Condorman

Last updated

Condorman
Condormanposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Charles Jarrott
Screenplay byMarc Stirdivant
Based onThe Game of X
by Robert Sheckley [1]
Produced byJan Williams
Starring
Cinematography Charles F. Wheeler
Edited byGordon D. Brenner
Music by Henry Mancini
Production
company
Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates
  • July 2, 1981 (1981-07-02)(London)
  • August 7, 1981 (1981-08-07)(United States)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million

Condorman is a 1981 American superhero comedy film directed by Charles Jarrott, produced by Walt Disney Productions, and starring Michael Crawford, Barbara Carrera and Oliver Reed. The film follows comic book illustrator Woodrow Wilkins's attempts to assist in the defection of a female Soviet KGB agent.

Contents

Plot

Woodrow "Woody" Wilkins is an imaginative, yet eccentric, comic book writer and illustrator who demands a sense of realism for his comic book hero "Condorman", to the point where he crafts a Condorman flying suit of his own and launches himself off the Eiffel Tower. The test flight fails as his right-wing breaks, sending him crashing into the Seine River.

After the incident, Woody is asked by his friend, CIA file clerk Harry, to perform what appears to be a civilian paper swap in Istanbul. Upon arriving in Istanbul, he meets a beautiful Soviet woman named Natalia Rambova, who poses as the Soviet civilian with whom the exchange is supposed to take place, but it is later revealed that she is in fact a KGB spy. Woody does not tell Natalia his real name, and instead fabricates his identity to her as a top American agent code-named "Condorman". During the encounter, Woody fends off a group of would-be assassins and saves her life by sheer luck before accomplishing the paper trade. Impressed by Woody, and disgusted by how she was treated by her lover/boss Krokov when she returns to Moscow, Natalia decides to defect and asks the CIA to have "Condorman" be the agent that helps her.

Back in Paris, Woody's encounter with Natalia inspires him to create a superheroine patterned after her named "Laser Lady". He is then notified by Harry and his boss Russ that he is to escort a defecting Soviet agent known as "The Bear". Woody refuses to do the job, but when Russ reveals that "The Bear" is Natalia, he agrees to do it on the condition that the CIA provides him with gadgetry based on his designs. However, Woody publishes details of the extraction operation as part of his latest Condorman story, allowing Krokov to track his movements once he discovers Woody's identity.

Woody meets up with Natalia in Yugoslavia and protects her from Krokov's henchmen led by the homicidal, glass-eyed assassin Morovich. After joining Harry in Italy, the trio ventures to Switzerland, where Natalia discovers the truth about Woody when a group of children recognize her from his comic books. Their journey back to France is compromised when Morovich puts Woody and Harry out of commission and Krokov's men recover Natalia before retreating to their headquarters in Monte Carlo. Woody is told that the mission is a failure and he and Harry are ordered to return to Paris, but Woody asks Harry for two more days to conduct an operation to rescue Natalia.

Disguising themselves as Arab sheikhs, Woody and Harry create a diversion at the Monte Carlo Casino to recover Natalia from Krokov and his men. As Harry drives away in a Rolls-Royce, Woody uses an improved version of his Condorman suit to fly himself and Natalia out of the casino and onto the pier, where the trio make their getaway aboard the Condorboat. They manage to destroy Krokov's speedboats following them, but Krokov and Morovich pursue them in their own speedboat. The Condorboat reaches its pickup point, but Morovich shows his intent on ramming it. When Morovich ignores his commander's orders to return to base, Krokov abandons the ship. The Condorboat is lifted by the CIA helicopter in time to prevent a collision, causing Morovich to crash on an island rock.

Days later, Woody, Natalia and Harry are at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, where they see the Goodyear Blimp flash a sign welcoming Natalia to the U.S. Aboard the blimp, Russ contacts Harry and has him ask Woody if he is interested in taking Condorman to another assignment.

Cast

Production

Development

Condorman was inspired by The Game of X by Robert Sheckley, a novel published in 1965. The Chicago Tribune called it "genuinely funny and suspenseful." [2] The New York Times said it was "often very funny". [3] [1] The Los Angeles Times called it "riotous". [4]

The film was slightly more racy than Disney normally produced. Then-president Ron Miller said the Barbara Carrera character was "the sexiest in Disney's history". [5]

The Condormobile was a modified Nova Sterling kit car. [6]

Filming

Condorman was filmed in Paris, Monte Carlo and Zermatt, Switzerland. Rémy Julienne, a renowned French stunt driver whose previous work included The Italian Job and several James Bond films among more than a hundred others, coordinated the film's car chases and stunts. Julienne, who mostly worked in French productions, kept a high standard for the film's set pieces involving cars, stating that "You recognize a good [car chase] because it is fresh and surprising. A bad one reminds you of a hundred you have seen before."

The film's special effects were directed by Colin Chilvers, who previously worked on the first two Superman films starring Christopher Reeve. The effects were filmed at the location also used by Chilvers for the Superman films: Pinewood Studios. Using the same facilities meant efficiency for Chilvers to create the effects he desired, reusing the equipment from Superman and adapting it for Condorman. A problem Chilvers encountered was being unable to fit the mold used by Reeve for Michael Crawford, requiring him to make a new set of molds for Crawford. He also enforced a strict gag rule among his 12-man crew to never disclose the methods used to create the effects after the film's release, asking "[w]hy do audiences need to know how each effect is done? It lessens their enjoyment of the movie." [7]

Release

The film opened at the Odeon Marble Arch in London on July 2, 1981. [8] The film performed poorly at the box office and Disney reportedly lost $9.5 million on the picture. [9] [10] The disappointing financial returns from Condorman, along with three other flop films, contributed to Disney's poor financial performance in 1981. [11]

Reception

The film was heavily panned by critics when it premiered in 1981. It has an approval rating of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 15 reviews, with an average of 4.4/10. [12] The Los Angeles Times called it "dull" and "dispiriting." [13] On their television show At the Movies , critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both gave the film a negative rating, stating that it had some nice elements but mainly pointing out the low production standards such as visible harness cable used for Condorman's flying sequences and obvious special effects; both critics said that it felt like Disney was once again a few years behind the times of what anyone wanted or expected to see from their genre efforts. On the other hand, John Corry of The New York Times wrote a favorable review of the film, calling it "painless and chaste, and it has a lot of beautiful scenery and beautiful clothes. There are worse things to watch while you eat popcorn." [14]

However, despite the film's failures, it has gained a cult following among Disney fans. [15] [16] [17]

Media

Home media

Condorman was first released on home video in January 1982, on VHS and Betamax. [18] It was re-released on VHS and made its Region 1 DVD debut on May 18, 1999, when it was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment. [19] A Region 2 version was released on August 21, 2006. [20] The film was re-released in Region 1 exclusively for members of the Disney Movie Club on May 1, 2009. [21]

Soundtrack

The film's complete musical score composed by Henry Mancini was released on CD by Intrada Records on November 13, 2012. [22] The album contained twenty tracks from the film and eight bonus tracks totaling just over 60 minutes, and was designated as Intrada Special Collection Volume 219. It was part of a special collaboration with The Walt Disney Company resulting in the release of several rare Disney scores on CD.

Novelization

Joe Claro wrote the novelization of the film, which was published by Scholastic Corporation for 350,000 copies in 1981 . [23]

Comic book adaptation/sequel

A comic book adaptation of Condorman was published by Whitman Comics at the time of the film's release. [24] A notable change in the illustrations was that Russ, the CIA boss, became an African-American. An original comic adventure sequel was also published in the third and last issue, taking place in the US. Woody is engaged to Natalia, and his Condorman machines are being built by a toy company — a cover for a CIA unit. Krokov and Morovich again appear, attempting to take Natalia back to the USSR by force.

The film was also adapted into a weekly comic strip for Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales by Russ Heath. [25]

Following Disney's acquisition of Marvel Comics in 2009, The Amazing Spider-Man editor Stephen Wacker lobbied to have Condorman brought into the Marvel Universe. [26]

Video games

Condorman's wings can be summoned in Disney Infinity 1.0, Disney Infinity 2.0 and Disney Infinity 3.0 via a power disc. The wings give the player the ability to glide through the air. [27]

Pop culture references

In the Pixar short film Toy Story Toons: Small Fry , a Condorman toy (voiced by Bob Bergen) appears at a support group meeting for discarded kids' meal toys. [28]

Related Research Articles

<i>Toy Story</i> 1995 Pixar film

Toy Story is a 1995 American animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The first installment in the Toy Story franchise, it was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, as well as the first feature film from Pixar. The film was directed by John Lasseter, written by Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow based on a story by Lasseter, Stanton, Pete Docter, and Joe Ranft, produced by Bonnie Arnold and Ralph Guggenheim, and features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, John Ratzenberger, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, and Jim Varney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oswald the Lucky Rabbit</span> Early animated Disney character

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an animated cartoon character created in 1927 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal Pictures. He starred in several animated short films released to theaters from 1927 to 1938. Twenty-seven animated Oswald shorts were produced at the Walt Disney Studio. After Universal took control of Oswald's character in 1928, Disney created a new character similar in appearance to Oswald as a replacement: Mickey Mouse, who went on to become one of the most famous cartoon characters in the world.

<i>Darkwing Duck</i> American animated television series (1991–1992)

Darkwing Duck is an American animated superhero comedy television series produced by Disney Television Animation that first ran from 1991 to 1992 on both the syndicated programming block The Disney Afternoon and Saturday mornings on ABC. A total of ninety-one episodes were aired. It features the adventures of Darkwing Duck, who is the superheroic alter-ego of ordinary suburban duck Drake Mallard.

<i>Lilo & Stitch</i> 2002 film by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois

Lilo & Stitch is a 2002 American animated science fiction comedy drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and produced by Clark Spencer, based on an original story created by Sanders. It stars Daveigh Chase and Sanders as the voices of the title characters, with the voices of Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Ving Rhames, Jason Scott Lee, Zoe Caldwell, and Kevin Michael Richardson in supporting roles. It was the second of three Disney animated feature films produced primarily at the Florida animation studio in Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzz Lightyear</span> Fictional character in the Toy Story franchise

Buzz Lightyear is a fictional character in the Disney–Pixar Toy Story franchise. He is a superhero action figure from an in-universe media franchise. Buzz is recognizable by his lime green, purple, and white space suit. Originating as a one-man band toy named Tinny, he evolved into a space ranger action figure during the development of Toy Story, a decision made by director John Lasseter. He is named after American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon. Buzz Lightyear is a recurring character in all of the Toy Story franchise's animated feature films, including spin-offs. In the Toy Story films he is voiced by Tim Allen.

<i>Toy Story 2</i> 1999 Pixar film

Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the sequel to Toy Story (1995) and the second installment in the Toy Story franchise. The film was directed by John Lasseter, co-directed by Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich, and produced by Helene Plotkin and Karen Robert Jackson, from a screenplay written by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin, and Chris Webb, and a story conceived by Lasseter, Stanton, Brannon, and Pete Docter. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, R. Lee Ermey, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Pidgeon reprise their roles from the first Toy Story film. In the film, Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector, prompting Buzz Lightyear and his friends to save him, but Woody is then tempted by the idea of immortality in a museum.

<i>The Black Hole</i> (1979 film) 1979 American science fiction film

The Black Hole is a 1979 American science fiction film directed by Gary Nelson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film stars Maximilian Schell, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms, Yvette Mimieux, Anthony Perkins and Ernest Borgnine, while the voices of the main robot characters are provided by Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens. The music for the film was composed by John Barry. With a production budget of $20 million, plus another $6 million for advertising, it was at the time the most expensive picture ever produced by Disney.

<i>Toy Story 3</i> 2010 Pixar film

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third installment in the Toy Story series and the sequel to Toy Story 2 (1999). It was directed by Lee Unkrich, the editor of the first two films and the co-director of Toy Story 2, produced by Darla K. Anderson, and written by Michael Arndt, while Unkrich wrote the story along with John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton, respectively, director and co-writer of the first two films. The film's ensemble voice cast includes Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris, Jeff Pidgeon, Jodi Benson, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, and R. Lee Ermey. In Toy Story 3, Andy Davis, now a teenager, is going to college. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the other toys are accidentally donated to Sunnyside Daycare, a daycare center, by Andy's mother, and the toys must decide where their loyalties lie.

<i>The Fox and the Hound</i> 1981 American animated film

The Fox and the Hound is a 1981 American animated buddy drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and loosely based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. It tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a red fox named Tod and a hound named Copper, as they struggle against their emerging instincts and the realization that they are meant to be adversaries.

<i>The Absent-Minded Professor</i> 1961 film by Robert Stevenson

The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on the 1943 short story "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor. The title character was based in part on Hubert Alyea, a professor emeritus of chemistry at Princeton University, who was known as "Dr. Boom" for his explosive demonstrations. The film stars Fred MacMurray as Professor Ned Brainard, alongside Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Leon Ames, Elliott Reid, and Edward Andrews. The plot follows Brainard as he invents a substance that defies gravity, which he later exploits through various means.

<i>Trenchcoat</i> (film) 1983 film by Michael Tuchner

Trenchcoat is a 1983 American action comedy film directed by Michael Tuchner and starring Margot Kidder and Robert Hays. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions during an era when they began releasing more adult-oriented films, including Condorman, Never Cry Wolf, and Tron.

<i>The Rocketeer</i> (film) 1991 film by Joe Johnston

The Rocketeer is a 1991 American superhero film from Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures. It was produced by Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon, and Lloyd Levin, directed by Joe Johnston, and stars Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino, and Tiny Ron Taylor. It is based on the character of the same name created by comic book artist and writer Dave Stevens.

<i>Tom Thumb</i> (film) 1958 film by George Pal

Tom Thumb is a 1958 British musical fantasy film produced and directed by George Pal, and released by MGM. The film, based on the fairy tale "Thumbling" by the Brothers Grimm, is about a tiny youth who manages to outwit two thieves determined to make a fortune from him.

<i>Lilo & Stitch</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise

Lilo & Stitch, also marketed as Disney Stitch or simply Stitch, is an American media franchise created by Disney that commenced in 2002 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. The combined critical and commercial success of the original film, which was a rarity for the company's feature animation studio during the studio's post-Renaissance downturn in the early 2000s, led to three direct-to-video and television sequel feature films, a short film, three animated television series, several video games, theme park attractions, comics, literature, and various merchandise.

<i>Toy Story</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise created by Pixar

Toy Story is an American media franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios and owned by The Walt Disney Company. It centers on toys that, unknown to humans, are secretly living, sentient creatures. It began in 1995 with the release of the animated feature film of the same name, which focuses on a diverse group of toys featuring a classic cowboy doll named Sheriff Woody and a modern spaceman action figure named Buzz Lightyear.

Tron is an American science fiction media franchise created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. It began with the eponymous 1982 film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The original film portrays Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a genius computer programmer and video game developer who becomes transported inside a digital virtual reality known as "The Grid", where he interacts with programs in his quest to escape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Royer</span> American comics artist and inker (born 1941)

Michael W. Royer is an American comics artist and inker, best known for his work with pencilers Russ Manning and Jack Kirby. In later life Royer became a freelance product designer and character artist for The Walt Disney Company.

<i>Toy Tinkers</i> 1949 Donald Duck cartoon

Toy Tinkers is an American animated short film produced in Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released to theaters on December 16, 1949 by RKO Radio Pictures. Set during Christmas time, the film shows Chip 'n' Dale trying to steal nuts from Donald Duck's home using toy weapons. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1950, but ultimately lost to Warner Bros'. For Scent-imental Reasons, a Pepé Le Pew Looney Tunes film directed by Chuck Jones.

<i>Small Fry</i> (film) 2011 Pixar short directed by Angus MacLane

Toy Story Toons: Small Fry is a 2011 American animated short film written and directed by Angus MacLane. It was shown in theaters with The Muppets on November 23, 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 'CONDORMAN', ESPIONAGE SPOOF, in The New York Times , published August 31, 1981; retrieved March 21, 2018
  2. ↑ Mort, Vivian. (November 7, 1965). "Crime on My Hands". Chicago Tribune. p. k13.
  3. ↑ ANTHONY BOUCHER. (November 28, 1965). "Criminals at Large". The New York Times. p. BR68.
  4. ↑ Hughes, Dorothy B. (December 18, 1966). "THE CRIME FILE: Sleepers in Bed of Books". Los Angeles Times. p. b35.
  5. ↑ EARL C. GOTTSCHALK (June 23, 1980). "Teen Formula Eludes Disney Movie-Makers". The Wall Street Journal. p. 25.
  6. ↑ The Examiner – Bond Not Stirred by Home-Built Supercar Archived February 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ VLOG: Going Through the Condorman Pressbook. YouTube. September 1, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Entertainment". Evening Standard . July 1, 1981. p. 31.
  9. ↑ Harmetz, Aljean (September 9, 1981). "HOLLYWOOD IS JOYOUS OVER ITS RECORD GROSSING SUMMER". The New York Times . Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ HARMETZ, ALJEAN (October 20, 1981). "Revised $1 Million Worth, Tries Again: '7/8 of a Good Picture' Release Is Regional". The New York Times . p. C9.
  11. ↑ "Disney Net Dropped 7% for Fourth Period, 10% for Fiscal 1981". The Wall Street Journal . November 6, 1981. p. 24.
  12. ↑ "Condorman (1981)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (August 14, 1981). "DISNEY'S 'CONDORMAN': IT DOESN'T FLY". Los Angeles Times. p. g12.
  14. ↑ Corry, John (August 31, 1981). "Movie Review: Condorman, Espionage Spoof". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  15. ↑ Nicholson, Max (October 9, 2012). "Disney Resurrecting Condorman?". IGN . Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ Campbell, Christopher (December 16, 2010). "Remake, Sequel or Leave Alone – What to Do With These 1980s Walt Disney Movies". IndieWire . Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  17. ↑ Condorman (1981) review. YouTube. September 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ "New WHV Plan, VHD Previews Lead CES Vie Developments" (PDF). Cashbox . Vol. 43, no. 33. January 9, 1982. p. 14.
  19. ↑ Digitally Obsessed DVD Review: Condorman (1981)
  20. ↑ Find-DVD – Condorman
  21. ↑ Disney DVD – Condorman Archived September 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ Soundtrack – Condorman
  23. ↑ Condorman: Joe Claro: 9780590721578. Amazon.com, Inc. January 1981. ISBN   9780590721578 . Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  24. ↑ Comics.org – Walt Disney's Condorman
  25. ↑ "Russ Heath". Lambiek Comiclopedia. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  26. ↑ Comics Alliance – Could Disney's Condorman Enter the Marvel Universe Care of Stephen Wacker? We Certainly Hope So Archived March 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ↑ "Disney Delivers New Disney Infinity Figures and Power Discs – Just In Time for the Holidays". www.businesswire.com. November 22, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  28. ↑ Radish, Christina (November 21, 2011). "Director Angus MacLane Talks New TOY STORY Short SMALL FRY Which Plays in Front of THE MUPPETS". Collider. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.