MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 🤩

Mission impossible

My theatre arts teaching career spanned over 35 years. Most of you know this.  During those years, l made sure to model and share certain, specific problem-solving techniques to help my students get through any disastrous fiasco

. Of course, it was always their choice to accept the challenge or not. Some decisions and solutions were awesome, and others would make me want to pull my hair out at the roots, while shouting, “What the hell were we thinking ?”  I can honestly say we all learned a ton. 

I remember a stunning correction to a set that turned out totally wrong with only two days left until opening night. We had to accept the challenge and work round the clock to reinvent, remake, and repaint. Of course it turned out perfectly and no one in the audience knew what it took to pull it all off. Another time, I had to come up with a solution to kids being kids and tagging the hall walls, make-up areas, and classroom. I offered my top students another challenge to take ownership of the auditorium by designing and painting each wall in these backstage zones. They could create murals, or unique designs, but they had to take it all seriously. I would supply any color paint they desired, but I requested each of my four walls in my classroom to be different varying shades of purple. I also had the final say, and if acceptable, whoever chose to complete this project, they could sign their name anywhere on their newly created wall. I had about a dozen who worked hard and completed this mission. My administration was really surprised when it was unveiled, but they loved the fact that I paid for the supplies out of my own budget. My theatre department never had a graffiti problem again. 

When Glenda got stuck in the air and could not make her entrance in THE WIZARD OF OZ, or someone randomly forgot their lines, or a bush had to be substituted for a tree in BYE BYE BIRDIE seconds before the curtain opened, my students learned how to handle what some would say were impossible tasks. In a heartbeat, the show could either self-destruct or choose to find another acceptable path to whatever was presented. It was important to learn to think outside the box, be flexible, and stay in the moment. There never was time to moan and groan. Solutions had to be quickly and efficiently put into play.  Then, simply move on.

 My students and myself became more and more creative as the years passed. We loved taking on the impossible and making it look easy. We were innovative while we discovered and explored the unexpected. We maneuvered through the necessary steps to achieve glory. We just didn’t have a tape recorder delivered or tucked in a corner declaring it would self-destruct while strong background, staccato musical beats were blasted. These were moments that changed lives whether you were a member of the audience or behind the scenes. Whenever something went haywire and wrong, I know we could all hear that famous opening music and then the countdown would begin for our next MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE was the first of a massive franchise that would span over 25 years and introduce five more chapters to the Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) story. Though it didn’t bring home the gold, it was a humongous box office hit. The first MI grossed over $450 million worldwide, and cost only $80 million to bring to the screen. Cruise (TOP GUN, JERRY MAGUIRE) wanted to make this film because even as a young boy, he dreamed of working with cool gadgets. He thought every kid would feel the same way. The director, Brian De Palma, (CARRIE, SCARFACE, THE UNTOUCHABLES) signed on because he needed the Hollywood boost of creating a financially successful movie. Both got what they wanted. Cruise even opted for deferring his $20 million salary for taking movie points instead based on the gross profit. It was a clever decision since Cruise made a cool $70 million. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE was completed on time and under budget. Some attribute this to the fact that Cruise did all of his own  stuntwork. A tradition he continued on each of the future five MI sequels. 

De Palma created a new imaginative wave to the directing filmmaking scene. He enjoyed mixing violence during the first half and then switching it up with Alfred Hitchcock’s style of story telling. It was unique and a fresh approach to standard action, thriller movies. This became his signature style and audiences grew to know what to expect when watching a De Palma flick. MI was the only one of all the franchise films that did not have any any gun shoot-outs. Again the use of fascinating gadgets made all the difference. The trick of mask wearing got its start in this script. It was the only mask that used the real thing. No CGI. De Palma did push for at least half of the film to be on location in Prague. He thought it was a stunning city that needed to be utilized and brought to the screen for audiences.  Prague was never the same after the MI film crew left. It was a huge boost to their economy. 

Cruise is a perfectionist. He would work tirelessly to make sure each shot was exciting and believable. Cruise also took on a producer’s hat as well. He was one of the first to accomplish this duo role. Originally, the cast of the tv series of MI was supposed to make an appearance. They all bowed out with the exception of Jim Phelps. Many critics would say he was under utilized. Cruise did not always get along with every crew member. He wanted to be a part of much of the behind-the-scenes situations. This often would cause some friction, but for Cruise it was always about the vision and the final cut. The computer disc magic was real, sleight of hand magic. The incredible train scene took six weeks to film before all parties were satisfied with the results. These bits thrilled audiences and made this movie memorable. With each new installment, fans learned to anticipate heart-pounding action. It was fast, furious, and truly mesmerizing. 

The supporting ensemble was phenomenal. Who would have expected Ving Rhames  as the tech geek, Luther? Casting Vanessa Redgrave in a role that was meant to be a man was a chuptzah choice. Jon Voight kept fans guessing and Emmanuelle Beart as Claire made viewers dream  we could all wrap our arms around Hunt’s body too. Henry Czrerny. Jean Reno, and Kristin Scott Thomas were sheer perfection.  This group would carry their characters through the decades and continually keep us on our toes. 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE made audiences believe. It provided the space for everyone to dream and never quit no matter what, even when a person finds themselves dangling from a ceiling with a single droplet of sweat clinging to their nose. MI strangely shared a moral compass of who is good or evil and what can happen when we find ourselves deep in the shadows and can’t see clearly. MI does not fail to entertain or lose our attention through every second of rapid escapism at its finest. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE is an exceptional, double-crossing, fun classic that never gets old. I fell in love with it in 1996. I have accepted every wild escapade and insanely difficult mission since. The film made me be a better thinker. I hope my students felt the same. Together we did become invincible. Okay…Cue the music. Tap that tape recorder button. Anything is possible. 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE  available on Amazon Prime.