Movies - Top Gun

Home > Listing Index > Movies > Top Gun (film)

	Movies - Top Gun

Top Gun is a 1986 American film directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer in association with Paramount Pictures.

The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. which was inspired by an article written by Ehud Yonay for California Magazine entitled "Top Guns." The film starred Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, Tim Robbins, and Meg Ryan.

The film follows Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, a young naval aviator who aspires to be a top fighter pilot in a prestigious naval school which trains the top 1% of all US Naval Aviators. Maverick gets his chance to attend the school after one pilot drops out, allowing for him and his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer, the "back seater" in the two-man F-14) Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw to train with the best.

The film opened on May 16, 1986 to good reviews, the aerial scenes being most notably praised by reviews. The film accumulated over $350 million world-wide, broke home-video sales records and, by no surprise, dramatically increased the Air Force and Navy's recruitment.

Taglines:

Up there with the best of the best.
I feel the need, the need for speed.

Background

The primary inspiration for the film was discovered by producer Jerry Bruckheimer when he found an article in the May 1983 issue of California magazine which would form the basis of the film. The article, Top Guns, was about the TOPGUN fighter pilots at the Miramar Naval Air Station, located in San Diego, nicknamed "Fightertown USA". Numerous screenwriters allegedley turned down the project, Bruckheimer and Simpson went on to hire Jim Cash and Jack Epps, Jr., to write the first draft. The research methods, by Epps, included an attendance at several declassified Top Gun classes at Miramar and gaining experience by being flown in an F-14. The first draft failed to capture the imagination of Bruckheimer and Simpson, and the first draft is considered to be very different from the final product in numerous ways.

The film needed the assistance of the United States Navy. The Navy was willing to aid the film on certain conditions: the film must benefit the service; the script must be authentic; and it must be in good taste. It was a beneficial deal to both parties, the Navy would be able to oversee the production of the film to avoid any possible degradation to its reputation, and the Top Gun producers would save money by being allowed to access Navy personnel, installations and equipment. The US Navy held a powerful position in relation to script approval with immediate changes being made. The opening dogfight was moved to international waters as opposed to Cuba. Bad language was trimmed and a scene that involved a crash on the deck of an aircraft carrier was also scrapped.

Tom Cruise was the first choice for the lead in the film. Cruise, however, was not totally convinced by the script offered to him and did not sign a contract, but rather agreed to develop the script with them and to go from there. Cruise was to influence the direction of the script in a major way. He wanted a more competitive edge to the film, so the semi-fictional Top Gun trophy was introduced (there had been an inter-service air-to-air gunnery competition in the 1940s and 50s, but the Navy quickly discouraged competitive flying). Some were also not convinced that the lead's love interest was appropriate, claiming that a "female who hangs around bars trying to snare a Navy husband" was an insulting stereotype.

Casting

Background

From the early stages during the production of the Top Gun script, it was always known that Tom Cruise was the wanted to portray Maverick. As Cruise did originally turn down both Bruckheimer and Simpson, yet worked with the pair to develop the material, both producers knew that Tom needed more persuading to sign on to the project. Cruise, who was hot property after releasing All the Right Moves, was taken for a joy ride with the Blue Angels, and after that flight Cruise changed his mind.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Top Gun (film) ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Top Gun (film); it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Movies - Top Gun

Background

Casting

Background

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay