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
Nancy Abrahams	...	Pregnant Woman
Omar Sharif	...	Agent Cedric
Tristram Jellinek	...	Major Crumpler
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Martin
Major Wiley	...	Porter

Storyline

This time Zucker and Abrahams 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:

cow | reverse footage | spy | spoof | rock star | 

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Taglines:

From the makers of the original "Airplane!" (not the Wright brothers)

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

A soundtrack LP for the film was issued featuring Val Kilmer singing and in-jokes such as a very brief total playing time, and it has since become a collector's item.

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Goofs

Chocolate Mousse (Eddie Tagoe) wears crossed belts of linked machine gun ammo, but all the cartridges are blank cartridges. This could be an intentional "mistake" since the difference between blanks and real ammo is so obvious.

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Quotes

General Streck, German High Command: ...And once again, Germany will be united under one rule - OURS. After Sunday, there will be no one to stop us.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits include all manner of silliness, including jokes, gags, and a music video.

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Alternate Versions

The 1987 UK video was cut by 8 secs for a '15' rating to remove shots of the artificial fist attachment for the Anal Intruder. In 2002 these cuts were waived by the BBFC.

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Connections

Featured in Cinemassacre's Top 20 Movie Scenes Where People Jump Through Fucking Windows (2013)

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Soundtracks

Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Parody based on "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" by Roy Turk and Lou Handman
Arranged by Maurice Jarre (uncredited)
Produced by Mike Moran
Performed by Val Kilmer

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."

Details

Country:

UK USA

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

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,406,205, 24 June 1984

Gross USA:

$20,458,340

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,458,340

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kingsmere Properties

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1