Condorman
A 1981 Disney superhero comedy about a comic book illustrator.
Condorman is a 1981 American superhero comedy from Walt Disney Productions, directed by Charles Jarrott and starring Michael Crawford, Barbara Carrera, and Oliver Reed. The story centers on comic book artist Woodrow Wilkins, who gets drawn into helping a Soviet KGB agent defect.
Woody Wilkins is an eccentric illustrator who insists his superhero "Condorman" be realistic—so much so that he builds a flying suit and launches himself off the Eiffel Tower, only to crash into the Seine when a wing breaks. Later, his CIA file clerk friend Harry sends him to Istanbul for what seems like a simple civilian document exchange. There, he meets Natalia Rambova, a beautiful woman posing as the Soviet contact but actually a KGB spy. Woody introduces himself as the top American agent "Condorman," and after fending off assassins by luck, he completes the swap. Impressed and disgusted by her lover/boss Krokov, Natalia decides to defect, requesting that "Condorman" handle her extraction.
Back in Paris, Woody uses the encounter to create a new comic heroine, "Laser Lady." Harry and his boss Russ then ask Woody to escort a defector codenamed "The Bear." He refuses until learning "The Bear" is Natalia, then agrees on the condition the CIA supplies gadgets based on his designs. Unfortunately, Woody publishes the extraction plan in his comic, allowing Krokov to track him. Woody meets Natalia in Yugoslavia, fending off Krokov’s henchmen, including the glass-eyed assassin Morovich. After traveling through Italy and Switzerland, Natalia discovers Woody’s true identity when children recognize her from his comics. Morovich incapacitates Woody and Harry, and Krokov recaptures Natalia. Ordered to return to Paris, Woody instead asks Harry for two more days to rescue her.
Disguised as Arab sheikhs, Woody and Harry win big at a Monte Carlo casino, earning an invitation to Krokov’s villa. There, they create an explosive diversion, and Woody uses an improved Condorman suit to fly Natalia to a pier. The trio escapes in the "Condorboat," destroying Krokov’s speedboats. Morovich pursues in his own boat, ignoring Krokov’s orders to stop, but the Condorboat is lifted by a CIA helicopter just in time, causing Morovich to crash. Days later, Woody, Natalia, and Harry watch a Goodyear Blimp welcome Natalia to the U.S. at Dodger Stadium. Russ contacts Harry, asking if Woody wants to take Condorman on
- Release year
- 1981
- Director
- Charles Jarrott
- Production company
- Walt Disney Productions
- Lead actor
- Michael Crawford
- Genre
- Superhero comedy
- Budget
- Approximately $14 million
- Box office loss
- Reportedly $9.5 million
Lore & Background
The film was inspired by The Game of X by Robert Sheckley, a novel published in 1965. Filming took place in Paris, Monte Carlo, and Zermatt, Switzerland. Stunt coordinator Rémy Julienne, known for The Italian Job and several James Bond films, handled the car chases. Special effects were directed by Colin Chilvers, who previously worked on the first two Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, and were filmed at Pinewood Studios.
Reader's Guide
Condorman has gained a cult following among Disney fans despite being heavily panned by critics upon its 1981 release. It holds a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews. Critics such as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert noted low production standards, including visible harness cables. However, John Corry of The New York Times wrote a favorable review, calling it 'painless and chaste.' The film's disappointing financial returns contributed to Disney's poor financial performance in 1981.
Did You Know?
- The Condormobile was a modified Nova Sterling kit car.
- The film's complete musical score composed by Henry Mancini was released on CD by Intrada Records on November 13, 2012.
- A comic book adaptation of Condorman was published by Whitman Comics, with a notable change making the CIA boss Russ an African-American.
- Rémy Julienne, the stunt coordinator, stated 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.'
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