I’m on the spectrum, no not the ZX Spectrum (I was a Commodore kid, Uncle Jack (Tramiel) had my financial support from an early age). This meant this endeavour was going to become very focused. So, what to say about Top Gun? Well let’s look at it’s development.
The primary inspiration for the film was the article “Top Guns” by Ehud Yonay, from the May 1983 issue of California magazine, which featured aerial photography by then-Lieutenant Commander Charles “Heater” Heatley.[10] The article detailed the life of fighter pilots at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, self-nicknamed as “Fightertown USA”.[11] Numerous screenwriters allegedly turned down the project.[10] Bruckheimer and Simpson went on to hire Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., to write the first draft. The research methods, by Epps, included attendance at several declassified Top Gun classes at Miramar and gaining experience by being flown in an F-14. The first draft failed to impress Bruckheimer and Simpson, and is considered to be very different from the final product in numerous ways.[12] Tony Scott was hired to direct on the strength of a commercial he had done for Swedish automaker Saab in the early 1980s, where a Saab 900 turbo is shown racing a Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet.[13]
Actor Matthew Modine turned down the role of Pete Mitchell (that went to Tom Cruise) because he felt the film’s pro-military stance went against his politics.[14][15] the producers wanted Tom Cruise for the role after seeing him in Risky Business.[16] Cruise was offered the part while he was in London filming Legend, Cruise was reluctant to take the part but Tony’s brother Ridley Scott convinced him to take the part.[17] Julianne Phillips was in consideration for the role of Charlie, and had been scheduled to perform a screen test opposite Tom Cruise.[18]
The producers wanted the assistance of the US Navy in the production of the film. The Navy was influential in relation to script approval, which resulted in changes being made. The opening dogfight was moved to international waters as opposed to Cuba, the language was toned down, and a scene that involved a crash on the deck of an aircraft carrier was also scrapped.[19] Maverick’s love interest was also changed from a female enlisted member of the Navy to a civilian contractor with the Navy, due to the US military’s prohibition of fraternization between officers and enlisted personnel.[10] The “Charlie” character also replaced an aerobics instructor from an early draft as a love interest for Maverick after producers were introduced to Christine “Legs” Fox, a civilian mathematician employed by the Center for Naval Analyses as a specialist in Maritime Air Superiority (MAS), developing tactics for aircraft carrier defense.[9]
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