The High and the Mighty
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Next to Bay 8
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't know if any of you caught it, but about a year ago there was a show called 'Fighter Pilot' (or words to that effect) at IMax. Whilst the story wasn't particularly moving, the aerial photography was stellar... and seeing it on such a huge screen made the experience come to life, so to speak. I'd encourage anyone who has the chance here or overseas to catch it if you can.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tora! Tora! Tora! - the 1970 movie about the attack on Pearl Harbour has some excellent scenes. From Wikipedia:
"The "Japanese" aircraft carrier was the Anti-Submarine carrier USS Yorktown (CVS-10). The Japanese A6M Zero fighters, and somewhat longer "Kate" torpedo bombers or "Val" dive bombers were heavily modified RCAF Harvard (T-6 Texan) and BT-13 Valiant pilot training aircraft. These aircraft still make appearances at air shows.
The footage of a B-17 Flying Fortress crash was of an actual aircraft that was used in the movie which had problems with a landing gear. Other U.S. aircraft used are the PBY Catalina and P-40 Warhawk. Fiberglass molds were made of a real P-40 used in the filming. The resulting replicas, some with working engines and props, were strafed and blown up during filming.
The flying scenes were complex to shoot, and can be compared to the 1969 film Battle of Britain. The 2001 film Pearl Harbor would contain scenes from both battles.
The carrier entering Pearl Harbor towards the end of the film was in fact the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH-10), returning to port. A sailor onboard the Tripoli recounted that he saw the smoke and fire in the harbor, and the crew did not realize what was going on at first."
Midway a 1976 film about the Battle of Midway was also good.
From Wikipedia:
"The film was shot at the Terminal Island Naval Base, Los Angeles, California, the U.S. Naval Station, Long Beach, California and Pensacola, Florida. The on-board scenes were filmed on the USS Lexington. The Lexington, decommissioned in 1991, was the longest serving carrier in history. It is now a museum ship at Corpus Christi, Texas.
Many of the action sequences used footage from earlier films: most sequences of the Japanese air raids on Midway are stock shots from 20th Century Fox's Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). Some scenes are from the Japanese Toho movie "Hawai Middouei daikaikusen: Taiheiyo no arashi" (1960). Several action scenes, including the one where an A6M Zero slams into the Yorktown's bridge, were taken from Away All Boats (1956); scenes of Dolittle's Tokyo raid at the beginning of the film are from Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944). In addition, most dogfight sequences come from 1942 newsreels."
The Hunters - a 1958 film about the Korean War jet combat has some fantastic footage of F-86 Sabres and F-84F Thunderstreaks (painted to represent MiG-15s)
The Bridges of Toko-Ri - another great film about US Navy jets in the Korean War was filmed aboard the USS Oriskany (recently sunk as an artificial reef off Florida). It features F9F Panthers, and some great carrier footage.
There are so many other great films...it might help you is you have a look through this list of links to aviation films on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Aviation_films
Regards,
David
"The "Japanese" aircraft carrier was the Anti-Submarine carrier USS Yorktown (CVS-10). The Japanese A6M Zero fighters, and somewhat longer "Kate" torpedo bombers or "Val" dive bombers were heavily modified RCAF Harvard (T-6 Texan) and BT-13 Valiant pilot training aircraft. These aircraft still make appearances at air shows.
The footage of a B-17 Flying Fortress crash was of an actual aircraft that was used in the movie which had problems with a landing gear. Other U.S. aircraft used are the PBY Catalina and P-40 Warhawk. Fiberglass molds were made of a real P-40 used in the filming. The resulting replicas, some with working engines and props, were strafed and blown up during filming.
The flying scenes were complex to shoot, and can be compared to the 1969 film Battle of Britain. The 2001 film Pearl Harbor would contain scenes from both battles.
The carrier entering Pearl Harbor towards the end of the film was in fact the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH-10), returning to port. A sailor onboard the Tripoli recounted that he saw the smoke and fire in the harbor, and the crew did not realize what was going on at first."
Midway a 1976 film about the Battle of Midway was also good.
From Wikipedia:
"The film was shot at the Terminal Island Naval Base, Los Angeles, California, the U.S. Naval Station, Long Beach, California and Pensacola, Florida. The on-board scenes were filmed on the USS Lexington. The Lexington, decommissioned in 1991, was the longest serving carrier in history. It is now a museum ship at Corpus Christi, Texas.
Many of the action sequences used footage from earlier films: most sequences of the Japanese air raids on Midway are stock shots from 20th Century Fox's Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970). Some scenes are from the Japanese Toho movie "Hawai Middouei daikaikusen: Taiheiyo no arashi" (1960). Several action scenes, including the one where an A6M Zero slams into the Yorktown's bridge, were taken from Away All Boats (1956); scenes of Dolittle's Tokyo raid at the beginning of the film are from Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944). In addition, most dogfight sequences come from 1942 newsreels."
The Hunters - a 1958 film about the Korean War jet combat has some fantastic footage of F-86 Sabres and F-84F Thunderstreaks (painted to represent MiG-15s)
The Bridges of Toko-Ri - another great film about US Navy jets in the Korean War was filmed aboard the USS Oriskany (recently sunk as an artificial reef off Florida). It features F9F Panthers, and some great carrier footage.
There are so many other great films...it might help you is you have a look through this list of links to aviation films on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Aviation_films
Regards,
David
Flying High. What more needs to be said?
Saw a midday movie the other day about some american businessman (can't remember his name, but I'd heard it before) who crashed a B200 into the side of a mountain with most of the family on board. Based on true story. The film is substantially less believable. **** me off after 3 ad breaks, watched the cricket instead!
Saw a midday movie the other day about some american businessman (can't remember his name, but I'd heard it before) who crashed a B200 into the side of a mountain with most of the family on board. Based on true story. The film is substantially less believable. **** me off after 3 ad breaks, watched the cricket instead!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: At Home
Age: 44
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flying High!
Finally... i thought no-one was going to mention this movie.
One of my favourites of all time.
"i picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue", and
"Johnny, what can you make of this?" "I can make a brooch, a hat, a terridactyl."
Classic slapstick at its best.
HTB
One of my favourites of all time.
"i picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue", and
"Johnny, what can you make of this?" "I can make a brooch, a hat, a terridactyl."
Classic slapstick at its best.
HTB
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vic Australia
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My personal favourite, and one with the longest title:
“Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (Or: How I flew from London to Paris on 25 hours 11 minutes..)”
Made in 1965 the majority of early aircraft in the movie were flyable. I particularly liked the Avro Triplane of the dastardly Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry Thomas). I can’t recall who made the aircraft- it may have been Personal Plane Services who made the aircraft used in “The Blue Max” – another aviation movie favourite.
Two bits of movie trivia: not a lot of people know this:
Eric Sykes, who played Courtney the servant, is still alive and well today and most recently starred in a Harry Potter movie. And Gert Frobe who played the German Colonel, could barely speak English. So in this movie and also “Goldfinger” his voice was dubbed.
Speaking of “The Battle of Britain” I was actually there when they blew up the hangars during the air raid sequence. As a young ATC cadet we were roped in to give background colour and were able to watch, at a safe distance, the mayhem that ensued. But my main memory of the day was the gravy buns and chips that they served from the catering bus!
“Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines (Or: How I flew from London to Paris on 25 hours 11 minutes..)”
Made in 1965 the majority of early aircraft in the movie were flyable. I particularly liked the Avro Triplane of the dastardly Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry Thomas). I can’t recall who made the aircraft- it may have been Personal Plane Services who made the aircraft used in “The Blue Max” – another aviation movie favourite.
Two bits of movie trivia: not a lot of people know this:
Eric Sykes, who played Courtney the servant, is still alive and well today and most recently starred in a Harry Potter movie. And Gert Frobe who played the German Colonel, could barely speak English. So in this movie and also “Goldfinger” his voice was dubbed.
Speaking of “The Battle of Britain” I was actually there when they blew up the hangars during the air raid sequence. As a young ATC cadet we were roped in to give background colour and were able to watch, at a safe distance, the mayhem that ensued. But my main memory of the day was the gravy buns and chips that they served from the catering bus!
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Queanbeyan, Australia
Age: 43
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tuskegee Airmen
I would have to put this film into one of my all time classics.
"Tuskegee Airmen"
Is about Black fliers from America during WWII and what they went through from getting into the flight program to being shafted along the way. I know there is historical content in the film along with the typical hollywood crap but is a true eye opener of how racist our forefathers could be. Glad things are changing for the better. They had some great pilots and the interesting fact that they lost no bomber crew while flying bomber escort (according to thefilm) is proof that they can certainly hold their own.
Just my two cents
Cheers
Flyboy33
"Tuskegee Airmen"
Is about Black fliers from America during WWII and what they went through from getting into the flight program to being shafted along the way. I know there is historical content in the film along with the typical hollywood crap but is a true eye opener of how racist our forefathers could be. Glad things are changing for the better. They had some great pilots and the interesting fact that they lost no bomber crew while flying bomber escort (according to thefilm) is proof that they can certainly hold their own.
Just my two cents
Cheers
Flyboy33
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Granite Belt, Australia
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I digress a little.
In the 70's E.K. Gann's brother was the historian for the Douglas Aircraft Co based at Long Beach California... yet he couldn't guide me to any book written about the DC3!
No Highway in the Sky was written by Neville Shute Norway before the Comet troubles. Neville has written other books that more or less predict the future (e.g. What Happened to the Corbetts; Pied Piper). I only hope that "On the Beach" doesn't come to pass!
In the 70's E.K. Gann's brother was the historian for the Douglas Aircraft Co based at Long Beach California... yet he couldn't guide me to any book written about the DC3!
No Highway in the Sky was written by Neville Shute Norway before the Comet troubles. Neville has written other books that more or less predict the future (e.g. What Happened to the Corbetts; Pied Piper). I only hope that "On the Beach" doesn't come to pass!
Don Quixote Impersonator
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Australia
Age: 77
Posts: 3,403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If my memory serves me correctly the movie The High and the Mighty is based on real experience that Gann had with the aircraft at the end of his airline career, it's in Fate is the Hunter It was a "new" type of plug problem.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,967
Received 93 Likes
on
54 Posts
Cannot remember the name of the movie, a drama not a documentary, but saw it many years ago at the local 'passion pit.' (Drive In, now long closed)
Concerned an aircraft which crashed and accident investigation eventually discovered that a spilled cup of coffee caused erroneous indications of engine failure!!
Concerned an aircraft which crashed and accident investigation eventually discovered that a spilled cup of coffee caused erroneous indications of engine failure!!
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it was Fate is the Hunter : (see plot summary) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fate_Is_the_Hunter_(film)
Pinky,
That was actually the movie "version" of Fate is the Hunter! released in around 1964 with Rod Taylor and Glenn Ford. The aircraft in question was I think the prototype Caravelle, complete with test data nose probe.
Very little like the book I'm afraid, but maybe the book was unfilmable anyway.
The Captain, Jack Savage played by Rod Taylor, natural aviator, supremely confident, capable and unflappable. Has an engine failure after ingesting birds on takeoff, shuts her down and heads back to the departure airfield. Then an engine "fire" in the remaining live engine. Uh oh! Sees a long beach in the darkness, and attempts to put her down! mmm.. Anyway, didn't realise there was a pier halfway along, and BAM. Blue ribbon crash was the term used!
During the investigation, no fault could be found in the engine that Captain Savage shut down. The rest of the movie centres around Glenn Ford's character Sam Mcbane the airline executive, old Airforce buddy of Jack and completely opposite personality, trying to find the cause and clear his dead friends name.
After numerous dead ends, Sam is left with the conclusion that a combination of random events "Fate" was the only possible reason for the crash. In a last ditch effort to solve the mystery, they decide to repeat the flight in every possible detail. The one sole survivor of the crash, a flight attendant was convinced to come along. She placed a cup of coffee on the centre console just as she did for Jack prior to the birdstrike.
That was actually the movie "version" of Fate is the Hunter! released in around 1964 with Rod Taylor and Glenn Ford. The aircraft in question was I think the prototype Caravelle, complete with test data nose probe.
Very little like the book I'm afraid, but maybe the book was unfilmable anyway.
The Captain, Jack Savage played by Rod Taylor, natural aviator, supremely confident, capable and unflappable. Has an engine failure after ingesting birds on takeoff, shuts her down and heads back to the departure airfield. Then an engine "fire" in the remaining live engine. Uh oh! Sees a long beach in the darkness, and attempts to put her down! mmm.. Anyway, didn't realise there was a pier halfway along, and BAM. Blue ribbon crash was the term used!
During the investigation, no fault could be found in the engine that Captain Savage shut down. The rest of the movie centres around Glenn Ford's character Sam Mcbane the airline executive, old Airforce buddy of Jack and completely opposite personality, trying to find the cause and clear his dead friends name.
After numerous dead ends, Sam is left with the conclusion that a combination of random events "Fate" was the only possible reason for the crash. In a last ditch effort to solve the mystery, they decide to repeat the flight in every possible detail. The one sole survivor of the crash, a flight attendant was convinced to come along. She placed a cup of coffee on the centre console just as she did for Jack prior to the birdstrike.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The center of the earths surface
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All good:
I am fond of the BLUE MAX, & THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES:
These ones caught my imagination as a kid:
Together with:ChittiChittiBangBang: a car that was Earth/Water And Sky mobile!
Grandad so English in his Phone Booth/Shed.
And "Truely Scrumptous"! Would love to give her a jolly good !!!!!!! "time".
Chr's
H/Snort
PS: Books: The Big Show does it for me!
These ones caught my imagination as a kid:
Together with:ChittiChittiBangBang: a car that was Earth/Water And Sky mobile!
Grandad so English in his Phone Booth/Shed.
And "Truely Scrumptous"! Would love to give her a jolly good !!!!!!! "time".
Chr's
H/Snort
PS: Books: The Big Show does it for me!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking forward to returning to Japan soon but in the meantime continuing the never ending search for a bad bottle of Red!
Age: 69
Posts: 2,967
Received 93 Likes
on
54 Posts
Krusty; Thanks for that. I agree it's nothing like the book, which I have in a shelf not 6' away. I'd actually hate to see Hollywood try to do a version of it as they'd probably turn it into crap!
And BPH63, Clicked on that link and what came up stated that there was nothing listed with that title!!
I agree it's nothing like the book, which I have in a shelf not 6' away. I'd actually hate to see Hollywood try to do a version of it as they'd probably turn it into crap!And BPH63, Clicked on that link and what came up stated that there was nothing listed with that title!!