In May 1986, the movie that made Tom Cruise a superstar was released. Before Tom Hanks, Patrick Swayze, John Travolta, Matthew Modine, and Charlie Sheen refused because they considered that the script was weak. The filming on the aircraft carrier, the tests of the protagonists in the air, the difficulties in filming the love scene, and the unexpected tragedy in the middle of the ocean
The first criticisms in the North American newspapers were opaque. It seemed that they condemned the commercial future of the film. A less-than-effusive reception in the mass media scared people away from the theaters. However, that first weekend, the public filled the halls. An action movie, about aviators, and aerial pursuits, with a love story, a young actor with magnetism, a new cast, and an impactful soundtrack. An infallible formula. Against all odds, Top Gun became the highest-grossing film of 1986. With a budget of $15 million, it ended up grossing $360 million. But it was not only a question of collection. The movie made Tom Cruise one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Tom Cruise was 23 years old. Up to now, he had played small roles. The first big opportunity came with Risky Business. The iconic scene of him, with the entire parental house at his disposal, dancing in his underpants, with air guitar included, Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger. Then came a little misstep: Legend of Ridley Scott. Long filming - which took him out of other sets for more than a year - and a critical and box office failure. His career was at a critical moment, at a breaking point. He had to choose the next project well. And he did. Top Gun made him a superstar.
The role of Maverick had been offered to the vast majority of the young stars of the moment. The one who came closest to playing it was Matthew Modine. But he rejected the offer. He believed that the story was too militaristic, with an excessive nationalism that went against his convictions. The same was said by other actors like Tom Hanks, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze. John Travolta's agent asked for a salary that was too high (especially considering that he hadn't starred in a hit for years). Charlie Sheen was also a name that had possibilities: a few years later Sheen starred in Locos del Aire (Hot Shots), a Top Gun satire. Several more refused because they considered the script to be weak. Tom Cruise himself hesitated. His previous experience with the Scott family had not been good (Ridley was Tony Scott's brother). But producer Jerry Bruckheimer arranged for him to visit the airbase. He walked the runways, watched the planes fly, and inspected the hangars. At the end of the tour, the young actor called the producer to tell him to count on him. He had been fascinated with that world and wanted to live in it, at least for a few months.
At the time Top Gun hit North American theaters, Cruise was filming The Color of Money alongside Paul Newman and Martin Scorsese, and his career was taking another turn. To public success, he added prestige. The cruise was also important in the dissemination of the film. He went on a world tour accompanying him at his premiere in different important places such as France, England, and Japan.
Jerry Bruckheimer had to fight to film this script. Studio executives were reluctant. There was an external circumstance that conditioned it even more. A few months before, a television program had been released that recounted the internal life of the Air Force. But it was a dismal failure. That made them deduce that the subject was not of interest to the public. The other influencing factor was the complexity of the shoot. The producer trusted a skilled craftsman, Tony Scott, who had come from filming The Craving with David Bowie. Scott knew how to tell stories, he found the heart of the story and each scene in his films had its own rhythm.
Throughout filming, the American airmen would approach the director and other crew members to mark any verisimilitude errors. It was an aspect that Tony Scott did not care too much about. In a pause between scenes, some soldiers approached the director and complained bitterly about a large number of shields and insignia that aviators' jackets had in fiction. They argued that for them this was improbable, that no one used so many. Tony Scott, without taking his eyes off the coffee he was drinking, replied: “We're not making a movie for war pilots. Our viewer is a farmer from Kansas who will never know the difference."
However, the film managed to transcend time. And in one of those rare phenomena that happen very occasionally, his scenes and idioms became part of the world he tried to recreate. Just as members of the American mafia incorporated catchphrases from The Godfather, Top Gun managed to make some of his phrases and idioms -which did not exist in the world of war aviation- frequent among pilots. So much so, that currently, in the elite pilot academy, there are fines set for those beginners who cite the film believing that they are replicating jargon from the air world.
To carry out the filming it was essential to have the endorsement of the US Navy. They were to provide the necessary planes, aircraft carriers, base facilities, and technical knowledge.
That, in addition to the economic cost of renting the ships, the hours of work of the specialists, and the gasoline, allowed the Navy to get its hands on the script and demand changes. He modified several parts of the story to improve his image, including the reasons for Goose's death.
Tony Scott was filming on an aircraft carrier, planes taking off and landing against the backdrop of late afternoon. But the commander of the ship, without caring about the filming or the light that the director needed, turned the tide. Scott ran out to ask him to resume the previous one. The sailor explained that this maneuver had a cost of 25,000 dollars. Tony Scott took his personal checkbook out of his pocket, wrote a check for that amount, and was able to film that ideal sunset for a few more minutes.
All the actors vomited on top of the fighter jets. They had a hard time adjusting. Tom Cruise was taken on an initial ride by a professional pilot. In the middle of the maneuvers, he looked for the paper bag that he had at hand. Seeing him, the one who commanded the ship turned the plane around and turned it upside down in the middle of the actor's operation, who ended up bathed in his own vomit. That was his air baptism. Upon landing, the soldier approached Cruise and paid his respects: "There are only four jobs worth doing in this life: elite pilot, actor, rock star, or president," he told her.
Art Scholl, one of the pilots who was working as a stuntman, lost control of his ship in the middle of a take. He announced over the radio that he was in serious trouble and the ship plummeted into the sea. The remains of neither the machine nor the pilot were ever found. A legend in the end titles dedicates the film to him.
After the premiere and the reign of the film at the box office, the military authorities were very satisfied with the film and the image it gave of its pilots. It was huge publicity for them. Requests to enter as pilots increased by 500%. That made them rethink their relationship with the world of cinema, from which they had distanced themselves in previous decades. Time magazine reflected this situation by putting the issue on its cover: "The Pentagon is coming to Hollywood," he announced.
When studio managers saw the first cut, they weren't satisfied. The action scenes were good, there was tension, and the young cast was up to the mark but love scenes were missing. Had to roll again. The problem was that the leading couple was already in other projects. Cruise with Scorsese while Kelly McGillis was making Alan Rudolph's Made in Heaven. The actress, due to the requirements of the script for her new project, had dyed her hair. She had it much darker. Cruise had dropped out of the military cut. To address this issue, Tony Scott decided to have McGillis wear a cap in the elevator scene so that the color change would not be noticeable.
Music is another key to the film. The soundtrack album topped the charts. It sold almost 10 million copies. The strange thing is that the three best-known songs, three classics, were not on the album due to a rights issue (they were only included in the reissue two decades after the premiere): Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and Great Balls of Fire.
But Giorgio Moroder had an ace up his sleeve. Take My Breath Away recorded by Berlin, a New Wave group was a great hit and won the Oscar and the Golden Globe for best original song. Moroder had composed the music for this song sometime before. He had offered it at 9 and a Half Weeks and it was about to be used. The lyrics are by Tom Whitlock. Moroder met his co-equipped in a particular way. Whitlock was a luxury car mechanic. On one occasion, when he fixed the musician's Ferrari, he told him that he also composed. Moroder gave him the song and he gave him the lyrics.
The Motels, despite recording their version, preferred to continue with their own songs (years later they included it in a compilation) and lost the chance of having huge success. Berlin was the chosen group and had a great hit. Paradoxically, Terry Nun, the singer from Berlin, hated ballads and slow songs. This was her biggest hit. Maybe the only one.
The other successful original themes were provided by Kenny Loggins. He wasn't the first choice either. They had previously been offered to Reo Speedwagon and Toto, which for contractual reasons they could not accept. Danger Zone was also widely distributed and boosted record sales. One last curiosity about the music: Judas Priest refused authorization to include one of their songs because the heavy band did not want to be associated with failure.
Another milestone awaited the Top Gun movie. It was the one that broke a barrier in the world of home video. It broke all previous pre-sales records. People were lining up at video clubs to take it home. In the United States, through it, a new sales price was established for VHS that allowed a boom in its acquisition, changing the business forever.
The pandemic prevented the -unexpected- sequel to this film from being released. The arrival in theaters was postponed, although it seems that with the advance of the vaccination campaign in the United States, it will be seen on the big screen in July of this year. Top Gun: Maverick marks the return of Tom Cruise to the role that changed his career. This time it will be directed by Joseph Kosinski. Tony Scott, who died in 2012, will no longer be behind the camera. Nor will Kelly McGillis, whose career faded over time.
When asked why she wasn't in this sequel, she sarcastically replied, “I'm too old, I'm fat, I look my age and this is not appropriate for the world of cinema. I prefer this and feel absolutely sure of myself, and know who and what I am. The lead female role in Top Gun: Maverick is played by Jennifer Connelly.
Top Gun turned 35 years old. A film that exceeded even its own ambitions, that became a period brand with frenetic aerial scenes, a good cast, some pop gems, and, an actor who became a modern Hollywood legend.
