best aviation movie hands down - the bridges at toko ri.

brilliant flying sequences. got the aircraft right and it's got a nice plot - a tear jerker even.

and it's got grace kelly.

what more could a man want?

Never heard of it, bit upset, lost all interest in the military aviation thread when you mentioned Grace Kelly.

Now that were a pretty lady, that were. Seriously, movie any good?

The Bridges of Toko Ri? Great movie - (the bathhouse scene... Grace Kelly at her late 20s maybe early 30s comliest... starkers... and in public!!!, and for the ladies, Bill Holden likewise).

Oh, and terrific flying scenes.

An even better book - but no Grace Kelly.

The Bridges of Toko Ri
 

In the movie, wasn't Mickey Rooney the eccentric helicopter pilot who flew wearing a top hat? It must be 40-some years since I last saw this movie.

Yes, it was Rooney.

The Bridges at Toko-Ri
 

Excellent movie, but the Panthers are F9F-4s instead of F9F-2s (note the taller fin). However this does not detract.
The film, starring William Holden, Grace Kelly and Mickey Rooney, is available on DVD from the big South American river, £3.49 new.

Polecat

"but the Panthers are F9F-4s instead of F9F-2s (note the taller fin)"

Where do we get these men?:E

In the interests of pedantry, it's time to point out that in the book, James Michener wrote about McDonnell Banshees, not Grumman Panthers:8

Best and worst mil avi film?
 

great movie. very sad ending. and for the rivet-counters/pedants, it's about as accurate as you are going to get (yes, i know, the book had banshees. yes it uses F9F-4s instead of F9F-2s). i think the skyraider even makes an appearance at one point.

i found it on a torrent recently and downloaded. but most of the best bits are on youtube. can't see the grace kelly bathhouse scene there though :}

YouTube - "THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI" - Low Fuel Carrier Landing

''One to stir the heartstrings: the Chipmunk AEF film, staring Paul Young (before he got his record contract!) as John Andrews.
Those immortal lines:
"Jump jump John"!
"Jump jump Sir"!!!!

Why did he not get an Oscar???'''

Ha ha! Not the same Paul Young I'm afraid. The one in the film is an old mate of mine and used to to out with my sister! He got the part as Cadet John Andrews because his Dad was the boss of the AEF (Benson) and it's his Dad doing the flying. I'm still in touch with Paul and keep threatening to embarrass him by uploading the film to You Tube - I have a copy. But it's an SSVC film and they're pretty hot on copyright.



Best: Battle of Britain. (An epic in the true sense of the word - and fairly accurate)

Worst: Pearl Harbour. (Cheesy beyond belief).

Also good: Catch 22, Flight of the Intruder.

Just wastched that You-tube clip of the Bridges of Toko Ri - probably 30-odd years since I last saw it. Yikes!

....cue panto Dame voice:

"Oh yes you can!" Here 'tis:

YouTube - The Bridges at Toko-Ri - Happy Family (Grace Kelly)

Was there ever a more beautiful lady. Grace and Susannah York both gone, never to be replaced in my vote for world's top two beautiful ladies.

Richard O'Sullivan