Robocop (1987) - 5 questions

Question: I have two questions about this film. Firstly, was Clarence Boddicker killing cops simply cause he was crazy, or was he doing it under orders from Dick Jones (so he could get his ED-209's online faster)? And secondly, why was Clarence at the drug factory? I always assumed that he was purchasing drugs, but his conversation with the owner didn't mention this. Also it was a lot of money, and he never struck me as that much of a user. Any other reason?

Answer: In part yes. By killing cops along the way, made more of a case for getting the ED-209's brought into service sooner. Clarence was at the drug factory to buy drugs, presumably to sell on for profit and fund his criminal activities.

Question: Why, when Murphy/Robocop goes to his old house where he lived with his family, why are there burnt pictures/books lying around where he picks up the photo from? Surely, although his wife had moved on, she would not be so heartless as to burn all their memories together, even if she didn't want them she surely would have kept them for her son so he could have them to remember his dad.

Answer: People do strange things in their grief. She may very well regret burning them for the very reason you suggest.

Question: When Bob Morton is giving his speech just before Robocop is introduced, he touts one of Robocop's advantages as "A lifetime of law enforcement experience." But Murphy's memory was wiped before he was completed. Wouldn't this effectively remove all of his law enforcement experience?

Answer: This can depend on two things: the nature of the memory wipe and what is meant by the term "experience". It is possible that they were able to wipe only those memories pertaining to personal identification and specific case memories. In which case the basic understanding of law and law enforcement could have been left intact. And the "experience" referred to could be referring to instinct. His mind has been working the streets for a long time. That can cause the brain to wire itself more specifically to think in certain ways that help that kind of activity. Even if the memory wipe were complete, it is possible that those rewirings in his brain were left intact, thus giving him a brain already designed for law enforcement. I admit, though, that the statement can appear, on the surface, to be at odds with the methods used to create him.

Question: Would Emil really be able to walk and talk after taking the bath in the vat of toxic waste?

Answer: Well, considering we don't know the exact composition of the toxins, that's impossible to answer with any certainty. What is certain is that stranger things have happened. One known case had a man, in the presence of police, attempt suicide by cutting his own throat with a knife. He was very effective, nearly severing the spinal cord in one stroke. The surpising bit is that before collapsing, he was able to advance on a heavily-built police officer and force him backwards down a flight of stairs. So virtually anything is possible.

Question: What parts of Murphy did OCP use to make Robocop?

Answer: Most of his head and brain, about 40% of his upper torso, none of his pelvic area or limbs.