New Dioxin Plant

PART 2

Dioxins are chemical by-products from the manufacture of certain herbicides and bactericides - which probably accounts for the Hill Valley Pollution alert also mentioned above

PART 2

The DC comic book series "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons also includes Richard Nixon changing the constitution and gaining a fifth term. This reference in Part II may be an homage to this 1985 series of comic books

PART 2

FROM THE CINEMA

NOTE

Biff is watching A Fistful of Dollars (1964) when Marty barges in

PART 2

Marty uses the "bullet-proof vest" idea on September 7, 1885

PART 3

NOTE

Marty pockets a BIFF'S Pleasure Paradise matchbook

PART 2

QUOTE

Marty: "That's right, Doc. November 12, 1955."
Doc Brown: "Unbelievable, that old Biff could have chosen that particular date. It could mean that, that point in time inherently contains some sort of cosmic significance. Almost as if it were the junction point for the entire space-time continuum. On the other hand, it could just be an amazing coincidence."

PART 2

NOTE

The destination panel in the Delorean is playing up. It flickers to JAN 1, 1885 12:00 AM - which is where Doc ends up at the end of Part II

PART 2

2:42 AM

Doc and Marty leave 1985-A

PART 2

11:00 AM

Marty arrives back in 1985 after his adventures in 1885

PART 3

NOTE

The ravine the rail bridge runs over is now called Eastwood Ravine

PART 3

NOTE

We can hear a helicopter flying overhead. This is an aural clue to the fact Marty has made it back to 1985, where we saw a helicopter when he returned to 1985 in the original film

PART 3

NOTE

The rail line runs right past Hilldale - Hill Valley's newest homes. The sign says: "You'd Be Home By Now" Of course, this is the housing estate where Jennifer and Marty will live in 2015 - depending how their future is changed.

It's interesting to note in the first film we see the Lyons Estate at the beginning of its development and here we see the beginning of Marty's future home

PART 3

NOTE

The Delorean is destroyed by a freight train

PART 3

NOTE

The Delorean's barcode plate spins like the OUTATIME tag did in BTTF

PART 1 & 3

QUOTE

Dave: "Guys, we'll be late for brunch."
Linda: "Mom, Dad, they're not going hold your reservations all day."
George: "I need to find my other glasses. Lorraine, have you seen my glasses?"
Lorraine: "They're in your suede jacket, honey... (to Marty) What's wrong? We thought you went to the lake?"
Linda: "You wore that to the lake?"
Marty: "Thank god you guys are all back to normal."
Dave: "Who are you supposed to be, Clint Eastwood?"

PART 3

MUSICAL NOTE

"Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News ... playing on Needles' car radio

PART 3

QUOTE

Needles: "How's it hanging, McFly?"
Marty: "Hey, Needles."
Needles: "Nice set of wheels. Let's see what she can do. Next green light."
Marty: "No thanks."
Needles: "What are you? Chicken?"
Jennifer: "Marty don't."
Marty: "Grab hold of something."

PART 3

NOTE

While Flea (of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) reprises his role of Needles from Part II, his gang of three is made up of actors from the other gangs in the trilogy.

The passenger is played by Christopher Wynne, who also appears as a member of Buford Tannen's gang in Part III. The guy with the varsity jacket in the back is actor Ricky Dean Logan, who appeared as Data, a members of Griff's gang, in Part II. And the third guy is J.J. Cohen who played Skinhead, a member of Biff's gang, in the first two films

PART 3

SPOTLIGHT ON...

FLEA as Needles

Or, more accurately, MICHAEL PETER BALZARY as Douglas J Needles. Though it doesn't have the same ring to it.

As an actor, Flea will be best remembered for being the bass guitarist for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It's not that he's a bad actor, it's just his roles are so obscure it's hard to remember him in anything other than Part II and III.

Of course, he was Musician #1 in Less Than Zero, Budd in My Own Private Idaho, Tattoo Artist in Son in Law, Nihilist in The Big Lebowski, Musician in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Bob Summerfield in the remake of Psycho, so I shouldn't make fun.

He's currently the voice of Donnie Thornberry in "The Wild Thornberries" though his best-known animated works were his guest spots on "The Simpsons" and "Duckman" - both playing himself, the bass guitarist for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

PART 1

NOTE

A network airing of Part III includes an alternate take (not a dub) of Marty's line "Yeah, you think I'm stupid enough to race that asshole?" The network version is "I'm not stupid enough to race that butthead."

PART 3

FUTURE HISTORY

Marty doesn't race Needles and doesn't crash into the Rolls Royce, changing his future

PART 3

FROM THE CINEMA

The design of the time-travelling train echoes the look of the 'Nautilis' from Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). As Doc is a big Jules Verne fan it seems more than appropriate

PART 3

NOTE

Marty and Jennifer meet Doc Brown, Clara and the two boys - Jules and Verne - at Eastwood Ravine

PART 3

Doc gives Marty a photo of them next to the clock in 1885

PART 3

QUOTE

Jennifer: "Doctor Brown, I brought this note back from the future and now it's erased."
Doc Brown: "Of course it's erased."
Jennifer: "But what does that mean?"
Doc Brown: "It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. The future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you."
Marty: "We will, Doc."

PART 3

QUOTE

Marty: "Where are you going now, Doc? Back to the future?"
Doc Brown: "Nope. Already been there."

PART 3

END CREDITS

MUSICAL NOTE

Back to the Future, Part III

As the original finished with 'To Be Continued' (at least from the video release) and Part II promised the trilogy was 'To Be Concluded,' the final film says 'The End'

In the 'Thanks' section, both Michael Jackson and Clint Eastwood are listed for the use of the song 'Billy Jean' and his name, respectively

PART 1

'Double Back' by ZZ Top ... played over closing credits

PART 1

TRILOGY CHRONOLOGY

1885	1955
1985	2015
Real History of BTTF	BTTF References