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Expert: Barbara L. Baker - 9/5/2008


Question
I am trying to find the name of a movie, probably filmed in the 1970s or 80's.  I think it is about a man who wanted to be a superhero.  There are two scenes I can remember.  In one he jumps off the eiffel tower in a birdsuit.  In the other he is driving a truck thats being chased, and to escape he lowers the drivers seat into a hidden sportscar inside the truck, and drives out through the front of the truck.

Thanks,
Stuart

Answer
Stuart, this is the 1981 film "Condorman."  It is about a cartoonist, living in Paris, who decides that his superhero should not do anything he can't do, leading him to jump off the Eiffel Tower in his Condorman suit and fall into the river Seine.  He then gets embroiled with Russian spies and various gadgets.  There are some chases, including one with a truck jet-car and a boat.  It was produced by Disney and originally was shown on British television before a more general release.  It is available on DVD.

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Barbara L. Baker

Expertise

I am a professor of communication at a midwest university, who has expertise on subjects related to film. I can answer general questions on U.S. film comedy (especially satires of the 1960s and 1970s) and comic theory. I also could answer questions related to specific comic genres, such as comedian comedies, screwball comedies, "stupid" comedies, and so forth. The more specific you can make your question, the better (e.g. main plot details, main characters, possible character names, possible actors, how you viewed the show, etc.). I also need to have a release date (or range of dates, or at least the year you viewed the film). Plesase do not just provide a set of links to someplace else (e.g. imdb discussion threads). I am less able to answer questions about comedies from other countries, made-for-TV movies, and recent comic films and actors (although I would do my best to find out). I cannot answer questions about specific TV shows or series, "Our Gang" episodes, anime/magna or about film collectables. I generally cannot provide movie recommendations, since what I find funny others may not. Nor will I answer obvious homework (although I will point you to resources to help answer the question, if asked). I also can't help you find movie stars, or where to buy movie memorabilia, or tell you how to break into the business.

Experience

Course work in comedy films along with teaching about comedy films for several years; I've also conducted research into comedy films.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Communication, emphasis in film and rhetoric

Awards and Honors
A dissertation award from a national organization plus various paper awards

Past/Present Clients
My students

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