Top Secret! (1984)

Directors:

Jim Abrahams
David Zucker
(more)

Writers:

Jim Abrahams (written by) &
David Zucker (written by) ...
(more)

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:

East Germany | Spy | Elvis | Rug | Tic Tac Toe

Cast

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
Richard Mayes	...	Biletnikov
Vyvyan Lorrayne	...	Madam Bergerone
Nancy Abrahams	...	Pregnant Woman
Ian McNeice	...	Blind Souvenir Vendor
John Sharp	...	Maitre D'
Michael Burlington	...	Waiter
Marcus Powell	...	Little German
Louise Yaffe	...	Cafe Diner
Charlotte Zucker	...	Cafe Diner
Susan Breslau	...	Cafe Diner
Helen Kahan	...	Cafe Diner
Burton Zucker	...	Chef
Richard Pescud	...	Priest
John J. Carney	...	Klaus (as John Carney)
O.T.	...	Bruno
Russell Sommers	...	Student
Sara Montague	...	Crying Girl
Gerry Paris	...	Back-Up Singer
David Adams	...	Back-Up Singer
Geoff Wayne	...	Back-Up Singer
Steve Ubels	...	German Soldier
Chas Bryer	...	German Soldier
Mac McDonald	...	German Soldier
Mandy Nunn	...	Young Hillary
Lee Sheward	...	Young Nigel
Janos Kurucz	...	Wagon Driver
Sydney Arnold	...	Albert Potato
Dimitri Andreas	...	Latrine
Michelle Martin	...	Der Pizzahaus Girl
Nicola Wright	...	Der Pizzahaus Girl
Lisa Gruenberg	...	Der Pizzahaus Girl
Daisy	...	Cow
Andrew Hawkins	...	Pilot
Richard Bonehill	...	Scarecrow
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Abrahams	...	German Soldier in Prop Room (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	...	Sergeant Kruger (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	German Guard (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	German Soldier (uncredited)
David Zucker	...	German Soldier in Prop Room (uncredited)
Jerry Zucker	...	German Soldier in Prop Room (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Abrahams
David Zucker
Jerry Zucker

Writing credits
Jim Abrahams		(written by) &
David Zucker		(written by) &
Jerry Zucker		(written by) and
Martyn Burke		(written by)

Produced by
Jim Abrahams	....	executive producer
Jon Davison	....	producer
Tom Jacobson	....	associate producer
Hunt Lowry	....	producer
David Zucker	....	executive producer
Jerry Zucker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Christopher Challis

Film Editing by
Françoise Bonnot
Bernard Gribble

Casting by
Susan Arnold
Lucy Boulting
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Michael Lamont
Peter Lamont

Art Direction by
John Fenner
Michael Lamont

Set Decoration by
Crispian Sallis

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus

Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter	....	supervising hairdresser
Kay Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup supervisor
Betty Glasow	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Donald Toms	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Daly	....	second assistant director
Gerry Gavigan	....	first assistant director: second unit
Mike Higgins	....	key second assistant director
Barry Langley	....	assistant director
Jack Lowin	....	second unit director
Joe Powell	....	second unit director
Trevor Puckle	....	third assistant director
Andrew Warren	....	assistant director: second unit

Art Department
David Allday	....	draughtsman
Michael Boone	....	draughtsman
Jille Brown	....	art department assistant (as Jillie Brown)
Roger W. Deer	....	sketch artist (as Roger Deer)
Dennis Griffin	....	production buyer
Mark Hedges	....	stand-by prop
Wally Hill	....	props chargehand
Carol Lay	....	sketch artist
Joe Monks	....	painter
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director
Trevor Nicol	....	carpenter
Brian Payne	....	property master
Michael Redding	....	construction manager
Ernest Smith	....	scenic artist
Jacqueline Stears	....	scenic artist
Paul Taggart	....	plasterer

Sound Department
Derek Ball	....	sound recordist
Peter Best	....	sound editor: UK
David Campling	....	supervising sound editor
Ron Davis	....	sound editor: UK
Bob Gavin	....	sound editor: UK
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	special effects supervisor
Nick Dudman	....	animatronic technician
Joe Fitt	....	special effects technician
Verner Gresty	....	animatronic technician
John McGoldrick	....	special effects technician
Sue Oakes	....	animatronic technician
Terry Schubert	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Martin Body	....	rostrum cameraman

Stunts
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (as Jackie Cooper)
Clive Curtis	....	stunts
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Frank Henson	....	stunts
Eddie Kidd	....	stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunts
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts (as Val Musetti)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts
Joe Powell	....	stunt arranger
Doug Robinson	....	stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Claydon	....	focus puller: second unit
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator
Allen Daviau	....	director of photography: additional photography
Joe Finn	....	gaffer
John Fletcher	....	clapper loader
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	grip (as Chunky Huse)
Laurie Ridley	....	still photographer
Randall Robinson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Tony Strachan	....	focus puller

Animation Department
Sally Cruikshank	....	animation sequence
Jeff Goldner	....	animation sequence

Casting Department
Gretchen Rennell	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Elizabeth Barnard	....	assistant editor: USA
Michael John Bateman	....	first assistant editor
Dina Eaton	....	assistant editor: UK

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor: UK (as Bob Hathaway)
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Richard Stone	....	music editor: USA
Eric Tomlinson	....	score mixer
Kevin Townend	....	orchestrator: songs

Other crew
Sidney G. Barnsby	....	production accountant (as Sid Barnsby)
Joy Bayley	....	production assistant: UK
Marilyn Clarke	....	continuity: second unit
Pamela Davies	....	continuity
Brian Doyle	....	publicist
Norma Garment	....	production assistant: UK
Gillian Gregory	....	choreographer
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	production staff
Allan James	....	location manager
Derek Lyons	....	double: Val Kilmer
Betty Moos	....	assistant to producer
Christopher Palmer	....	assistant: Maurice Jarre
Vic Smith	....	location manager
Tony Wathen	....	diving master

Thanks
Howard Kaylan	....	special thanks
Mark Volman	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Kingsmere Properties
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (Greece) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (Spain) (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

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:

Osterley Park House, Isleworth, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Kingsmere Properties

Trivia:

The Latin spoken by the priest at Fleurgendorf Prison on the way to the execution room is just random phrases, borrowed partly from the religious, medical and legal professions, with various other words and names thrown in (Rick Dureus). At one point, he also says in Pig Latin: "Ooreyay oingay ootay etgay iedfray in the airchay," which translates, "You're going to get fried in the chair."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Deja-Vu checks his big Rolex, the time in close-up is 7:22, but in the wide shot it's 7:17.

Quotes:

Du Quois:Nick, whether you make it back or not, that plane must take off with Dr. Flammond at 1800 hours.
Deja Vu:That's why we recommend you be there at least 45 minutes before departure, especially at this time of year.

Movie Connections:

References Mad Max (1979)

Soundtrack:

TUTTI FRUTI

Sheet Shootin' is a catchy tune

The opening song which combines Beach Boys music with the subject of Skeet Shooting is worth the price of the movie and prepares you for the joyful insanity that will follow. Kilmer is at his second best, after The Doors, with an Elvis Presley and Spy-Movie spoof. This range of subject matter may account for the relatively low box office. But when I hear the over-used title TOP SECRET this is the only thing that springs to mind. There is a great BLUE LAGOON parody, which may be out of date, but with Survivor as the latest fad it may pass.