Top Gun (1986)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Tony Scott

Writers:

Ehud Yonay (article)
Jim Cash (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

From the Producers of Beverly Hills Cop and Flashdance [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

The macho students of an elite US Flying school for advanced fighter pilots compete to be best in the class, and one romances the teacher.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Flying | Fighter Pilot | Naval Officer | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	9:00 PM	CMTV
Wed. Nov. 11	12:30 AM	CMTV

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Maverick
Kelly McGillis	...	Charlie
Val Kilmer	...	Iceman
Anthony Edwards	...	Goose
Tom Skerritt	...	Viper
Michael Ironside	...	Jester
John Stockwell	...	Cougar
Barry Tubb	...	Wolfman
Rick Rossovich	...	Slider
Tim Robbins	...	Merlin
Clarence Gilyard Jr.	...	Sundown
Whip Hubley	...	Hollywood
James Tolkan	...	Stinger
Meg Ryan	...	Carole
Adrian Pasdar	...	Chipper
Randall Brady	...	Lt. Davis
Duke Stroud	...	Air Boss Johnson
Brian Sheehan	...	Sprawl
Ron Clark	...	Inquiry Commander
Frank Pesce	...	Bartender
Pete Pettigrew	...	Perry Siedenthal
Troy Hunter	...	Radio Operator
Linda Rae Jurgens	...	Mrs. Metcalf
Admiral T.J. Cassidy	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Debi Fares	...	(uncredited)
Mark Gadbois	...	Flight Captain (uncredited)
Chase Jazzborne	...	Officer's Club Patron (uncredited)
Monty Jordan	...	Cmdr. Phillips (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Scott Krambeck	...	Scott (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Scott

Writing credits
Ehud Yonay		(article Top Guns in California Magazine)
Jim Cash		(written by) &
Jack Epps Jr.		(written by)

Produced by
Bill Badalato	....	executive producer
Jerry Bruckheimer	....	producer
Don Simpson	....	producer
Warren Skaaren	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Harold Faltermeyer

Cinematography by
Jeffrey L. Kimball		(director of photography) (as Jeffrey Kimball)

Film Editing by
Chris Lebenzon
Billy Weber

Casting by
Margery Simkin

Production Design by
John DeCuir Jr.		(as John F. DeCuir Jr.)

Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton

Makeup Department
Scott H. Eddo	....	additional makeup artist (as Scott Eddo)
Ramsey	....	hair stylist
Rick Sharp	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bill Badalato	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrick Cosgrove	....	second assistant director
Dan Kolsrud	....	first assistant director (as Daniel P. Kolsrud)
Sharon Mann	....	second assistant director
James Dillon	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Craig Edgar	....	set designer (as Craig Dennis Edgar)
Stacey S. McIntosh	....	construction coordinator (as Stacy McIntosh)
Jonathan O'Connell	....	stand-by painter (as Jon O'Connell)
Richard A. Villalobos	....	lead person (as Richard Villalobos)
Mark Wade	....	property master (as Mark Robert Wade)

Sound Department
Pamela Bentkowski	....	foley editor
James Cavarretta	....	sound recordist (as James Cavarretta Jr.)
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor (as Virginia Cook)
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor (as Teri Dorman)
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
John P. Fasal	....	special sound effects (as John Paul Fasal)
Daniel F. Finnerty	....	assistant sound editor
Cecelia Hall	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Haney	....	sound recordist
Frank Howard	....	sound editor
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	foley editor (as Joey Ippolito)
Sarah Jacobs	....	foley artist
William B. Kaplan	....	sound mixer
David Kelson	....	cable person
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Nichols II	....	sound recordist (as Bob Nichols II)
Martin Nicholson	....	assistant sound editor (as Martin W. Nicholson)
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Patterson	....	supervising adr editor
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator (as Earl F. Sampson)
Stephen Stalheim	....	assistant sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (as Ed Steidell)
David E. Stone	....	sound editor (as David Stone)
George Watters II	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Winder	....	sound engineer
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Ken J. Johnson	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Cairo	....	special effects
Steven C. Foster	....	special effects (as Steve Foster)
Gary Gutierrez	....	supervisor of special photographic effects
Allen Hall	....	special effects coordinator
Robert G. Willard	....	special effects
Marvin Gardner	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Jamie Hyneman	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Mike Menzel	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Carothers	....	model maker: USFX
Samuel Comstock	....	animator: USFX (as Sam Comstock)
Stuart Cudlitz	....	animator: USFX
John Eaves	....	model maker: USFX
Rick Fichter	....	director of photography: USFX
Whitney Green	....	production manager: USFX
William Groshelle	....	animation supervisor: USFX
Don Hansard	....	process engineer (as Don Hansard Jr.)
Donald Hansard Sr.	....	process coordinator (as Don Hansard Sr.)
Marghi McMahon	....	model maker: USFX (as Marghe McMahon)
Ted Moehnke	....	pyrotechnician: USFX
Earle Murphy	....	model maker: USFX
Kjell Ness	....	assistant model maker: USFX
Allessandro Palladini	....	assistant model maker: USFX
Mitchell Romanauski	....	assistant model maker: USFX
Steve Sanders	....	model maker: USFX (as Steven Sanders)
David Sosalla	....	model department supervisor: USFX
Wes Takahashi	....	animator: USFX

Stunts
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Steve Holladay	....	stunts
Donna Keegan	....	stunts
Randy Peters	....	stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunt coordinator
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Art Scholl	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Alavardo	....	aerial camera operator
Larry Blanford	....	aerial camera operator
Michael W. Blymyer	....	lighting technician
James Campana	....	assistant grip: USFX
Richard Clark	....	video engineer
John J. Connor	....	camera operator (as John Connor)
Jack Cooperman	....	aerial camera operator
Jack Cooperman	....	underwater camera operator
William Coss	....	second assistant camera (as William F. Coss)
Dan Delgado	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jim Duggan	....	second company grip (as James Michael Duggan)
Robert W. Duggan	....	dolly grip
Jon Else	....	assistant camera: USFX
John Gazdik	....	assistant camera: USFX
John Gilbert	....	f-14 camera consultant
David Hallinger	....	assistant camera: USFX
C.J. Heatley	....	aerial camera operator (as Lcdr. C.J. 'Heater' Heatley)
Jan M. Heyneker	....	grip: USFX (as Jan Heyneker)
George Howe	....	aerial camera operator
William Kelly	....	aerial camera operator
Dan Koblash	....	aerial camera operator
Clay Lacy	....	air to air photography (as Clay Lacey)
George P. Leahy	....	f-14 camera consultant (as George Leahy)
Stephen Lighthill	....	assistant camera: USFX
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer (as Ralph Bahnsen Nelson)
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenneth Nishino)
David B. Nowell	....	aerial camera operator (as David Nowell)
Tom Prophet Jr.	....	first company grip (as Thomas Prophet Jr.)
Ward Russell	....	chief lighting technician
Gregory J. Schmidt	....	first assistant camera (as Greg Schmidt)
Donald Smith	....	animation camera operator: USFX
Jeff Stanman	....	lighting technician (as Jeffrey D. Stanman)
Peter Thomas	....	key grip: USFX
Don Thompson	....	aerial camera operator
Gary Tolbert	....	aerial camera operator
Joseph F. Valentine	....	Steadicam operator (as Joe Valentine)
Michael J. Wheeler	....	second assistant camera (as D. Michael Wheeler)
Wayne Baker	....	assistant camera: underwater scenes (uncredited)
Robert Edesa	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Henry Minski	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Richard Walden	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Clarkson	....	casting associate
Jeff Greenberg	....	casting assistant
Tina Real	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Tina Real	....	local extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wingate Jones	....	wardrobe: men (as Wingate Jones Jr.)
John Napolitano	....	wardrobe: men
Bobbie Read	....	costume supervisor: women
James W. Tyson	....	costume supervisor: men

Editorial Department
Richard Childs	....	assistant editor: USFX
Mark Elson	....	assistant film editor
Claudia Finkle	....	assistant film editor
Stacey A. Foiles	....	assistant editor: USFX (as Stacey Foiles)
Mike Moskowitz	....	apprentice film editor
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Dan Marrow	....	transportation captain
Al Orazi	....	transportation captain
Randy Peters	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Robinson	....	driver: 15-F hauler (uncredited)

Other crew
Lloyd Abel	....	F-14 aerial coordinator (as Lcdr. Lloyd 'Bozo' Abel)
Lloyd Abel	....	F-14 aircrew (as Lcdr. Lloyd 'Bozo' Abel)
Scott Altman	....	F-14 aircrew (as Lt. Scott 'D-Bear' Altman)
Julianna Arenson	....	production auditor (as Juli Arenson)
Diana Austin	....	production auditor: USFX
Billy Badalato	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Dave Baranek	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Dave 'Bio' Baranek)
Michael Blue	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Michael 'Vida' Blue)
Dennis Broska	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. Dennis 'Loner' Broska)
Patti Carr	....	assistant: Mr. Badalato
Admiral T.J. Cassidy	....	cooperation and support (as RADM T.J. Cassidy)
Peter Caulk	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Peter 'Horse' Caulk)
Dan Curry	....	title designer
John Cushing	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Maj. John 'Player' Cushing)
Jim Destafney	....	navy dialogue consultant (as Jim 'Flex' Destafney)
Michael Dilbeck	....	record company consultant
Dennis Dilucente	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Capt. Dennis 'Sunshine' Dilucente)
Gregory Dishart	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Gregory 'Hollywood' Dishart)
Ron Eisenman	....	first aid (as Ron Eiseman)
Michael Galpin	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Michael 'Flex' Galpin)
J.A. Garrow	....	cooperation and support officer: U.S. Navy (as Radm J.A. Garrow)
Barbara Gerard	....	assistant: Mr. Gutierrez, USFX crew
Ricky Hammonds	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. Ricky 'Organ' Hammonds)
Thomas R. Harmon	....	aerial consultant
James L. Holloway III	....	cooperation and support officer: U.S. Navy (as Adm James L. Holloway III USN ret.)
John Horton	....	government relations
Catalaine Knell	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Chuck Lewis	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. Chuck 'Silver' Lewis)
Terrence McGuire	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Capt. Terrence 'Circus' McGuire)
Scott Metcalfe	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Rick Moe	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. Rick 'Curly' Moe)
David B. Nowell	....	astrovision operator (as David Knoll)
Ron Oberman	....	record company consultant
Gayle Peabody	....	assistant auditor: USFX
Pete Pettigrew	....	technical advisor (as Peter 'Viper' Pettigrew)
Gary Platek	....	armature designer: USFX
James Ray	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. James 'Jambo' Ray)
Brian Reeves	....	digital engineer
David Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
June Samson	....	script supervisor
Ben Schneider	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. Ben 'Rabbi' Schneider)
Ray Seckinger	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Maj. Ray 'Secks' Seckinger)
John Henry Semcken	....	cooperation and support officer: U.S. Navy (as Lt. John Henry Semcken)
Tracy Skeels	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. Tracy 'Too Cool' Skeels)
Kenneth Smith	....	f-14 aircrew (as Lt. JG Kenneth 'Squire' Smith)
Matthew Snyder	....	assistant: Mr. Simpson
Thomas Sobieck	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lcdr. Thomas 'Sobs' Sobieck)
William Spence	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. William 'Tex' Spence)
Ron Stack	....	assistant auditor
Sandy Stairs	....	navy public affairs (as Lt. Sandy Stairs)
Richard T. Stevens	....	aerial consultant
Randy Stiles	....	navy public affairs (as Lt. Randy Stiles)
Peter Stolz	....	pyrotechnician: USFX
Michael Straight	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Capt. Michael 'Boa' Straight)
Sally Syberg	....	production coordinator: USFX
Sally Syberg	....	production secretary: USFX
Barbara Weintraub	....	assistant: Mr. Bruckheimer
Christine Whitney	....	production coordinator: USFX
Robert Willard	....	navy aerial coordinator (as Lcdr. Robert 'Rat' Willard)
Robert Willard	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lcdr. Robert 'Rat' Willard)
Erick Willenbrock	....	navy public affairs (as Cdr. Erick Willenbrock)
James Winnefeld	....	top gun instructor and mig pilot (as Lt. James 'Jaws' Winnefeld)
Jerry Irvine	....	rocket effects (uncredited)
Lisbeth Siegel	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Kathleen Walker	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Thanks
John F. Lehman Jr.	....	special thanks (as The Honorable John F. Lehman Jr.)
Art Scholl	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1995) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (special collector's edition)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Award Winning Collection)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount (19??) (France) (VHS)
• Paramount (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paramount (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Paramount (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Colossal Pictures
• USFX

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Columbia Records  soundtrack published by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Grumman Aerospace Corporation  consulting: F-14
• Guinea Up Catering  catering
• Inter Video  24 frame video playback
• MGM Negative Cutting  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Top Guns (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Brazil:Livre | India:U | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Voted #3 Must See Movie of all time by listeners of Capital FM in London.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Many errors are made when describing maneuvers that various aircraft have made. This is especially noticeable during the briefing before the first hop.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Flight Captain: Good morning, Scott.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Drillbit Taylor (2008)

Soundtrack:

Mighty Wings

Entertaining no brainer

Top Gun is a high quality, visually stunning film that does all it can to take your breath away. It is the excellently choreographed dog fights that remain in the mind longer than anything as they are high octane, dazzling bursts of excitement which bring the film to life. However, fighter jet sequences do not make a film and it is the plot where Top Gun has some occasional problems.

Parts of the story are overly cheesy and clichéd. The proud to be American theme is dire, repetitive and anyone who dislikes over patriotism in films will despise this. The story line involving Tom Cruise and Tom Skerrit approaches boredom and is the pinnacle of Top Gun's cheese. 'Cheese' is OK, as long as it is not serious and that is where that specific story line falls flat. The fun cheesy parts are some of the films best moments. The volleyball scene is truly a classic and the four actors involved are genuinely enjoying themselves. The relationship between Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards is also very moving at times and the dynamic they have makes for great viewing.

The acting is what saves Top Gun from being Tinsel town garbage. Tom Cruise launched his career with this film. His cocky smile makes him perfect for this role and Cruise does fantastically at portraying a determined, passionate character. It is the emotional scenes where Cruise really sets himself apart from his peers. Cruise provides the few scenes where the audience are made to feel any emotion and he carries out his responsibility creditably. Anthony Edwards as Goose is also effective as the man who takes second spot to Cruise's Maverick. He is instantly popular with the audience with his wit, humour and charm. Val Kilmer and Rick Rossovich are great as the rivals. They play off each other really well and do a fantastic job to personify arrogance. Michael Ironside does what he does best and once again, manages to go through a whole film without smiling.

The story between Cruise and Kelly McGillis is very romantic and sensual. The heat between them is conveyed very well on screen and it is this that sets Top Gun above films such as Iron Eagle and Chuck Norris films.

Berlin's 'Take My Breath Away' is a song that still gets a good deal of airplay and suits this film to perfection; it's cheesy and its 80s. The music is very effective at setting the mood and complements the feel of the film.

Top Gun is a film that achieves its objectives, to entertain. If you're looking for intelligent writing or mass thought provocation, this film isn't for you. Top Gun is best suited to those who desire to switch off their brain and enjoy.