Editing Total Recall (1990 film) (section)

==Production==
===Early development===
The development of ''Total Recall'' began in 1974, when producer [[Ronald Shusett]] purchased the adaptation rights to science fiction writer [[Philip K. Dick]]'s 1966 short story "[[We Can Remember It for You Wholesale]]" for $1,000.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="DOGCast"/>{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=60–61}}{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=30}}}} Shusett had read the 23-page story by the then-little-known pulp fiction writer in an April 1966 edition of ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction]]''.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=60–61}} Dick's story depicts a meek clerk on Earth named Quail who visits Rekal Incorporated to receive a memory implant of being a secret agent on Mars. However, the process uncovers his true identity as a secret agent who previously visited Mars and whose death will bring about an alien invasion.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=61}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/>

Renaming it ''Total Recall'', Shusett worked with [[Dan O'Bannon]] to write the script. O'Bannon exhausted the existing material quickly, and the short story's abrupt ending meant he could only write thirty pages, effectively only the first act, and an original second and third act were needed; he suggested sending Quaid to Mars.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=61}} Shusett and O'Bannon disagreed over the third act, the former wanting something more dramatic. O'Bannon's ending revealed the handprint on the alien machine as Quaid's, who is a replica of the original, and placing his hand on it grants him total memory recall. O'Bannon described the filmed ending as "lame".{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=62}}<ref name="XRating1"/> Dick read the script prior to his death in 1982 and, according to O'Bannon, enjoyed it.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=72}} Although studios deemed Shusett and O'Bannon's script an ambitious and brilliant idea, it was essentially considered unfilmable, in part because of the extensive special effects and high budget that would be required.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=30}}

The pair moved on to collaborating on the script for the science fiction horror film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979), the success of which earned Shusett a development deal at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]]. He pursued the ''Total Recall'' project at the studio, initially budgeted at $20{{nbsp}}million, but the idea did not progress because issues with the third act could not be resolved. The project was sold to [[Dino De Laurentiis]]'s [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]] (DEG) in 1982.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=30}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=62}}<ref name="LATimesDec1988"/>{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=6}}}}

===Development under De Laurentiis Entertainment Group===
[[File:Dino de laurentiis crop.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=A 2009 photograph of Dino De Laurentiis|Producer [[Dino De Laurentiis]] (pictured in 2009) thought [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] was not suitable to lead the film. ]]
De Laurentiis considered [[Richard Rush (director)|Richard Rush]], [[Lewis Teague]], [[Russell Mulcahy]], and [[Fred Schepisi]] to direct the film, before choosing [[David Cronenberg]] in 1984.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=62}}{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=6}} Cronenberg was unfamiliar with Dick's work but was interested in the script. Even so, problems remained with the third act and Cronenberg spent the next year writing twelve separate drafts.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=62}}{{sfn|Cronenberg|2006|p=78}} In his finished script, Quaid's true identity is Chairman Mandrell, the dictator of Earth who, following a failed assassination attempt on his life, is convinced by Mars Administrator Cohaagen to confront the organization that suppressed his memory. Cohaagen later reveals that Quaid is an inconsequential government worker chosen to play the role of Mandrell to facilitate Cohaagen usurping control of the Earth. Quaid defeats Cohaagen and assumes the identity of Mandrell.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=65}} Cronenberg was responsible for the mutant characters, including Kuato (originally called Quato), and further developed an idea by Shusett about mutant animals, known as Ganzibulls, in the Martian sewers; Cronenberg made them mutant camels.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=64–65}}

Cronenberg found himself at odds with Shusett regarding the tone, as Shusett and De Laurentiis did not want it to be as serious as the science fiction film ''[[Blade Runner]]'' (1982)—an adaptation of Dick's novel ''[[Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?]]'' (1968).{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=63}} Shusett described Cronenberg's work as bringing the film back to Dick's original short story, whereas they wanted an adventure closer to "''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' go to Mars".{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Cronenberg|2006|p=8}} Cronenberg did not want to make that film and chose to quit. He was also frustrated by his disagreements with Shusett and De Laurentiis, and the casting of [[Richard Dreyfuss]] in the lead role.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=63}} Dreyfuss had requested further rewrites to have Quaid reflect the everyman persona he had established in his previous films, rather than the action-focus of the Shusett/O'Bannon story. Cronenberg had wanted to cast [[William Hurt]] as the lead instead and focus more on the concepts of memory and identity.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=63–64}} [[Christopher Reeve]], [[Jeff Bridges]], and [[Harrison Ford]] were also considered for Quaid.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=30}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Vest|2009|p=48}}<ref name="FORD"/>}} De Laurentiis threatened to sue Cronenberg for quitting but was placated by Cronenberg agreeing to work with him on a different film.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=63}} A few years later, De Laurentiis offered Cronenberg the opportunity to make ''Total Recall'' as he had wanted, but Cronenberg was not interested and did not want to argue with Shusett again.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=63}}

De Laurentiis sought to keep the budget low following the financial failure of ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'' (1984), and wanted to reduce costs by eliminating Mars entirely, but Shusett and O'Bannon dissented.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=6}}{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=120}} Problems with finalizing the script and the high budget continued to stall ''Total Recall'' for the next few years.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=6}} In 1987, De Laurentiis again considered hiring Rush as director, but De Laurentiis disliked the finale featuring a breathable atmosphere on Mars while Rush supported the idea. De Laurentiis accepted he was wrong after hiring director [[Bruce Beresford]], who also supported the ending.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=66}} Around this time, writer [[Gary Goldman (screenwriter)|Gary Goldman]] was offered an opportunity to refine the script, but he turned it down to focus on his own project, called ''Warrior'', that he was working on alongside director [[Paul Verhoeven]] at [[Warner Bros. Pictures]].{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=66}} Beresford began preparations for a version of ''Total Recall'' described by Shusett as less gritty and more "[[Steven Spielberg|Spielbergian]]" in tone, and [[Patrick Swayze]] was cast as Quaid. Set construction was underway in Australia when DEG filed for bankruptcy in 1988.<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=66}}<ref name="ringer june2020"/> Approximately 80 crew were fired and the sets had to be destroyed.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=66}} By this point, the project had already accrued $8{{nbsp}}million in pre-production costs, and $6{{nbsp}}million in [[turnaround (filmmaking)|turnaround]] costs—a process allowing other studios to purchase the idea.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=72}}<ref name="LATimesDec1988"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990|pp=52–53}}
{{Clear}}

===Development under Carolco Pictures===
[[File:Paul Verhoeven Cannes 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A 2016 photograph of Paul Verhoeven|Director [[Paul Verhoeven]] (pictured in 2016). He wanted the script rewritten to make it possible for the events of ''Total Recall'' to be a dream or reality.]]
Arnold Schwarzenegger became aware of ''Total Recall'' in the mid-1980s, either during filming of ''[[Commando (1985 film)|Commando]]'' (1985) or ''[[Raw Deal (1986 film)|Raw Deal]]'' (1986).{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=31}} He liked the script and agreed to pursue it alongside producer [[Joel Silver]] while filming ''[[Predator (film)|Predator]]'' (1987), but the project remained unrealized due to its prohibitive budget and because De Laurentiis did not think Schwarzenegger was right for the lead role.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=30}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/> Following DEG's bankruptcy, Schwarzenegger convinced [[Andrew G. Vajna]] and [[Mario Kassar]], co-owners of the independent film studio [[Carolco Pictures]], with whom he had made ''[[Red Heat (1988 film)|Red Heat]]'' (1988), to purchase the rights for $3{{nbsp}}million, including pre-production costs.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=67}} Schwarzenegger wanted to star in the film, pending rewrites to his satisfaction, and his fame and international appeal justified the studio investing the necessary budget.<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990|pp=52–53}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=31}} Carolco completed its acquisition of the majority of DEG's business and assets in April 1989.<ref name="LATImesCarolco"/> Schwarzenegger was given substantial influence over the project: he retained Shusett as a screenwriter and co-producer alongside producer [[Buzz Feitshans]], and oversaw script revisions, casting decisions, and set construction.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=67}}{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=53}}<ref name="LATimesSchwarz"/><ref name="AFIBio"/>}} He described himself as effectively an executive producer without the responsibility, but he involved himself heavily because he wanted the project to work.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=53}} He received a $10–$11{{nbsp}}million salary, plus 15% of the film's profits.<ref name="11plusTR"/><ref name="10TR12T2"/>{{efn|Arnold Schwarzenegger's estimated $10–$11{{nbsp}}million salary, minus his share of film profits, is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|10000000|1990}}}}–${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|11000000|1990}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}}}

Schwarzenegger hired Verhoeven as the director after being impressed by his science fiction film ''[[RoboCop]]'' (1987), for which Schwarzenegger had been considered in the lead role.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=31}}{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=67}} Verhoeven had previously been courted by Shusett to direct the film based on his work on ''[[Soldier of Orange]]'' (1977), but declined then because he did not like science fiction.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=67}} Even so, Verhoeven accepted Schwarzenegger's offer after reading the Mars hotel scene where Dr. Edgemar attempts to convince Quaid he is still on Earth.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=67}} Verhoeven had wanted to avoid special effects-heavy films after ''RoboCop'' and said that he did not realize how much effects work would be involved.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=31}} He requested Goldman be brought in to help with rewrites, as well as some core personnel from ''RoboCop,'' including cinematographer [[Jost Vacano]], production designer [[William Sandell]], and special effects artist [[Rob Bottin]].{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=7}}{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=67–68}} By this point, approximately thirty drafts had been completed, credited to a combination of Shusett and either O'Bannon, [[Jon Povill]], or [[Steven Pressfield]], among others. Verhoeven read each one and highlighted those he wanted Goldman to reference.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=67–68}}

===Writing===
Goldman had little knowledge of Dick's work but tried to respect the source material and work of previous screenwriters.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=70–71}} He considered the second half of the film a concession to traditional Hollywood narratives and so retained most of the structure from Beresford's shooting script. Because the creative team wanted to commence soon, Goldman believed he did not have the freedom to make substantial changes to the script and focused on refining the existing content and making the scientific aspects more realistic. Verhoeven and Schwarzenegger agreed that everything after Dr. Edgemar's visit to Quaid on Mars was not working.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=67–68}}{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=71}} Verhoeven wanted a significant change, to indicate that Edgemar could be telling the truth and Quaid is actually having a mental breakdown on Earth. Goldman rewrote the script to make it possible for the film to be viewed as both reality and fantasy.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=68}} He also made Hauser an ally to Cohaagen, clearly defining Quaid and Hauser as separate identities.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=69}} Goldman believed that making Hauser evil would better justify Quaid not returning to his original personality. It would also explain why Hauser becomes Quaid: to conceal his intentions from the psychic mutants. Goldman made the Benny character a villain, because he believed African Americans were typically typecast as good characters and the reveal would be surprising.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=70}}

The script also had to be revised to match Schwarzenegger's action-hero public image, although Goldman tried to make it less comical than some of the actor's previous films.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=71}} The meek clerk Quail was renamed Quaid, to avoid referencing then-vice president [[Dan Quayle]], and became a muscle-bound construction worker, while fight scenes were rewritten to include more feats of strength and less martial arts or running.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=61}}<ref name="WiredPKD"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=53}} Second unit director and stunt coordinator [[Vic Armstrong]], among other stunt people who had worked with Schwarzenegger on ''[[Conan the Barbarian (1982 film)|Conan the Barbarian]]'' (1982) and ''[[Red Sonja (1985 film)|Red Sonja]]'' (1985), said that they knew what he could physically do without looking silly.{{sfn|Murray|1990|pp=53–54}} Schwarzenegger also wanted more creative methods to dispatch Quaid's foes because he had been criticized for an over-reliance on guns to kill people in films like ''Commando''.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=54}} After Goldman's first rewrite, he discussed it with Verhoeven, Schwarzenegger, Shusett, Vajna, and Kassar. Schwarzenegger and Shusett believed the climax lacked emotion, which was an intentional choice by Verhoeven, who did not take the Martian rebel plot very seriously and prioritized the intellectual aspects of the narrative. To appease Schwarzenegger, Goldman conceived of Cohaagen shutting off the oxygen to the mutants in Venusville.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=71}} After nearly sixteen years in development, seven directors, four co-writers, and forty script drafts, ''Total Recall'' went into production.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}}{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=66,71,88}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|pp=30,72}}

===Cast and characters===
{{multiple image|total_width=300
| direction = horizontal
| align = left
| footer = (Left to right) [[Michael Ironside]] (pictured in 2009) who portrayed Richter and [[Roy Brocksmith]] (date unknown) who played Rekall employee Dr. Edgemar
| image1 = Michael Ironside WOH-06 (cropped).jpg
| alt1 = A photograph of Michael Ironside
| image2 = Roy Brocksmith.png
| alt2 = A black-and-white photograph of Roy Brocksmith
}}

Verhoeven chose Michael Ironside to portray Cohaagen's henchman Richter. Ironside had previously auditioned for the lead in ''RoboCop'' and Verhoeven had also offered him the role of antagonist Clarence Boddicker, which he turned down because he did not want to portray another "psychopath" character following his role in ''[[Extreme Prejudice (film)|Extreme Prejudice]]'' (1987). Ironside said he considered Richter more of a "sociopath", who had personal ambitions and covets Cohaagen's position.<ref name="DOGCast"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=54}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=59}} Turning down a role on ''RoboCop'' and a separate film had created the impression that Ironside was difficult to work with, so he had to complete an audition before being offered the role. In it, he portrayed someone having an emotional breakdown leading to him lying on the floor crying as Verhoeven moved in for a closeup shot.<ref name="DOGCast"/><ref name="BFIORal"/> Schwarzenegger believed Ironside's physical presence made him a credible threat to his portrayal of Quaid.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=54}}

The female leads, Rachel Ticotin and Sharon Stone, were chosen in part for their athleticism, which was needed for the physically demanding roles.{{sfn|Murray|1990|p=52}} Stone said that her physically formidable character resulted in the cast and crew treating her like she was "one of the guys", and that Ironside "was the one guy who never forgot I was a woman. When I was thrown down, he would help me up."<ref name="PeopleSchwarzJune52020"/> Verhoeven's daughters were responsible for casting Benny, picking Mel Johnson Jr.'s screen test for the available options. He recounted having just finished filming a "horrible" [[Blaxploitation|black exploitation]] film when he read the ''Total Recall'' script and, after seeing Benny described as a "black jivester", he threw the script across the room. Nonetheless, he eventually read it through and decided to audition because he believed the character was more fully realized, saying "this guy is cold and calculating and the story was intriguing."<ref name="SyFyCast2"/><ref name="SyFyat30"/><ref name="LATimesJohnson"/>

Cox had previously worked with Verhoeven on ''RoboCop'' and traded on the actor's history of playing good-natured characters to make his villainous turn more impactful. Describing his portrayal, Cox said that he did not employ [[method acting]] but did try to understand how the character would feel and think and how he would react to situations and that would determine his performance. The character's hairstyle came about after Cox's hair was slicked-back in order to make a face mold for special effects purposes. Cox knew it was the right look and convinced Verhoeven to reshoot two days of Cox's scenes with the new style.<ref name="SyFyat30"/><ref name="SyFyCox"/> When Marshall Bell auditioned for the role, the script did not explain the relationship between George and Kuato, and he was confused as to why George had so few lines. Although voice actors were considered for Kuato, Verhoeven decided to use Bell.<ref name="CBRCast"/> Verhoeven based the appearance and physicality of Brocksmith's Dr. Edgemar on the central scientist character portrayed by [[Paul Newman]] in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s 1966 thriller ''[[Torn Curtain]]''. He wanted an actor who looked "naive and strange and a bit weird."<ref name="FSREdgemar"/>
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===Filming and post-production===
{{multiple image
| total_width       = 230
| direction         = vertical
| align             = right
| footer            = The [[Chabacano metro station|Chabacano station]] of the [[Mexico City Metro]] (top, pictured in 2011). Some exterior scenes set on Mars were filmed at [[Valley of Fire State Park]] in [[Overton, Nevada]] (pictured in 2009).
| image1            = Metro Chabacano - Transbordo.jpg
| alt1              = A photo of a station in the Mexico City Metro
| image2            = EM VALLEY OF FIRE (3224689212).jpg
| alt2              = A photo of the Valley of Fire State Park in Overton, Nevada
}}

[[Principal photography]] for ''Total Recall'' began in April–May 1989.{{sfn|Vest|2009|p=48}}<ref name="LATimesMarch261989" /> Filmed almost entirely in sequence—a rare feat—the production took place over 20 weeks.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="SyFyCast2"/><ref name="SyFyat30"/><ref name="LATimesSchwarz"/><ref name="GizmodoStunt"/>}} The initial budget was reported as $30{{nbsp}}million,<ref name="LATimesDec1988" /> but the final budget was reported as being between $48{{nbsp}}million and $80{{nbsp}}million.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFIBio"/><!-- $50 million--><ref name="NYTimes1989Dec7"/><!--$50, $60, $65, and $73 million-->{{sfn|Vest|2009|pp=29,184}}<!--$80 million-->{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=77}}}}{{efn|The estimated budget of $48–$80{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|48000000|1990}}}}–${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|80000000|1990}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}}} ''Total Recall'' was filmed almost entirely on sets at [[Estudios Churubusco]] in [[Mexico City]], Mexico, where 43 cast and up to 500 crew members worked across forty-five sets on ten soundstages. The Earth train station was filmed in the [[Mexico City Metro]] and many exterior Mars scenes took place at the [[Valley of Fire State Park]] in [[Overton, Nevada]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="CBRCast"/><ref name="XRating1"/><ref name="PeopleSchwarzJune52020"/><ref name="NYTimesMetro"/><ref name="NYTimes1990Jan1"/><ref name="FilmNevada"/><ref name="PeopleIronside1990"/>}}

Shusett and Goldman were present on set, providing additional rewrites where necessary; Goldman estimated the script was changed "less than one percent".{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=72}} Verhoeven sometimes required up to twenty takes of scenes, but remained faithful to the script and discouraged improvisation. Even so, some scenes, such as Benny's death, lacked sufficient detail and in these cases dialogue was mostly improvised.<ref name="SyFyCast2" /><ref name="ringer june2020" />{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=72}} Although Verhoeven had been adamant that he did not want a second unit director—having fired three of them on ''RoboCop''—Armstrong ended up filming 1,200 different setups and all of the fight scenes; Verhoeven was happy with his work. Armstrong's first scene was filming Schwarzenegger drilling cement.<ref name="GizmodoStunt" />

Filming was beset by injuries and illness. Almost everyone involved suffered from dust inhalation on set. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis from the local Mexican cuisine was also a problem, except for Shusett and Schwarzenegger, who had his food brought from the United States after a negative experience while filming ''Predator'' in Mexico.<ref name="XRating1"/><ref name="ringer june2020"/> The illness compounded the difficulties Lycia Naff had filming her scenes as the three-breasted prostitute. She said she felt like crying because even though the breasts were artificial, she felt exposed in front of the cast and crew.<ref name="VultureCast"/> Schwarzenegger cut his wrist while smashing a train window when an explosive designed to pre-detonate the glass failed. His injuries were patched up and concealed by his jacket. He also incurred other minor cuts and broken fingers.<ref name="ringer june2020"/><ref name="PeopleSchwarzJune52020"/>

Ironside cracked his sternum and separated two ribs after running into Michael Champion, who was holding an [[Uzi]] during the pursuit of Quaid and Melina in a Martian hotel. Filming had to be paused while he recovered, as Richter was involved in most of the remaining scenes. After three weeks, a producer asked that he return to filming but they could not obtain insurance unless Ironside performed fifty push-ups. Despite the doctor's advice, he attempted the feat and reinjured himself; after thirty push-ups, the doctor said it was sufficient. Ironside's first scene upon his return involved him fighting Schwarzenegger on an elevator, but he struggled to lift his arm. The doctor had [[Oakland Raiders]] quarterback [[Jim Plunkett]] drop off a brace built for his own injury, which held Ironside's chest in a stable position, although it made breathing difficult. Ironside filmed his scene over the remainder of the day, only being hit once accidentally by Schwarzenegger, who was cautious due to his condition.<ref name="DOGCast"/> A separate fight between Stone and Ticotin was arranged to feature one of the actresses and one stunt person because padding could not be concealed under their outfits. Verhoeven wanted the actresses to perform the fight stunts themselves, but Armstrong insisted on using a stunt person.<ref name="GizmodoStunt"/>

Schwarzenegger was known for his pranks on the set, such as arranging styrofoam snowball fights and water pistol battles during dinners as well as booking parties to reward the crew for the six-day working weeks and practical stunts.<ref name="SyFyCast2"/><ref name="ringer june2020"/><ref name="LATimesSchwarz"/> Even so, Ironside recounted how Schwarzenegger helped him stay in regular contact with his ill sister using the personal phone in his trailer, at a time before widespread use of mobile phones or internet access. Ironside later learned Schwarzenegger was also regularly calling his sister to check on her.<ref name="DOGCast"/>

Initially scheduled for release on June 15, ''Total Recall''{{'}}s post-production schedule was rushed to move the date forward two weeks to avoid competition from other films, particularly ''[[Dick Tracy (1990 film)|Dick Tracy]]'' with its cast of popular stars. Editor [[Frank J. Urioste]] worked overtime to complete ''Total Recall''{{'}}s 113-minute cut early.<ref name="AFIBio"/>{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=72}}<ref name="BBFCRuntime"/> This meant there was no time to [[Test screening|test screen]] the film, which Verhoeven and Goldman believed worked against the finished product, including its third act.<ref name="AFIBio"/>{{sfn|Hughes|2012|p=72}} The film also had to be trimmed to remove violent content and gore, including a longer version of Benny's death, to avoid an [[X rating]], which would have restricted attendance to audience members over the age of 17. ''Total Recall'' ultimately received an [[Motion Picture Association film rating system#MPA film ratings|R rating]], allowing younger people to see it when accompanied by an adult.<ref name="XRating1"/><ref name="XRating2"/>
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===Special effects and design===
{{main|Special effects of Total Recall (1990 film)|l1=''Special effects of'' Total Recall}}
The development of the film's special effects was led by [[Dream Quest Images]], with [[Eric Brevig]] serving as visual effects supervisor, [[Alex Funke]] as special effects photographer, [[Thomas L. Fisher]] as special effects supervisor, [[William Sandell]] as production designer,{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="PeopleIronside1990"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=32}}<ref name="ASCHistory"/><ref name="FXGuide"/>}} and Mary Siceloff as effects producer.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=7}} [[Rob Bottin]], who previously worked with Verhoeven on ''RoboCop'', provided the character visual effects.<ref name="DOGCast"/><ref name="CBRCast"/> Concept artist [[Ron Cobb]] and illustrator [[Ron Miller (artist and author)|Ron Miller]] contributed to designs for technology, vehicles, and locations.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=6}}{{sfn|Murray|1990b|pp=31–32}}<ref name="DecidedIllustrator"/> Additional effects were provided by Metrolight Studios,<ref name="ASCHistory"/> and [[Industrial Light & Magic]].<ref name="AFIBio"/>

''Total Recall'' features over 100 visual effects, including [[Miniature effect|miniatures]] and [[Chroma key|bluescreen]] effects.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=7}} The film was made at the onset of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI), which was not a suitable option for photorealistic or textured imagery, and was used mainly in the X-ray machine sequence. Most other effects were practical, employing sophisticated prosthetics and animatronics to realize automated taxi drivers, "fat lady" disguises, mutants, and scenes of explosive decompression.<ref name="CBRCast"/><ref name="FXGuide"/>{{sfn|Roberts|1990|pp=13,15,19–20,22,31–32}} ''Total Recall'' features thirty-five sets across eight of Estudios Churubusco's soundstages.{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=32}} The sets were expansive and connected by tunnels so long that they continued outside of the stage, making it possible to drive between them on film.<ref name="SyFyat30"/>{{sfn|Murray|1990b|p=59}}<ref name="BFIORal"/>

Expansive locations, including Martian exteriors, were created using miniature sets produced by Stetson Visual Services in Los Angeles, and supervised by [[Mark Stetson]] and Robert Spurlock.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=8}} The sets were large, with the alien reactor being among the largest and most complex sets ever constructed in cinema, and the largest set built for the film. It had to be built vertically to fit on Dream Quest's stage. Even so, it was limited by the {{cvt|25|ft|m}} high ceilings.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=23}}{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=27}} The Martian mountain set was also substantial, measuring {{cvt|14|ft|m}} tall and {{cvt|14|ft|m}} in diameter, with only the frontside constructed, allowing special effects to be operated from behind.{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=31}}{{sfn|Roberts|1990|p=32}}

===Music===
{{main|Total Recall (soundtrack)}}
{{Listen|filename=Jerry Goldsmith - The Dream.ogg|pos=right|title=''Jerry Goldsmith&nbsp;– The Dream''|description=[[Jerry Goldsmith]]'s ''Total Recall'' score is considered among his best work.<ref name="DOGGoldsmith"/><ref name="DOGGoldsmith2"/>|format=[[ogg]]}}
The score was composed by [[Jerry Goldsmith]]. The producers intended to have him record the score in [[Munich]] because the pay for musicians there was lower, but the players were unfamiliar with Goldsmith's style and the resulting score was disappointing. Instead, Goldsmith was given the funding necessary to record the score in London with the [[National Philharmonic Orchestra]], who were more fitting to Goldsmith's musical intentions with brass and string instruments combined with electronic sounds. The recording was put on hiatus for three months so Verhoeven could have time to edit the special effects, during which Goldsmith recorded the score for ''[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]]'' (1990), before returning to finish his work on ''Total Recall''. Goldsmith also performed the commercial jingles and elevator music heard in the film, and composer Bruno Louchouarn provided additional pieces heard on Mars.<ref name="FilmTracksGoldsmith"/>