Paul Verhoeven's American Futures

The writer Ken Hollings explores the American futures as depicted in Paul Verhoeven's Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers with Verhoeven and many of his key collaborators. 'Would you like to know more?'

With Robocop, Verhoeven's first instinct was to throw the script in the bin. History has proved otherwise. Robocop's punk-ass takedown of ruthless corporations in the age of Reagan remains a gleeful assault on American capitalism. 'Good business is where you find it' whether its the boardroom or the coke lab. Amid all that is set the poignant tale of Officer Murphy's death and resurrection as man machine.

Total Recall cemented Verhoeven's reputation as the wickedly ironic and brazen blockbuster king. Adapted from a Philip K. Dick short story, once again ruthless corporate forces control the very air that Martian colonists breath. The mutant underground are the resistance as Arnold Schwarzenegger undergoes the ultimate trip - or does he?

Starship Troopers wickedly deconstructs its Robert Heinlein source novel. A classic platoon movie of forever war. Its fresh-faced, gung ho, beautiful soap stars are put into the mincer of war and mutilated by bugs. But are we really the good guys - and isn't that charming Neil Patrick Harris in full fascist regalia? 'Do you want to know more?'

Joining Verhoeven are writers Ed Neumeier, Mike Miner and Gary Goldman, producer Jon Davison, actor Kurtwood Smith, sound designer Stephen Flick and stop motion wizard Phil Tippett with archive of Miguel Ferrer, Basil Poledouris and screenwriter Ronald Shusett.

Producer: Mark Burman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2022.