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Home , Don Simpson, Kelly McGillis, Top Gun

From: Reviews and Criticism of Theatrical and Television Dramas (http://www.lasalle.edu/library/vietnam/FilmIndex/home.htm) compiled by John K. McAskill, La Salle University ([email protected])

T6635 (USA, 1986)

Credits: director, ; writers, Jim Cash, Jack Epps, Jr. Cast: , , Kelly McGillis, Tom Skerritt. Summary: War melodrama set at Miramar Naval Air Station at , Calif. and in the Indian Ocean. Maverick Mitchell (Cruise), a young Navy fighter pilot, is out to become the best of the best at the Navy’s prestigious fighter weapons school. Kelly McGillis plays a civilian instructor who teaches Maverick a few things you cannot learn in a classroom. Viper (Skerritt) is Maverick’s mentor, and a Vietnam veteran pilot who knew Maverick’s father during the war. He tells Maverick about his father’s death in combat and the mistakes he made which killed others.

Adair, Gilbert. ’s Vietnam [GB] (p. 134) Ames, Katrine (see under Ansen, David) Ansen, David, with Peter McAlevey and Katrine Ames. “The arts: Entertainment: Cruise guns for the top” Newsweek 107 (Jun 9, 1986), p. 72-3. ______. “The arts: Movies: Macho myth-making” Newsweek 107 (May 19, 1986), p. 72. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Attanasio, Paul. “Movies: ‘Top gun’: Where the flyboys are the film: Despite dazzle, it’s stuck on the ground” Washington post (May 19, 1986), p. B1. ______. “The twin titans of ‘Top gun’: How and propelled their idea to the screen” Washington post (May 16, 1986), p. D1+ Bawer, Bruce. [Top gun] American spectator 19 (Aug 1986), p. 28-9. Bierbaum, Tom. “Commercial fizz allows ‘Top gun’s’ $27 takeoff” Variety 325 (Jan 21, 1987), p. 39+ [2 p.] ______. “Paramount’s ‘Gun’ soars to revenue/sales marks” Variety 326 (Mar 25, 1987), p. 41-2. ______. “‘Top gun’ cassettes in record takeoff: 1,900,000 units” Variety 326 (Mar 4, 1987), p. 1+ [2 p.] Blair, Iain. “Movies: Team behind ‘Top gun’ brings back creative producing” Chicago tribune (May 11, 1986), Arts, p. 2. Blowen, Michael. “Boy meets plane” Boston globe (May 16, 1986), Arts and film, p. 24. Brackman, Jacob. [Top gun] 11 (Jun 1986), p. 47+ [3 p.] Buckley, Michael. “Top gun” Films in review 37 (Aug/Sep 1986), p. 422. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Canby, Vincent. “Film view: Vintage plotting propels mach II planes in ‘Top gun’” New York times 135 (Jun 8, 1986), sec. 2, p. 23-4. Ciment, Michel. “Top gun” Positif 309 (Nov 1986), p. 78. Cockburn, Alexander. “The selling of the Pentagon?” American film 11 (Jun 1986), p. 28+ [6 p.] Conlon, James. “Making love, not war” Journal of popular film and television 18/1 (1990), p. 18-27. Cosford, Bill. “‘Top gun’: A miss for Cruise, McGillis” Miami herald (May 16, 1986), p. 6D. DeCurtis, Anthony. “Music: ‘Top gun’ a victory for the marketing man” Rolling stone 483 (Sep 25, 1986), p. 21. Denby, David. “Movies: Pop gun” New York 19 (May 19, 1986), p. 102-4. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Denisoff, R. Serge and Romanowki, William D. “The Pentagon’s top guns: Movies and music” [GB] ______. Risky business : rock in film New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction Publishers, 1991. (p. 523-26, 618-27+) Devine, Jeremy M. Vietnam at 24 frames a second [GB] (p. 240, 252, 305-6, 336) Edelman, Rob. “Top gun” Cineaste 15/1 (1986), p. 41-2. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Floyd, Nigel. “Top gun” Monthly film bulletin 53 (Oct 1986), p. 319-20. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Freitas, Gary. War movies : the Belle & Blade guide to classic war videos Bandon, OR : Robert D. Reed Publishers, 2004. Gallagher, Michael. [Top gun] National Catholic reporter 22 (Sep 26, 1986), p. 15. Gelmis, Joseph. [Top gun] Newsday (May 16, 1986), pt. III, p. 3. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Gibson, James William. Warrior dreams : paramilitary culture in post-Vietnam America New York : Hill and Wang, 1994. (p. 38, 106, 123) Girard, Martin. “Top gun” Sequences 126 (Oct 1986), p. 68-9. Goegebeur, Erwin. “Top gun” Film en Televisie 352 (Sep 1986), p. 57. Golja, Maeco and Zupancic, Tadej. “Top gun” Ekran 12/1-2 (1987), p. 29-30. Goodman, Walter. “Screen: Cruise in ‘Top gun’” New York times 135 (May 16, 1986), p. C10. Gray, Marianne. “Top gun” Photoplay 38 (Oct 1986), p. 36. Greenberg, James (Jagr). “Top gun” Variety 323 (May 14, 1986), p. 14. Halloran, Richard. “Pentagon: Guardians of the screen image” New York times 135 (Aug 18, 1986), p. A12. Harmetz, Aljean. “Marketing ‘Top gun’ cassette” New York times 136 (Jan 15, 1987), p. C17. Hoberman, J. “Film: Phallus in wonderland” Village voice 31 (May 27, 1986), p. 59+ [2 p.] [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Holden, Stephen. “The pop life: Movie soundtracks score in top 10” New York times 135 (Aug 6, 1986), p. C19. Holzl, Gebhard and Peipp, Matthias. Fahr zur Holle, Charlie! [GB] (p. 228) Hurley, Joseph. [Top gun] Honolulu 21 (Jul 1986), p. 104+ [3 p.] Jenny, Urs. “Nur Fliegen ist schoner” Dier Spiegel n. 32 (1986), p. ? Jerome, Jim. [Top gun] People weekly 25 (Jun 30, 1986), p. 44-6. “The Jet set” Photoplay 38 (Oct 1986), 32-3. Kael, Pauline. “The current cinema: Brutes” New Yorker 62 (Jun 16, 1986), p. 114+ [2 p.] Kauffmann, Stanley. “Stanley Kauffmann on films: That wild blue yonder” New republic 194 (Jun 9, 1986), p. 24-5. Kempley, Rita. “‘Top gun’: Cruise in control” Washington post (May 16, 1986), Weekend, p. 29. Kissel, Howard. [Top gun] Women’s wear daily (May 14, 1986), p. 14. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Klinger, Jerome. “Save our script” American film 15/9 (Jun 1990), p. 30-33, 44-5. Kolomitz, Nancy. “Top gun” Film journal 89 (Jun 1986), p. 13. Krupp, C. [Top gun] Glamour 84 (Jul 1986), p. 118. Kuehn, Detlev. “Top gun” EPD Film (Sep 1986), p. ? Lally, Kevin. “Simpson & Bruckheimer have high hopes for jet pilot tale” Film journal 89 (May 1986), p. 5+ [2 p.] Lamar, Jacob V., Jr. [et al] “Nation: The Pentagon goes Hollywood” Time 128 (Nov 24, 1986), p. 30. Lanning, Michael Lee. Vietnam at [GB] (p. 330-31) Lequeux, Michel. “Top gun” Grand angle 13/87 (Oct 1986), p. 47-8. Lloyd, Ann. “Top gun” Films and filming 384 (Sep 1986), p. 43-4. Martinez, Emanuela. “Sky wars” Cinefex 29 (Feb 1987), p. 52-67. Mathews, Jack and Wilhelm, Elliot. [Top gun] Monthly Detroit 9 (Jun 1986), p. 112+ [2 p.] McAlevey, Peter (see under Ansen, David) Mitchell, Elvis. “High flyers: ‘Top gun’ writers have discovered the secret of success” Detroit free press (Apr 12, 1987), p. 1C. Morsiani, Alberto. “Top gun” Segnocinema 25 (Nov 1986), p. 73. O’Brien, Tom. “Screen: Bloody mayhem” Commonweal 113 (Jun 20, 1986), p. 374- 5. O’Toole, Lawrence. [Top gun] Maclean’s 99 (May 26, 1986), p. 57. Peipp, Matthias (see under Holzl, Gebhard) Rabourdin, Dominique. “Top gun” Cinema 86 368 (Sep 17-23, 1986), p. 3. Rainer, Peter. [Top gun] Herald examiner (May 16, 1986), p. ? [Reprinted as “Top gun” in They went thataway : redefining film genres : a National Society of Film Critics video guide (edited by Richard T. Jameson) : Mercury House, 1994. (p. 196-8) Rea, Steven. “Tom Cruise joins the Navy jet set” inquirer (May 16, 1986), p. F1. Reed, Rex. [Top gun] New York post (May 16, 1986), p. 25. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Rickey, Carrie. “Film: ‘Top gun’ enlists Tom Cruise as a Navy fighter pilot” Philadelphia inquirer (May 16, 1986), Weekend, p. G20. Robley, Les Paul. “Flying high with ‘Top gun’” American cinematographer 67 (May 1986), p. 50-56+ [8 p.] Rosenbaum, Ron. [Top gun] Mademoiselle 92 (Aug 1986), p. 78+ Sackett, Susan. book of box office hits Rev. and enl. ed. New York : Billboard Books, 1996. (p. 308) Schickel, Richard. “Cinema rushes: ‘Top gun’” Time 127 (May 19, 1986), p. 105. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Schober, Siegfried. “Krieg im Sommer” Die Zeit (Jul 4, 1986), p. ? Shindler, Merrill. [Top gun] Los Angeles 31 (Jun 1986), p. 36+ [5 p.] ______. [Top gun] SA monthly 5 (Jun 1986), p. 25-6. Silvers, Cyndi. [Top gun] US 3 (Feb 10, 1986), p. 42-44. Siskel, Gene. “Movies: ‘Top gun’ hits the right target with thrilling flying scenes” Chicago tribune (May 16, 1986), Friday, p. A. Solman, Gregory. “Production focus: ‘Top gun’” Millimeter 14 (Jun 1986), p. 215. Sprinker, Michael. “Top gun” Magill’s cinema annual Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Salem Press, 1982- (1987, p. 437-41) Suid, Lawrence H. Sailing on the silver screen : Hollywood and the U.S. Navy Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, 1996. (p. 227-36, 240, 243, 249, 256) Summers, Jimmy. “Top gun” Boxoffice 122 (Jul 1986), p. R69-70. Szekely, Gabriella. “Top gun” Film vilag 34/1 (1991), p. 53. Terry, Ken. “‘Top gun’ soundtrack duplicates ‘Footloose’ pattern in less time” Variety 324 (Aug 13, 1986), p. 107-8. [Top gun] Canadian Catholic review 4 (Sep 1986), p. 39. [Top gun] Cinefex 29 (Feb 1987), p. 52-67. [Top gun] City limits 261 (Oct 2, 1986), p. 23. [Top gun] Cosmopolitan 201 (Jul 1986), p. 22 “Top gun” Film review annual 1987 Englewood, N.J. : J.S. Ozer, 1981- (p. 1443-53) [Top gun] Hollywood reporter 287/35 (Jul 2, 1985), p. 10. [Top gun] Listener 116/2981 (Oct 9, 1986), p. 33. [Top gun] Marriage and family living 68 (Sep 1986), p. 26. “Top gun” Motion picture guide annual (edited by Jay Robert Nash and Stanley Ralph Ross) Chicago : Cinebooks, 1987-2000. (1987, p. 287-88) [Top gun] Post script 9/3 (summer 1990), p. 21-35. [Top gun] Premiere [France] 125 (Aug 1987), p. 42-7. [Top gun] Screen international 505 (Jul 13, 1985), p. 4. [Top gun] Screen international 510 (Aug 17, 1985), p. 31. [Top gun] Teen 30 (May 1986), p. 62. [Top gun] Time out 841 (Oct 1, 1986), p. 29. Travers, Peter. [Top gun] People weekly 25 (May 19, 1986), p. 10. Trenner, Patricia. [Top gun] Air & space 1 (Apr/May 1986), p. 123-4. Turner, George. “Miniatures, pyrotechnics for ‘Top gun’” American cinematographer 67 (Jun 1986), p. 28-33, 52. Valot, Jacques. “Top gun” Revue du cinema 419 (Sep 1986), p. 58, and hors ser. 34 (1987), p. 150-51. Walker, Mark Edward. Vietnam veteran films [GB] (p. 79-81) Wiegmann, Frauke. [et al] “Die Alterseinstufung der Filme ‘Der staehlerne Adler’ und ‘Top gun’” Film und Fakten 1 (Feb 1987), p. 14+ [4 p.] Wilhelm, Elliot (see under Mathews, Jack) Williams, Tony. “Top gun” Vietnam war feature filmography (1992 draft) [GB] (p. 394-5) and Vietnam war films [GB] (Entry 605) Williamson, Judith. “Cinema: Above the world” New statesman 112 (Oct 10, 1986), p. 25-6. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Wilmington, Michael. “Movie review: High-tech flyboys in ‘Top gun’” (May 16, 1986), Calendar, p. 1. [Reprinted in Film review annual 1987] Wolcott, James. [Top gun] Texas monthly 14 (Jul 1986), p. 130+ [3 p.] Yakir, Dan. “Kelly McGillis: Earth angel” Interview 17 (Oct 1987), p. 58-61+ [6 p.] Zupancic, Tadej. (see under Golja, Marco)

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