Top Secret! (1984)

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.

Directors:

Jim Abrahams, David Zucker,

Writers:

Jim Abrahams, David Zucker,

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, Peter Cushing

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Val Kilmer	...	Nick Rivers
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Hillary Flammond
Peter Cushing	...	Bookstore Proprietor
Jeremy Kemp	...	General Streck
Christopher Villiers	...	Nigel
Warren Clarke	...	Colonel von Horst
Michael Gough	...	Dr. Paul Flammond
Harry Ditson	...	Du Quois
Jim Carter	...	Déjà Vu
Eddie Tagoe	...	Chocolate Mousse
Omar Sharif	...	Agent Cedric
Tristram Jellinek	...	Major Crumpler
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Martin
Major Wiley	...	Porter
Gertan Klauber	...	Mayor

Storyline

This time Zucker and Abrams are spoofing, most notably, Elvis films and WWII spy movies. Val Kilmer stars as Nick Rivers, a handsome American 50s-style rock and roll singer. While performing in East Germany, he falls in love with a beautiful heroine and becomes involved with the French Resistance.

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Plot Keywords:

east germany | spy | elvis | motorcycle | cow | 

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Taglines:

Shhh!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English German Yiddish

Release Date:

8 June 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Top Secret

Filming Locations:

Osterley Park House, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 3,076,942 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kingsmere Properties, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The black conductor calling for tickets in ostensible German is actually reciting the old Yiddish saying, "May you grow like an onion, with the head in the ground."

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Goofs

Nick puts the 20th tally on the jail cell wall representing his 20th minute in jail. In the next shot the wall doesn't show any tally marks.

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Quotes

Hillary Flammond: Who do you favor in the Virginia Slims tournament?
Blindman: In women's tennis, I always root against the heterosexual.

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Crazy Credits

The Third Man ....... Guido Reidy

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"NUTCRACKER"
By Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Courtesy of Everest Records

User Reviews

"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."