Top Secret! (1984)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Jim Abrahams
David Zucker

Writers:

Jim Abrahams (writer) &
David Zucker (writer) ...

Release Date:

8 June 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Movie? What movie?

Plot:

Parody of WWII spy movies in which an American rock and roll singer becomes involved in a Resistance plot to rescue a scientist imprisoned in East Germany.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | East Germany | Elvis | Bar Fight | Plane

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Nick Rivers
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Hillary Flammond
Peter Cushing	...	Bookstore Proprietor
Jeremy Kemp	...	General Streck
Christopher Villiers	...	Nigel 'The Torch', Resistance Leader
Warren Clarke	...	Colonel von Horst
Harry Ditson	...	Du Quois, Resistance Member
Jim Carter	...	Déjà Vu, Resistance Member
Eddie Tagoe	...	Chocolate Mousse, Resistance Member
Omar Sharif	...	Agent Cedric
Tristram Jellinek	...	Major Crumpler
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Martin, Nick's Manager
Major Wiley	...	Train Porter
Gertan Klauber	...	Mayor of Berlin
Richard Mayes	...	Comrade Biletnikov, Russian Tenor

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | German | Yiddish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-12 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Godrevy, St Ives, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

Kingsmere Properties

Trivia:

The surfing sequences were filmed at Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK (a few miles down the coast from Newquay, a popular surfing town). The palm trees were fake, and the surf shack was in fact the actual lifeguard's hut (which is still there). The beach is recognizable by the two large rock formations located at the left of the beach, approx 100 meters out to sea.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Hillary is riding the motorcycle to get Nick at the lake(long shot as she is driving down the road), you can see the helmet strap going down the side of her chin to hold on the messed up "hair".

Quotes:

Blindman: Souvenirs, novelties, party tricks. Souvenirs, novelties, party tricks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Prisoner: (#1.526)" (1985)

Soundtrack:

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

"What funny duck poop?"

Top Secret is one of the funniest, most off-the-wall movies ever filmed. Featuring a young Val Kilmer, I think Top Secret is the best of all spoof films (Spaceballs is a close second). This thing spoofs everything, Beach Boy's songs, spy pictures, war movies, westerns, and even Elvis is not safe. It's ridiculous, outrageous, hilarious, and all in the name of good fun. The spit gag has to be my favorite bit. You've seen it in countless movies: the hero is being verbally accosted by the villain and he spits in his face. This time, however, the hero is on the other side of the room. Other memorable jokes include the skeet songs, the anal intruder, the "cow" scenes, and the backwards bit with Peter Cushing. There are countless little things like that which make Top Secret a definite cult classic and a certifiable must-see.

"Wish they all could be double barrel, wish they all could be double barrel guuuuuuuns."