Favourite flying film?
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5 Best:
633 Squadron
The Dam Busters
Airport (The Original)
Airplane
The Great Waldo Pepper
5 Worst:
Airport '77
Airport '79: The Concorde
Any Iron Eagle movie
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Pearl Harbor
633 Squadron
The Dam Busters
Airport (The Original)
Airplane
The Great Waldo Pepper
5 Worst:
Airport '77
Airport '79: The Concorde
Any Iron Eagle movie
Mayday at 40,000 Feet
Pearl Harbor
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Twelve O'Clock High
LukeAFB1,
Sorry, but I would have to question your information.
I have two authoritative sources that document the the filming of "Twelve O'Clock High." Aviation film author James H. Farmer did much research of the filming and did a number of articles on the making of the movie, and included a detailed account in his book "Celluloid Wings." He interviewed a number of participants including, as I recall, Henry King, the film's director.
Also, Bruce Oriss did a book "When Hollywood Ruled the Skies" that has an extensively illustrated chapter about the filming and it also includes excerpts of an interview with the director.
Both sources are quite explicit in stating that the movie's landing and takeoff shots were filmed at the closed Ozark Field in southern Alabama, including the famous Paul Mantz belly landing. The USAF lent the filmakers about a dozen B-17Gs, many assigned to a drone squadron at nearby Eglin AFB. (Ozark Field was later reopened as the Army Fort Rucker.)
I have the USAF record card for the B-17G used for the Mantz crash landing and it indicates it was assigned to a drone squadron at Eglin when the airplane was written off.
The exterior sets for the 918th BG operations area were constructed by the stuido at Eglin AFB. All exterior filming commenced on April 17, 1949, and concluded six weeks later. At that time, cast and crew moved to Hollywood for the interior shots to be completed.
The film was released on January 26,1950.
There are a number of web sources, including a State of Alabama website documenting films made in the state, that confirm the above.
In thirty years of researching B-17 material I've never come across any suggestion that any of "Twelve O'Clock High" was filmed in England, at least until now.
Sorry, but I would have to question your information.
I have two authoritative sources that document the the filming of "Twelve O'Clock High." Aviation film author James H. Farmer did much research of the filming and did a number of articles on the making of the movie, and included a detailed account in his book "Celluloid Wings." He interviewed a number of participants including, as I recall, Henry King, the film's director.
Also, Bruce Oriss did a book "When Hollywood Ruled the Skies" that has an extensively illustrated chapter about the filming and it also includes excerpts of an interview with the director.
Both sources are quite explicit in stating that the movie's landing and takeoff shots were filmed at the closed Ozark Field in southern Alabama, including the famous Paul Mantz belly landing. The USAF lent the filmakers about a dozen B-17Gs, many assigned to a drone squadron at nearby Eglin AFB. (Ozark Field was later reopened as the Army Fort Rucker.)
I have the USAF record card for the B-17G used for the Mantz crash landing and it indicates it was assigned to a drone squadron at Eglin when the airplane was written off.
The exterior sets for the 918th BG operations area were constructed by the stuido at Eglin AFB. All exterior filming commenced on April 17, 1949, and concluded six weeks later. At that time, cast and crew moved to Hollywood for the interior shots to be completed.
The film was released on January 26,1950.
There are a number of web sources, including a State of Alabama website documenting films made in the state, that confirm the above.
In thirty years of researching B-17 material I've never come across any suggestion that any of "Twelve O'Clock High" was filmed in England, at least until now.
Paxing All Over The World
Only just catching up with the thread. Any film I like is certainly in there ...
BEagle: "Oh - and don't forget Susannah York wearing an RAF shirt and not much else in the hotel with Christopher Plummer..."
When BoB was released in 1969, I was 15, I shall never forget that scene.
You were looking for: Out of the Clouds?
There are two films of that name, 1921 and 1955. The later one has this plot outline: A busy day at London Airport. Follow the lives and loves of the crew and passengers.
Amongst the cast:
Anthony Steel
Robert Beatty
Margo Lorenz
James Robertson Justice
Bernard Lee [M] as a customs officer
Sid James as a gambler!!
"The Whirlybirds"? Sure thing!!!! Loved them - but do not remember Rip-cord.
Gog, with regards to Memphis Belle, you comment, "I've never understood why." My father loved that film and said because that is how it was. He, too, would like there to have been a British 'bomber' film but was pleased that the film was made because it told the story. I guess that those of us that were not there, can never understand.
Film detail was taken from the Internet Movie Data Base at IMDB
Incidentally, the film The Blue Max has been mentioned several times and my father loved the film because it was how his father told him it was like in the RFC. It seemed to capture the way it was on both sides. One of the writers on the screen adapatation was Jack Seddon, who also co-wrote The Longest Day.
Seddon was a bomb aimer in WWII in heavies, although I do not know which particular machine. So this man had the distinction of being a writer on two of the most acclaimed war films. In October 2001, I had the priviledge of taking his funeral.
BEagle: "Oh - and don't forget Susannah York wearing an RAF shirt and not much else in the hotel with Christopher Plummer..."
When BoB was released in 1969, I was 15, I shall never forget that scene.
You were looking for: Out of the Clouds?
There are two films of that name, 1921 and 1955. The later one has this plot outline: A busy day at London Airport. Follow the lives and loves of the crew and passengers.
Amongst the cast:
Anthony Steel
Robert Beatty
Margo Lorenz
James Robertson Justice
Bernard Lee [M] as a customs officer
Sid James as a gambler!!
"The Whirlybirds"? Sure thing!!!! Loved them - but do not remember Rip-cord.
Gog, with regards to Memphis Belle, you comment, "I've never understood why." My father loved that film and said because that is how it was. He, too, would like there to have been a British 'bomber' film but was pleased that the film was made because it told the story. I guess that those of us that were not there, can never understand.
Film detail was taken from the Internet Movie Data Base at IMDB
Incidentally, the film The Blue Max has been mentioned several times and my father loved the film because it was how his father told him it was like in the RFC. It seemed to capture the way it was on both sides. One of the writers on the screen adapatation was Jack Seddon, who also co-wrote The Longest Day.
Seddon was a bomb aimer in WWII in heavies, although I do not know which particular machine. So this man had the distinction of being a writer on two of the most acclaimed war films. In October 2001, I had the priviledge of taking his funeral.
PAXboy - thanks to a PPRune chum, I now have a copy of 'Out of the Clouds'. The Ealing version with Bob Beatty and James Robertson Justice et al. I once met Bob Beatty in Menorca - a very pleasant bloke.
Susannah - now that was a scene! I was a guest at the premiere of BoB in 1969 in Nottingham having had an all-male existence at Cranwell for a year as a Flight Cadet. When Susannah appeared in the hotel scene in perfect cinematic quality, it had a lasting effect on a lustful 18 year old!
Susannah - now that was a scene! I was a guest at the premiere of BoB in 1969 in Nottingham having had an all-male existence at Cranwell for a year as a Flight Cadet. When Susannah appeared in the hotel scene in perfect cinematic quality, it had a lasting effect on a lustful 18 year old!
My favourites, in no particular order:
Battle of Britain
Tora Tora Tora
Dark Blue World
Dr Strangelove
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
I seem to recall enjoying Empire of the Sun and The Great Waldo Pepper, but strangely don't recall much about them.
Dr Strangelove is one of my all-time favourite films. Peter Sellers was nothing less than a genius.
Battle of Britain
Tora Tora Tora
Dark Blue World
Dr Strangelove
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
I seem to recall enjoying Empire of the Sun and The Great Waldo Pepper, but strangely don't recall much about them.
Dr Strangelove is one of my all-time favourite films. Peter Sellers was nothing less than a genius.
Anybody remember a film called "The Net"? I seem to remember that it was a pretty second rate story but was built around the Handley Page Victor with some fairly good flying sequences including an early morning shot of the aircraft flying low over a dockyard and blowing the cap off one of the workers. Black and white film, mid fifties. I think it turned up on TV a few months ago during the early afternoon slot but I missed it. Maybe that was a good thing!
For my money Strategic Air Command was one of the best. Living in North London in the early fifties I often watched the B-36s flying overhead leaving eight contrails so it was nice to see them close up! I also liked Those Magnificent Men (Tony Hancock flying backwards towards Scotland, the duel over the sewage farm and the final beat up by a flight of Lightnings), and also the opening title sequences of Top Gun with the main theme playing over the flight deck launch activities. As soon as the subtitle "Indian Ocean - today" comes up, I switch off!
For my money Strategic Air Command was one of the best. Living in North London in the early fifties I often watched the B-36s flying overhead leaving eight contrails so it was nice to see them close up! I also liked Those Magnificent Men (Tony Hancock flying backwards towards Scotland, the duel over the sewage farm and the final beat up by a flight of Lightnings), and also the opening title sequences of Top Gun with the main theme playing over the flight deck launch activities. As soon as the subtitle "Indian Ocean - today" comes up, I switch off!
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I've read that BoB has been re-released with the Walton music throughout.
Does anyone know how/when/where you could get to see it?
Surely 'Spirit of St Louis' has to be on this list, with a real pilot (James Stewart) doing the acting? Reputedly Stewart put up a chart of Linburgh's progress in his father's grocers shop window at the time of the flight.
Does anyone know how/when/where you could get to see it?
Surely 'Spirit of St Louis' has to be on this list, with a real pilot (James Stewart) doing the acting? Reputedly Stewart put up a chart of Linburgh's progress in his father's grocers shop window at the time of the flight.
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Been some interesting picks so far but one that I believe has not been mentioned is "The Arrow". An excellent bit of aviation history. This is a CBC docudrama made about 4-5 years ago starring Dan Akroyd and some other well know Canadian actors. Runs about 23/4 hours. Takes place in the late 50's when Canada was doing some amazing cutting edge aircraft production. The story of the CF105 Avro Arrow. Canadians are enraged to this day about the cancellation of that production run by the Diefenbaker government. Many of the engineers from that whole era in the Canadian aviation industry went on to find jobs in places like NASA and were instrumental in putting the USA on the moon. Anyway, if you can get hold of a copy it's a good film with some great flying shots and windtunnel testing etc.
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Lancasters Bombing Germany
One that hasn't been mentioned is a 2 part film called "Bombers" (made 1944)which I taped off the box years ago (never seen it again on the box that is)
The first 1/2 hr is according to the narration the only colour film ever made of an actual bombing raid over I think Hamburg from start to finish by Lancasters. The T/O sequence featuring the 4 Merlins at full throttle is something else. Pilot from memory was a spritely 19 yr old.
2 nd part is the Original Memphis Belle filmed by Selkik or someone who became a Hollywood director. In both these films over Germany the film sequences of Me109's, Lancs & B17's are all real even the ones going down, gripping stuff.
Best films for me: Strategic Air Command
633 Squadron
and the above oooh those Merlins!
The first 1/2 hr is according to the narration the only colour film ever made of an actual bombing raid over I think Hamburg from start to finish by Lancasters. The T/O sequence featuring the 4 Merlins at full throttle is something else. Pilot from memory was a spritely 19 yr old.
2 nd part is the Original Memphis Belle filmed by Selkik or someone who became a Hollywood director. In both these films over Germany the film sequences of Me109's, Lancs & B17's are all real even the ones going down, gripping stuff.
Best films for me: Strategic Air Command
633 Squadron
and the above oooh those Merlins!
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Anybody know the name of the US film about a the squadron of test pilots flying the X-15. Caught the back end of it in Seattle last week? One of the actors was a very young Charles Bronson.
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Favorite flying film
All the films mentioned so far are great, but there's one more that's not been mentioned. It's a romanticized portrayal of the joy of flying starring Spencer Tracy called "A guy named Joe"
That film was redone in a peacetime version where the bomber pilots were turned into airborne firefighters. That film (not as good, IMHO, was called "Always"
That film was redone in a peacetime version where the bomber pilots were turned into airborne firefighters. That film (not as good, IMHO, was called "Always"
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Mercy Mission movie...
...for anyone who's interested (Aussies & Kiwis anyway), Mercy Mission: Rescue of Flight 771 will be screening on Foxtel/Austar's channel "Arena" this Friday - not exactly sure of the time but likely to be 8.30pm EST. It's the one with Scott Bakula, about the guy who gets lost and the Air NZ crew helps him home.
SkySista
SkySista
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Found this thread a bit late but for what it's worth here are my faves in no particular order;
Dambusters
Battle of Britain
633 Squadron
Reach for the Sky
First of the Few
One of our Aircraft is Missing
Mosquito Squadron
Sound Barrier
Angels one-Five
Good films but 'lesser' favourites;
Those Magnificent Men...
The Blue Max
Dawn Patrol
Memphis Belle
SAC
12 O'Clock High
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Ones I avoid;
Top Gun (all that gung-ho, yee-ha crap really gets on my nerves)
Dambusters
Battle of Britain
633 Squadron
Reach for the Sky
First of the Few
One of our Aircraft is Missing
Mosquito Squadron
Sound Barrier
Angels one-Five
Good films but 'lesser' favourites;
Those Magnificent Men...
The Blue Max
Dawn Patrol
Memphis Belle
SAC
12 O'Clock High
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Ones I avoid;
Top Gun (all that gung-ho, yee-ha crap really gets on my nerves)
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Does anyone remember "Airline" , must be 20 years ago now. Seem to remember "Ruskin Air Services", some superb DC3 footage.
Whilst completley unrelated saw a couple of good quotes the other day (just ignore if have seen)
"The only time an aeroplane has to much fuel is when it is on fire"
"Always try and fly the aeroplane as far into the crash as possible"
Bob Hoover
Whilst completley unrelated saw a couple of good quotes the other day (just ignore if have seen)
"The only time an aeroplane has to much fuel is when it is on fire"
"Always try and fly the aeroplane as far into the crash as possible"
Bob Hoover
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Have people heard that "The Right Stuff" has now been re-issued on DVD? It's a 2 disc set, with the film on one disc (and you don't have to flip over this one half way throgh!) and a shedload of extras on the other.
Sadly there's no commentary track on the film itself, just a handful of snippets on the extras disc, but there are hours of extra stuff..
And of course it's a damn good movie everyone should have in their collection...!
Sadly there's no commentary track on the film itself, just a handful of snippets on the extras disc, but there are hours of extra stuff..
And of course it's a damn good movie everyone should have in their collection...!
Aileron Roll:
Airline was produced by Yorkshire Television and starred Roy Marsden as Jack Ruskin, but the real star was G-DAKS (TS423), painted up as G-AGHY ('Vera Lynn')
http://www.paulnann.com/images/pn_w2272.jpg
This particular Dakota was used by Ferranti to flight test a wide range of equipment in the 50s and 60s (including the Lightning and TSR-2 radars).
Airline was produced by Yorkshire Television and starred Roy Marsden as Jack Ruskin, but the real star was G-DAKS (TS423), painted up as G-AGHY ('Vera Lynn')
http://www.paulnann.com/images/pn_w2272.jpg
This particular Dakota was used by Ferranti to flight test a wide range of equipment in the 50s and 60s (including the Lightning and TSR-2 radars).