Top Secret! (1984)
- Starring:
- Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge, (more)
- Director(s):
- Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, (more
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
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The second of Zucker-Abraham-Zucker's theatrical-feature spoofs (Airplane was the first, discounting the patchwork Kentucky Fried Movie), Top Secret! lampoons practically every film genre. Specifically, however, this is a hybrid of an "Elvis" movie and a World War II "underground resistance" thriller. In his film debut, Val Kilmer plays Nick Rivers, a Presley-like American rock idol sent behind the Iron Curtain on a goodwill tour. Before long, he is involved in a complex espionage scheme thanks to beautiful Lucy Gutteridge, the daughter of a scientist (Michael Gough) held captive by the Communists. Also essential to the action is flamboyant resistance leader Christopher Villiers, who behaves like Victor Mature in Betrayed (1954) and talks like James Mason. Adhering to Z-A-Z's cheerful disregard for people, places and events, the East Germans are depicted as Nazis, while the Underground is comprised of Frenchmen. The plot is mainly an excuse for the Z-A-Z team's fondness for joke-a-minute lampoonery, skewering cinematic targets ranging from The Blue Lagoon (1980) to The Wizard of Oz (1939). As in Z-A-Z's other efforts, Top Secret! scores its biggest yocks when invoking cliches that we never realized were cliches-and falls on its face whenever attempting a too-obvious gag (the biggest clinker: that pigeon statue in the park). Everyone has his or her favorite bits in this film: our faves include the resistance fighter named Deja Vu ("Haven't we met somewhere before?"), Kilmer's horrible nightmare while being tortured (he arrives too late to take final exams), the army-booted cow, the sensitive Pinto, and the East German National Anthem, sung to the tune of the Shorewood (Wisconsin) High School marching song. But let's say no more: comedy of this nature is designed to be seen, not written or read about. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 90 mins
Complete Cast:
- Val Kilmer - Nick Rivers
- Christopher Villiers - Nigel
- Peter Cushing - Bookstore Owner
- Billy Mitchell - Martin
- Harry Ditson - Du Quois
- Nancy Abrahams - Pregnant Woman
- Major Wiley - Porter
- John Sharp - Maitre D'
- Ian McNeice - Blind Man
- Richard Mayes - Biletnikov
- Gertan Klauber - Mayor
- Louise Yaffe - Cafe Diner
- Russell Sommers - Student
- Charlotte Zucker - Cafe Diner
- Andrew Hawkins - Pilot
- David Adams - Back-Up Singer
- Warren Clarke - Col. Von Horst
- John Carney - Klaus
- Lucy Gutteridge - Hillary
- Omar Sharif - Cedric
- Jeremy Kemp - Gen. Streck
- Michael Gough - Dr. Flammond
- Jim Carter - Deja Vu
- Tristram Jellinek - Maj. Crumpler
- Eddie Tagoe - Chocolate Mousse
- Marcus Powell - Little German
- Mac McDonald - German Soldier
- Vyvyan Lorrayne - Mme. Bergerone
- Dimitri Andreas - Latrine
- Nicola Wright - Pizzahaus Girl
- Richard Pescud - Priest
- Burton Zucker - Chef
- Daisy the Cow - Herself
- Sydney Arnold - Albert Potato
- Susan Breslau - Cafe Diner
- Director(s):
- Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
- Writer(s):
- Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Martyn Burke
- Producer(s):
- Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Frederick Zollo
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Humor, Suitable for Children, Mild Violence)
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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