Favourite flying film?
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Fab thread:
here's a few-
'Skyjacked' with Charlton Heston - lots of 707 footage!
'Bat 21' - Gene Hackman down in the jungle...
'Air Force One' yes a bit daft in places but who does it better than Harrison?
Also the MD11 crash in 'Castaway' is absolutely gut-wrenching!
here's a few-
'Skyjacked' with Charlton Heston - lots of 707 footage!
'Bat 21' - Gene Hackman down in the jungle...
'Air Force One' yes a bit daft in places but who does it better than Harrison?
Also the MD11 crash in 'Castaway' is absolutely gut-wrenching!
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Actuals,
You got the right film, but the wrong scenario. Kevin McCarthy was the General who arrived unannounced at the base and failed it on an ORI. Rock Hudson was the Colonel who was sent to Carmody AFB to clear up the mess.
Interestingly, the main screenwriter of Gathering of Eagles was the same person who wrote 12 O'Clock High.
You got the right film, but the wrong scenario. Kevin McCarthy was the General who arrived unannounced at the base and failed it on an ORI. Rock Hudson was the Colonel who was sent to Carmody AFB to clear up the mess.
Interestingly, the main screenwriter of Gathering of Eagles was the same person who wrote 12 O'Clock High.
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Lukeafb 1
Thanks very much...I wasn't completely sure and sadly I only managed to see part of that film on television when the BBC showed it one Saturday evening..umpteen years ago. (It would be great to watch it again as I thought it to be an all time great alongside Strategic Air Command.)
Having always admired Gregory Peck, it is good to hear that he was a 'good bloke' off-screen too, as your Dad suggested.
Cheers
Thanks very much...I wasn't completely sure and sadly I only managed to see part of that film on television when the BBC showed it one Saturday evening..umpteen years ago. (It would be great to watch it again as I thought it to be an all time great alongside Strategic Air Command.)
Having always admired Gregory Peck, it is good to hear that he was a 'good bloke' off-screen too, as your Dad suggested.
Cheers
Gregory Peck died peacefully in his sleep yesterday at the age of 87.
Perhaps the TV companies will show some of his classic movies in tribute?
Perhaps the TV companies will show some of his classic movies in tribute?
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Most of the obvious ones covered so a few obscure ones
The High and the Mighty Starring John Wayne not as good as the novel By Ernest K Gann that it's based on but worth a watch
Von Richtofen and Brown the acting is absolutely ghastly but the flying sequences mostly flown by guys from the Irish air force are truly wonderful
The High road to China. A Tom Sellick Indiana Jones clone but the Tiger Moth sequences are truly spiffing.
Fandango a road movie with Kevin Costner a bit pretentious but some sidesplitting moments. The Hashed out dopehead owner of the parachute school is the real star with some cracking flying as well.
The High and the Mighty Starring John Wayne not as good as the novel By Ernest K Gann that it's based on but worth a watch
Von Richtofen and Brown the acting is absolutely ghastly but the flying sequences mostly flown by guys from the Irish air force are truly wonderful
The High road to China. A Tom Sellick Indiana Jones clone but the Tiger Moth sequences are truly spiffing.
Fandango a road movie with Kevin Costner a bit pretentious but some sidesplitting moments. The Hashed out dopehead owner of the parachute school is the real star with some cracking flying as well.
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Obscure American TV series with flying time: "Tales of the (something) Monkey" Believe early '80's tropical island with dashing, broke hero with a Grumman Widgeon (or similar), dopey mechanic, hot girl, etc etc etc. Some good flying footage.
"12 O'clock High" great movie even if some of the in the air shots were overused footage and not of great quality they had the virtue of being real. Even got a neighbor to start talking one day of his experience as a gunner in B-24s 8th AF. Got shot up so bad crashed into the sea off Sweden and was interned for the duration. Not as bad as it could have been. By his account the pilot held the aircraft in some semblence of control while they all jumped and got the wounded guys out but lost control before he could ditch or jump.
"12 O'clock High" great movie even if some of the in the air shots were overused footage and not of great quality they had the virtue of being real. Even got a neighbor to start talking one day of his experience as a gunner in B-24s 8th AF. Got shot up so bad crashed into the sea off Sweden and was interned for the duration. Not as bad as it could have been. By his account the pilot held the aircraft in some semblence of control while they all jumped and got the wounded guys out but lost control before he could ditch or jump.
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Iron City,
The series was called "Tales of the Brass Monkey" at least it was in The USA. When broadcast over here it was changed to "Tales of the Golden Monkey" Brass Monkeys have, shall we say unfortunate connotations in dear old blighty.
I think the Aircraft was a Goose as it was named "Cutters Goose" after the hero "Jake Cutter" Mind you it was a while ago so it may well have been a Widgeon.
I'm surprised that no one's mentioned "Air America" yet or did I miss it.
The series was called "Tales of the Brass Monkey" at least it was in The USA. When broadcast over here it was changed to "Tales of the Golden Monkey" Brass Monkeys have, shall we say unfortunate connotations in dear old blighty.
I think the Aircraft was a Goose as it was named "Cutters Goose" after the hero "Jake Cutter" Mind you it was a while ago so it may well have been a Widgeon.
I'm surprised that no one's mentioned "Air America" yet or did I miss it.
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'The way to the stars' was an excellent film and a copy sits on Turkey's vidio shelf, along with Topgun, Battle of Britain, Dambusters, and Memphis Belle.
That Larry Hagman Film Flight into Danger, was a H500 but there was another film made around the same time staring David Jenson???? the original fugitive, and a H500 which includes a flight under a road bridge,supposed to be the longest chase film made[possably, just at the time]
I remember both the blue Max and the Red Baron films being made as the aircrafts could be seen, from my parents front door in south Dublin.
In Weston, as late as,at least, 1978, a lot of left-over junk from the films was still around.
Windy, thanks for promoting our poor seriously underfunded Air Corps to the status of an airforce.
Total trash films; iron
eagle,any of them,
Total trash tv, Blue thunder, or Super Carrier.
That Larry Hagman Film Flight into Danger, was a H500 but there was another film made around the same time staring David Jenson???? the original fugitive, and a H500 which includes a flight under a road bridge,supposed to be the longest chase film made[possably, just at the time]
I remember both the blue Max and the Red Baron films being made as the aircrafts could be seen, from my parents front door in south Dublin.
In Weston, as late as,at least, 1978, a lot of left-over junk from the films was still around.
Windy, thanks for promoting our poor seriously underfunded Air Corps to the status of an airforce.
Total trash films; iron
eagle,any of them,Total trash tv, Blue thunder, or Super Carrier.
Grandpa Aerotart
I found a good one today on DVD. 'First of the Few'. Stars David Niven as Supermarine Test Pilot Geoffrey Crisp- an amalgum of Quill/Summers and the various air race RAF Pilots of the 20s/30s. LOTS of great Spitfire footage filmed during the war. The film was released in 1942 and filmed partly on actual RAF stations using real active duty spitfire pilots. The actor who played the part of RJ Mitchel was shot down and killed on active service with the RAF the following year...after being wounded in WW1 as well. Some particularly good footage of Quill putting a spit through it's paces at low level...all B&W film obviously.
Also picked up a copy of Final Countdown, which I haven't seen for donkey's years.
Can't find a DVD of BoB but the search continues.
Chuck.
Also picked up a copy of Final Countdown, which I haven't seen for donkey's years.
Can't find a DVD of BoB but the search continues.
Chuck.
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Thank you WM. It was "Tales of the Gold Monkey" ,I think, in the States. And I believe you are right about it being a Goose.
Other movies..."Test Pilot" Clark Gable (in real life an 8th AF Bombadeer in B-17s I believe) and Spencer Tracey.
How about "Flying Tigers" and while I'm thinking John Wayne "Flying Leathernecks" .
Nobody mentioned "Air America" before. Maybe that is just as well. "Con Air" too.
Reminds one of "U.S. Marshalls" Tommy Lee Jones vehicle. Though not strictly an aviation film there is some helo work in at and a B-727 full of persons being moved by the U.S. Marshall Service that crashes spectacularly.
Other movies..."Test Pilot" Clark Gable (in real life an 8th AF Bombadeer in B-17s I believe) and Spencer Tracey.
How about "Flying Tigers" and while I'm thinking John Wayne "Flying Leathernecks" .
Nobody mentioned "Air America" before. Maybe that is just as well. "Con Air" too.
Reminds one of "U.S. Marshalls" Tommy Lee Jones vehicle. Though not strictly an aviation film there is some helo work in at and a B-727 full of persons being moved by the U.S. Marshall Service that crashes spectacularly.
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aving read most if not all of the coments on everyons favourite film, no one seems to have mentioned the film 'Midway' if I am not mistaken
I suspect that no-one mentioned Midway because it's such an awful, awful movie. The initial sequences of the Tokyo raid you point to are actually from "Thirty seconds over Tokyo", a 1940s-vintage flick that should be added to the list [of good aviation movies]. Most of the rest of the flying in "Midway" is a combination of stock newsreel and out-takes from "Tora Tora Tora" and "Battle of Britain". Remember that one-wheel B-17 landing in TTT? It's also in "Midway". And the newsreel footage was assembled so ham-fistedly it's almost hard to believe. In the same sequence, aircraft turn from SB2U Vindicators into TBF Avengers and then into F6F Hellcats. A carrier crash sequence begins as an SBD Dauntless, turns into an SB2C Helldiver, before actually crashing as an F9F Panther! And of course the colors on the airplanes go all the way from early war light blue with the red dots on the stars to the late-war overall dark blue with the white bar extensions to the star, not to mention the Korean-era colors on that Panther, briefly glimpsed before it bursts into flame.
The amazing thing is, there is actual newsreel footage of VT-8's TBD Devastators taking off from the Hornet that morning, filmed by none other than John Ford. THAT wasn't used.
And let's not even go into the silly love-interest sub-plot involving a Charlton Heston's F4F Wildcat pilot son and a Japanese woman.
Midway can only be considered a prime example of how NOT to make an aviation movie.
[edited for spelling]
I suspect that no-one mentioned Midway because it's such an awful, awful movie. The initial sequences of the Tokyo raid you point to are actually from "Thirty seconds over Tokyo", a 1940s-vintage flick that should be added to the list [of good aviation movies]. Most of the rest of the flying in "Midway" is a combination of stock newsreel and out-takes from "Tora Tora Tora" and "Battle of Britain". Remember that one-wheel B-17 landing in TTT? It's also in "Midway". And the newsreel footage was assembled so ham-fistedly it's almost hard to believe. In the same sequence, aircraft turn from SB2U Vindicators into TBF Avengers and then into F6F Hellcats. A carrier crash sequence begins as an SBD Dauntless, turns into an SB2C Helldiver, before actually crashing as an F9F Panther! And of course the colors on the airplanes go all the way from early war light blue with the red dots on the stars to the late-war overall dark blue with the white bar extensions to the star, not to mention the Korean-era colors on that Panther, briefly glimpsed before it bursts into flame.
The amazing thing is, there is actual newsreel footage of VT-8's TBD Devastators taking off from the Hornet that morning, filmed by none other than John Ford. THAT wasn't used.
And let's not even go into the silly love-interest sub-plot involving a Charlton Heston's F4F Wildcat pilot son and a Japanese woman.
Midway can only be considered a prime example of how NOT to make an aviation movie.
[edited for spelling]
Last edited by spagiola; 17th Jun 2003 at 03:44.
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Can't find a DVD of BoB but the search continues.
BoB just came out on DVD last month (at least, here in the USA, but I've also seen it at a Virgins Megastore in France). One of a raft of war movies that recently came out on DVD, possibly timed to coincide with the US's memorial day.
BoB just came out on DVD last month (at least, here in the USA, but I've also seen it at a Virgins Megastore in France). One of a raft of war movies that recently came out on DVD, possibly timed to coincide with the US's memorial day.
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Interesting series of posts. I noted one comment about the movie "Twelve O'Clock High" being filmed in England. The exterior shots were all done in southern Alabama at what was then an auxilliary field for Eglin AFB and what is now Fort Rucker; nothing was shot in the UK. The film utilized a dozen USAF B-17Gs, half of which were ex-drones used in the atomic bomb testing of 1946. The memorable B-17 belly landing flown by Paul Mantz (solo) is one of the early scenes.
There's a big difference to me between films with airplanes and aviation films, and many of the films mentioned in the posts have airplanes in them but really aren't aviation films. Then one has to separate the 'entertainment' factor from the 'aviation' factor, because they aren't the same. In my opinion, just because a Mosquito was burned during the filming of '633 Squadron' doesn't devalue the movie, though it remains a shame.
For me, I think the overall best aviation films have a sense that their creators at least understood the aviation perspective and maybe even enjoys airplanes, and that is communicated onscreen:
Best Aviation Film:
Waldo Pepper
Honorable Mention:
Twelve O'clock High
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Memphis Belle (original)
Command Decision
Best Years of Our Lives
Bridges over Toko Ri
Air Force (1943)
Dam Busters
Best "Entertaining Films with Airplanes in Them":
Flight of the Phoenix
Top Gun
Otherwise interesting aviation films, primarily for the airplanes used, not for the quality of the plot or acting:
Battle of Britain
Tora Tora Tora
Catch-22
War Lover
633 Squadron
Top Gun
Lady Takes a Flyer
Strategic Air Command
Memphis Belle (remake)
Best scenes in a non-aviation film that are tingling:
P-51s in 'Empire of the Sun"
P-51s in 'Hart's War'
Total bombs that are embarrassing if you know anything about it:
Pearl Harbor
Midway
Anything with 'Iron Eagle' in the title
Pushing Tin
There's a big difference to me between films with airplanes and aviation films, and many of the films mentioned in the posts have airplanes in them but really aren't aviation films. Then one has to separate the 'entertainment' factor from the 'aviation' factor, because they aren't the same. In my opinion, just because a Mosquito was burned during the filming of '633 Squadron' doesn't devalue the movie, though it remains a shame.
For me, I think the overall best aviation films have a sense that their creators at least understood the aviation perspective and maybe even enjoys airplanes, and that is communicated onscreen:
Best Aviation Film:
Waldo Pepper
Honorable Mention:
Twelve O'clock High
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
Memphis Belle (original)
Command Decision
Best Years of Our Lives
Bridges over Toko Ri
Air Force (1943)
Dam Busters
Best "Entertaining Films with Airplanes in Them":
Flight of the Phoenix
Top Gun
Otherwise interesting aviation films, primarily for the airplanes used, not for the quality of the plot or acting:
Battle of Britain
Tora Tora Tora
Catch-22
War Lover
633 Squadron
Top Gun
Lady Takes a Flyer
Strategic Air Command
Memphis Belle (remake)
Best scenes in a non-aviation film that are tingling:
P-51s in 'Empire of the Sun"
P-51s in 'Hart's War'
Total bombs that are embarrassing if you know anything about it:
Pearl Harbor
Midway
Anything with 'Iron Eagle' in the title
Pushing Tin
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Windy Militant
excellent choice The high Road to China. But the aircraft were Stampes not Tigers.
The Stampe has got to be the nicest aeroplane I`ve ever flown.
Recent issue of Pilot mag has a profile of Tony Bianchi who did some of the flying I believe.
He had a close call when he refused a lift in a helo which subsequently crashed killing one of the other pilots David Perrin.
excellent choice The high Road to China. But the aircraft were Stampes not Tigers.
The Stampe has got to be the nicest aeroplane I`ve ever flown.
Recent issue of Pilot mag has a profile of Tony Bianchi who did some of the flying I believe.
He had a close call when he refused a lift in a helo which subsequently crashed killing one of the other pilots David Perrin.
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Algernon,
I stand corrected, it was a long time ago that I saw it on video and now I come to think about it I haven't come across it being shown on TV in the intervening years.
Whilst I'm here "Rocketeer" has some jolly flying sequences and is a rather jolly way to spend a rainy afternoon even if it's not very deep or meaningful.
It's a shame they didn't do something similar with "Biggles the movie" which was a total disaster
I stand corrected, it was a long time ago that I saw it on video and now I come to think about it I haven't come across it being shown on TV in the intervening years.
Whilst I'm here "Rocketeer" has some jolly flying sequences and is a rather jolly way to spend a rainy afternoon even if it's not very deep or meaningful.
It's a shame they didn't do something similar with "Biggles the movie" which was a total disaster
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Aerovin,
Difficult to know where you got your information on the exterior locations for "12 O' Clock High". I can assure you that much of the exteriors were filmed at Chelveston, just north (or south) of Bedford, England in Bedfordshire. As I said in an earlier reply, my father was on the crew of the film for roughly 8 weeks. There is also a pub near to Chelveston (I don't know the name of it, but I have visited it), which still displays, or did, until a few years ago, a number of faded black and white photographs of actors (including one or two of Gregory Peck) frequenting the pub in flying garb.
I'm not saying that none of it was filmed in the States, but Chelveston was the main exterior location setting.
Chelveston has, like many other WWII airfields, now almost completely been built on.
Difficult to know where you got your information on the exterior locations for "12 O' Clock High". I can assure you that much of the exteriors were filmed at Chelveston, just north (or south) of Bedford, England in Bedfordshire. As I said in an earlier reply, my father was on the crew of the film for roughly 8 weeks. There is also a pub near to Chelveston (I don't know the name of it, but I have visited it), which still displays, or did, until a few years ago, a number of faded black and white photographs of actors (including one or two of Gregory Peck) frequenting the pub in flying garb.
I'm not saying that none of it was filmed in the States, but Chelveston was the main exterior location setting.
Chelveston has, like many other WWII airfields, now almost completely been built on.
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Chelveston is just north of Bedford, and is over the county boundary in Northamptonshire. The pub in the village is the "Star and Garter".
The film "12 O'clock High" is based on events which occured at nearby Thurleigh airfield, home of the 306th BG. The character played by Gregory Peck, Colonel Frank Savage, is based on Colonel Frank Armstrong, who commanded the 306th for a short period in early 1943.
The Bomb Group portrayed in the film was the 918th - 918 is three times 306. Coincidence?
The film "12 O'clock High" is based on events which occured at nearby Thurleigh airfield, home of the 306th BG. The character played by Gregory Peck, Colonel Frank Savage, is based on Colonel Frank Armstrong, who commanded the 306th for a short period in early 1943.
The Bomb Group portrayed in the film was the 918th - 918 is three times 306. Coincidence?
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Thanks for that Simtech.
I was beginning to think that I was halucinating!
Sad about Gregory Peck. I have a photograph of Peck and my father taken during the filming of "Twelve O'Clock High" in front of the tower, with Peck's signature and the dedication "To Art and Alice from Greg, with fondest wishes". Alice was my mother, who apparently met Peck at a get-together in a local hotel.
I was beginning to think that I was halucinating!
Sad about Gregory Peck. I have a photograph of Peck and my father taken during the filming of "Twelve O'Clock High" in front of the tower, with Peck's signature and the dedication "To Art and Alice from Greg, with fondest wishes". Alice was my mother, who apparently met Peck at a get-together in a local hotel.
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Some that seem to have escaped the net so far...
The Pilot (1979) starring Cliff Robertson. Accurate and believable story, nicely understated performances and used a real DC-8 for the flying. The low-level sequence over Monument Valley is stunning.
Captains of the Clouds (1942). WWII 'propaganda'-type film with a typical OTT James Cagney. Only the first half is watchable, but the planes ! Wacos, Bellancas, Fleets etc. bush flying in Canada.
Turns up occasionally on one of the insomniacs' channels
Fate is the Hunter (1964). No flying in it (all models), but I still watch where I put my coffee
I quite liked the 'Always' remake. That's a PBY in the opening sequence (Mars is much bigger with more whirly things) and contains probably the last water drop ever made by a C-119. Liked the music too, you can FF the 'love story' bits if you like, but actually it is primarily a love story (aka chick-flick), and I personally didn't find it that gooey.
wrt The High and The Mighty, I understand this is embargoed by John Wayne's estate so cannot be shown/rented/sold. Pity.
The Pilot (1979) starring Cliff Robertson. Accurate and believable story, nicely understated performances and used a real DC-8 for the flying. The low-level sequence over Monument Valley is stunning.
Captains of the Clouds (1942). WWII 'propaganda'-type film with a typical OTT James Cagney. Only the first half is watchable, but the planes ! Wacos, Bellancas, Fleets etc. bush flying in Canada.
Turns up occasionally on one of the insomniacs' channels
Fate is the Hunter (1964). No flying in it (all models), but I still watch where I put my coffee
I quite liked the 'Always' remake. That's a PBY in the opening sequence (Mars is much bigger with more whirly things) and contains probably the last water drop ever made by a C-119. Liked the music too, you can FF the 'love story' bits if you like, but actually it is primarily a love story (aka chick-flick), and I personally didn't find it that gooey.
wrt The High and The Mighty, I understand this is embargoed by John Wayne's estate so cannot be shown/rented/sold. Pity.