An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
The Moment: Richard Gere, in full Naval whites, marches into Debra Winger’s factory and literally sweeps her off her feet.
Only In The '80s: ...were men in uniform so fetishised by Hollywood. See also: Top Gun .
If It Was Made Today: They’d do it right there and then in the factory.
Fitzcarraldo (1982)
The Moment: Klaus Kinski brings opera to the Amazon...by carting a boat up the side of a forest.
Only In The '80s: ...would the filmmakers actually do this for real.
If It Was Made Today: It’d never happen. Not even Werner Herzog is that crazy these days.
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Moment: Bruised but not beaten, Ralph Macchio pulls out the tricky crane kick to win the tournament.
Only In The '80s: Would the guy yelling “Get him a bodybag, yeah!” become a cult icon.
If It Was Made Today: Mr Miyagi would be Chinese or something.
Scanners (1980)
The Moment: A boffin’s attempt to show the powers of Scanning go awry when telekinetic rogue Michael Ironside decides to blow his head open, just for kicks.
Only In The '80s: ...would this become one of the most rewound few seconds in VHS history that doesn’t involve breasts.
If It Was Made Today: It’d be done on computer,and it’d miss the visceral impact of shooting a fake head full of livers with a shotgun.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
The Moment: A class full of kids show solidarity with disgraced teacher Robin Williams by standing on their desks – “O Captain, My Captain!”
Only In The '80s: ...could a teacher teach his kids poetry without being accused of being a paedophile.
If It Was Made Today: The pupils would be wizards, and they’d hit the miserable headmaster with a Crucio charm.
The Terminator (1984)
The Moment: “I’ll be back,” promises Arnie – and proves it by driving through a police station wall and massacring the officers.
Only In The '80s: ...could the most seemingly banal line become an enduring catchphrase.
If It Was Made Today: There would be some appallingly weak, nonsensical pun embedded into the dialogue.
Field of Dreams (1989)
The Moment: Kevin Costner hears an imaginary voice and uses it to justifying turning valuable farmland into a baseball pitch.
Only In The '80s: ...could the movies provide politicians with such a vague, catch-all assurance of their promises.
If It Was Made Today: It’d be a full blown baseball stadium with a Starbucks franchise.
Say Anything... (1989)
The Moment: John Cusack stands on his car roof, boom box held aloft, to woo Ione Skye.
Only In The '80s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boombox
If It Was Made Today: He’d struggle, to be honest. An iPod just doesn’t have enough bass.
Flashdance (1983)
The Moment: Jennifer Beals dances her way out of her day job as a welder to What A Feeling .
Only In The '80s: ...were leotards fashionable.
If It Was Made Today: What are you talking about? Everybody’s remade this! Geri Haliwell, J. Lo, Robert Webb...
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
The Moment: The centrepiece of the Tap’s new show, a model of Stonehenge, is lowered on to the stage. Trouble is, somebody got their measurements wrong, and the stones are 18 inches tall, not 18 feet.
Only In The '80s: ...would a band get away with poodle perms like that.
If It Was Made Today: Too late - real-life rockers Anvil have trumped any spoof.
