8mm Forum: Why "Top Secret" is not available in 8mm?

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Topic: Why "Top Secret" is not available in 8mm?

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 18, 2008 02:14 AM

We have known that Airplane (1981) was released by Marketing Films in three parter. This film was the funiest ever and become one of the most repeatable films in 8mm.

The success of this film was followed by "Top Secret" (Val Kilmer) not long from the Airplane (if I am not msitaken within 6 to 1 year after it).

Why I never seen Top Secret in the list. For some reasons I would think this is funier than Airplane.

I knew that both films were released at the end of the demise of 8mm, but there were still plenty companies at that time? And also there was still a chance released for Airline, but to date I never seen it (Osi did you see in Optical?)Is this copy rights issue?

Secondly, is there Airplane from Marketing in 400" digest? I have always seen the three parter.

cheers,

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Winbert

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted June 18, 2008 02:25 PM

I've often thought that as well. I think it might well come down to how many dollars the film made in theaters and then they guaged what they would release on Super 8mm. Airplane was a monster hit for the Zuckerman Brothers, and , while Top Secret was certainly a funnier film in some ways, for some reason, it didn't really do well in the movie theater.

The Zuckerman brothers have commented (in thier commentary on the DVD) that they felt that "Top Secret' had a lot of flaws, though funny, and too many of the jokes were, (surprisingly for them) too "cerebrel" and were funnier than hell, (at least, to them) but they didn't clique with the audience.

Anyhow, I agree with you. This would have made an excellent 3X400 release!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted June 18, 2008 02:56 PM

Winbert, That film was available in Super 8 on a limited run. It wasnt advertised and not many people knew about it, in fact its Top Secret [Big Grin]

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted June 18, 2008 10:50 PM

Graham ...

Was that a joke or were you being serious?

... as I would love to start my hunt for this title on Super 8!

There were a few parts that just didn't work, but as I said, a 3X400 release would be perfect.

Graham, do you remember what the release was? 1X400?

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 18, 2008 11:33 PM

"Top Secret" is funnier becuase it is a parady of something real (i.e Nazi, WWII, and sort of). So when watching this (at least foe me), my mind was flying away comparing the actual case and the parody [Big Grin]

more laugh indeed!

SOrry, Ihave mad a mistake about year of release, "Airplane" is 1980 and "Top Secret" 1984...so there is 4 years gap. But still Airline print should be here, shouldn't it?

Graham... are you joking about a release of "Top Secret"?

cheers,

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Winbert

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004

posted June 19, 2008 02:25 AM

It's Zucker, not Zuckerman. Or you can simply say "ZAZ" for Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker.

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The Grindcave Cinema Website

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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted June 19, 2008 02:37 AM

Osi, That WAS a joke. Sorry, I couldnt resist it. I have no idea if the film was released.

Graham

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted June 19, 2008 04:17 AM

When I worked at the Forum here in Melbourne we had the premiere of Top Secret and Zucker Brothers attended. It was a great film to run and put Val Kilmer on the map.

At around the same time we had a film called Tank, with James Garner and Shirley Jones, well walking up the aisle one afternoon I ran into Pat Boone who was in town. He was one of only 10 people in for the session.

Top Secret ran about 3 months; Flying High, the Australian title for Airplane, ran 18 months.

At the time I thought of buying Aurplane on Super 8 but didn't; wish I had. I have never heard of Top Secret in Super 8. If they were going to do anything at that time (1984), they would have done Beverly Hills Cop and Temple Of Doom, but alas other than a few like Derann, Super 8 mainstream was dead by then.

David

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John Davis
Master Film Handler

Posts: 286
From: Dunfermline, Fife, UK
Registered: Jun 2008

posted June 20, 2008 03:29 PM

A couple of years ago I had to give a talk at our local camcorder club about comedy and used a DVD of 'Top Secret' to illustrate various comedy techniques. It really has improved with time and ocassionaly crops up on the late night tv schedules.
The running joke with panning to an open fire is sublime, especially during the parachute scene!

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Mal Brake
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Neath, South Wales, UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 21, 2008 08:38 AM

Winbert, the Airplane! 400ft version is offered in the new Derann newsletter/sales lists for £13.00
I also noticed odd parts of a check print of Hello Dolly are being sold seperately, including #63!
I knew it was a long film to sit through [Wink]

Mal

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I'm gonna live forever or die trying

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