Aircraft in Films
Reviews of DVD and VHS video films featuring aircraft
"Never, never call it a plane. It's an aeroplane."
Douglas Bader (Kenneth More) in Reach for the Sky 633 Squadron (1964) Cliff Robertson 633 Squadron did not exist. This film is remakable for the music, by Ron Goodwin, and the Mosquitoes. Also stars Messerschmitt Bf108's acting as Bf109's. The B-25 Mitchell camera ship (#30861) played a cameo role as an RAF transport. The opening sequence shows a Miles Messenger. Cliff Robertson is an aviation enthusiast, he "collects airplanes." 49th Parallel (1941) Eric Portman This was a propaganda film produced to influence Canadian and American public opinion but 60+ years later I found it interesting and entertaining, well worth watching. The starring aerplane is Fairchild 71C CF-BJE. Try spotting the aircraft that sunk the U-boat at the beginning of the film, I think I spotted Ventura, Wellington, Bolo and another (Heinkel?), it's confusing because they keep changing. Aces High (1976) Malcolm McDowell Less "stiff upper lip" than most British war films. The CO, Gresham (Malcolm McDowell), gets his courage from the Black and White whisky bottle. Crawford (Simon Ward) is suffering from LMF and eventually goes mad. 76 Squadron did exist but was not in France in WW1. Most of the RAF aeroplanes are StampeSV4 made up to look like SE5a. See Continuity Corner for details. Flying by Personal Plane Services. Air America (1990) Mel Gibson A wacky and entertaining film with lots of aeroplanes. Stars - Pilatus Porter and C 123 Provider. Also Huey, Bird Dog, TH-55 Osage and others in minor roles. Air Force (1943) John Ridgely This American propaganda film is real "Boys Own" gung ho stuff. After arriving in Hawaii on the wrong day, 7 December 1941, these "All American" boys go through all sorts of adventures, including belly landing the aircraft, before going on to destroy the Japanese fleet. If they had carried on like that the war in the Pacific would have been over in a month. Well worth watching. Plenty of plane spotting, so far I have identified Flying Fortress, Airacobra, Harvard, Lancer, Marauder. Always (1989) Richard Dreyfus Stephen Spielberg usually provides us with some good aeroplane footage and this film is no exception. The opening footage of a Catalina is excellent. You can view the video clip online under the heading Gone Fishing. Not a memorable film but worth watching if only for the flying scenes. Also stars Invader, Flying Boxcar, et al. Apocalypse Now (1979) Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando Who can hear Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries" without thinking about the Hueys and Little Birds attacking over the early morning surf. Then a Cessna Skymaster calls in an F5 Freedom Fighter attack and the crazy AirCav colonel says "I love the smell of napalm in the morning." The Aviator (2004) Leonardo Di Caprio Epic biopic of Howard Hughes, of special interest to aeroplane enthusiasts because of his extraordinary contribution to aviation development. The realistic footage of his H1 Racer, XF11 Reconnaissance airplane, Spruce Goose and WW1 footage for the film 'Hells Angels' was all done with models and CGI. The one interesting aeroplane that we do see is a replica Sikorsky S38 belonging to Tom Schrade. BAT*21 (1988) Gene Hackman, Danny Glover I watched this straight after 'Behind Enemy Lines' and could not help thinking "How do you feel now Hackman? Now that the boot is on the other foot." An excellent film with plenty of aeroplanes. The star being a Cessna Skymaster. Also Sea King, Huey, Freedom Fighter and Super Sabre. The Battle of Britain (1969) A multitude of stars, the prettiest being Sussanah York. In my 25 years in the Royal Air Force I never met a WAAF officer as sexy that - but then I did not have the privilege of going around with my top button undone. In the making of this film the producers gathered together virtually all the worlds surviving Spitfires and Hurricanes. The Messershmitt 109s were actually Spanish bult Hispano Buchons with Rolls Royce engines, hence the strange cowling shape. The Heinkel 111s were also Spaniish built versions, CASA 2.111. Much of the filming was carried out at RAF Duxford, it was there that a hangar was blown up, as seen in the film. A Ju 52 appears with the title credits. The Battle of Midway (1976) They brought all the big guns out for this one, including Chuck Heston, Hank Fonda, Jim Coburn, Bob Mitchum, et al. Much of the filming was done on the USS Lexington which did not make it to the Battle of Midway. The opening shots are B-25 Mitchells taking off from a carrier, probably the Doolittle Raid. After that the aircraft spotting gets difficult if that Theater of Operations is not your specialty. I spotted, I think, PBY Catalina, B17 Flying Fortress, FM-2 Wildcat, Harvard, SBD Dauntless, F6F Hellcats. The Battle of the River Plate (1956) John Gregson, Anthony Quayle Fact based, epic British film about the first major naval battle of WWII which resulted in the scuttling of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. Starring USS Salem (as Graf Spee), HMS Cumberland (as herself), HMS Jamaica (as Exeter), HMS Sheffield (as Ajax) and INS Delhi, formerly HMS Achilles (as herself). A Tiger Moth appears as a catapult aircraft, sic, which a least gets this great film a mention here. Behind Enemy Lines (2001) Gene Hackman, Owen Wilson An unusual war film that does nothing to explain the complicated Bosnian conflict. Some excellent carrier operations footage filmed aboard the USS Carl Vinson and USS Constellation. Featuring Hornet, Sea Hawk, Huey, Mi 17(Hip). As pointed out by Movie Mistakes the Hueys change into other Bell types during the rescue. DVD comes with extras - Recommended. Black Hawk Down (2001) Josh Hartnett This film demonstrates the American high PTFTU factor. Great film with great helicopters. The DVD comes with a section on how the film was made, which is as interesting as the film itself. Stars Black Hawk and Little Bird helicopters. The Blue Max (1966) George Peppard Starring replica SE 5A, Pfalz DIII, Fokker Dr1 and Fokker D VII supported by Tiger Moth, Stampe SV4, Caudron 272 and Morane Parasole. Great flying sequences and a good story. Highly recommended. A Bridge Too Far (1977) A multi- million dollar epic about Operation Market Garden, with a regiment of stars, but non better than Edward Fox as General Horrocks. His briefing scene is excellent. Ryan O'Neal mis-cast because generals are never that pretty. Great Dakota and Horsa shots, but we don't see the Horsa flying just ground replicas. A couple of disguised Harvards , a Spitfire and a Auster also appear. The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1955) William Holden, Mickey Rooney Adapted from a fact-based novel by James A Michener this Korean war classic is a must for all aeroplane anoraks. The stars are F9F Panthers and a Dragonfly helicopter (Sikorsky S-51), also appearing are Skyraiders; Banshees can be seen in the background on the carrier. The carrier was USS Oriskany. Photography and special effects are excellent, even 50 years on. In fact the film won an Occar for special effects. Catch-22 (1970) Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam Plenty of Mitchells in this anti-war black comedy. The Dambusters (1954) Richard Todd, Micheal Redgrave The true story of the raid on German dams by Lancasters of 617 Squadron. More info. The Eagle Has Landed (1976) Michael Caine Not a great film but I feel an affinity to it because some of it was filmed in Norfolk, where it is set. One scene has Gun Hill in the background, a favourite spot of mine. Feisler Storch and Dakota are the stars. First of the Few - aka Spitfire (1942) David Howard, Leslie Howard The story of the Spitfire and it's designer RJ Mitchell. As you would expect fom a 1942 film there are a lot of models and mock-ups but also some good footage of Supermarine Sea Lion and S5/S6. Also stars Heinkel 111. The Flight of the Phoenix, (1965) James Stewart, Richard Attenborough A Fairchild C82 Packet carrying a diverse group of passengers crashes in the desert. This is the story of the relationships between the characters as they build a hybrid aeroplane, "The Phoenix," from the parts of the wreck. The famous stunt flyer Paul Mantz was killed when "The Phoenix" crashed. The filming was completed using a North American O-47. The Flight of the Phoenix (2004) Dennis Quaid A remake of the 1965 film using a C119 Flying Boxcar which is basically a beefed up Packet. There are some good shots of the aircraft before it crashes. The Phoenix is probably models and CGI. The linked website gives details of the actual aircraft used in the film. The Flying Leathernecks (1951) John Wayne John Wayne doing what John Wayne does, helped by Hellcats and Corsairs, and WWII footage. A PBY Catalina makes a brief appearance before being blown up. Guadalcanal Diary (1943) Preston S Foster US Marine Corps take Guadalcanal at the start of the American strike back at the Japs, must have been made within months of the actual event. Features Wildcats of the "Cactus Air Force". Hanover Street (1979) Harrison Ford The only reason to watch this film is to see the B-25 Mitchells Hart's War (2002) Bruce Willis A riveting film. After watching this and seeing the Mustangs and black pilots you will have to watch 'The Tuskagee Airmen'. Hellcats of the Navy (1957) Ronald Reagan, Nancy Davis This is apparently the only film in which the future President and his First Lady appeared together. He was famous for his mediocre films and this is one of them, but it's watchable. The star, a Coronado, makes a brief appearance. Hope and Glory (1987) Sebastian Rice-Edwards You cannot have a British war film without a Spitfire, this has one, sufficent to get it onto this website. The story of a family in the Blitz through the eyes of young Billy (Sebatian Rice-Edwards). The second half is taken over by cantankerous Grandfather George (Ian Bannen). Highly recommended. I Was Monty's Double (1958) John Mills Based on a true story about an elaborate plan to fool the Germans into thinking that the 1944 invasion of Europe was to be launched from North Africa into southern France. Lieutenant M E Clifton James of the Royal Army Pay Corps bore a striking resemblance to General Montgomery. In the film Clifton James plays himself impersonating Montgomery on a tour of Gibraltar and North Africa aboard an Avro York. Iron Eagle Series I (1985), II (1988), III (1992) Juvenile films made, presumably, for the juvenile market. They are well worth watching, if only for the excellent flying scenes and the wide variety of aircraft that appear. These include F16 Falcon, Cessna 150, Kfir, Phantom, Boeing 707, Hercules, P38 Lightning 423314, Spitfire, Provider, Me263 (actually Burt Rutan's ARES), Soko Galeb, Mustang (as Me109?), Harvard (as Zero). And there are plenty of others that appear briefly or in background shots. A feast for the armchair aircraft spotter. They should produce a DVD of all aircraft footage, that would be ace. The Killing Fields (1984) Sam Waterston, Haing S Ngor A powerful story about one man's survival in Cambodia during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Must see. Aircraft:- Jolly Green Giant, Huey and two cigar shaped jets with tip tanks. The Longest Day (1962) A Multitude of Stars Darryl F Zanuck, the producer, was obviously not an aviation enthusiast. Throughout the film we are reminded that aeroplanes played an importantant part in the invasion, sounds and mock-ups abound, but the only two 'real' aeroplanes we see are two Me108's (acting as 109's) strafing the beach. Also a couple of Spitfires make a brief appearance. Superstar Richard Burton plays a fighter pilot, the last of 'the Few' surviving in his Squadron. Towards the end of the film we see him after he has been shot down, but we never did see his aeroplane. When Burton first appears in the film the on screen credit states "Flight Officer David Campbell." That was a WAAF rank. The Americans really should not try to make films about the RAF because they always make a "cock-up" of it. A good film but aeroplanes were not given the starring roles they deserved. Richard Todd took part in the events in real life and played the part of his commander in the film. The Malta Story (1953) Alec Guiness, Jack Hawkins Apart from a lot of models and old footage there are some good Spitfire shots. Also Beauforts and Wellingtons. I caught a glimpse of some navy guys loading a torpedo onto a large biplane - not a clue what it was. Memphis Belle (1990) Matthew Modine Made for a wide audience and with entertainment in mind this is not as 'raw' as Twelve O'clock High. Looks and feels authentic and has some great flying scenes starring the B17 Flying Fortress. The scene where Harry Connick Jnr sings "Danny Boy" is great. Have you ever noticed that the events depicted took place at the same time as the the Dambusters Raid - 16/17 May 1943. Mosquito Squadron (1970) David McCallum Only the Mosquitos are memorable. No Highway in the Sky (1951) James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich plus a clutch of good old Brits From the novel by Nevil Shute. Have not seen this film for years - can't get hold of it. Out of the Clouds (1955) Anthony Steel, Robert Beatty The girl tells the very macho pilot Gus Randell (Anthony Steel) that she loves him because he is so gay. But that was in the days when gay meant gay and we had two national airlines, BOAC and BEA. A mediocre film. James Robertson-Justice plays a good part as a Stratocruiser pilot, other stars are Viscounts, Constellations and DC7s. Also some good air-ground footage of Rome and the Pyramids. Pearl Harbor (2001) CGI Yawn! Yawn! Yawn! - A failed attempt to remake Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Battle of Britain and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo all in one. It failed because of a very embarassing menage a trois and over reliance on computer generated imagery (CGI). After this there will probably never be another aeroplane film that does not rely on CGI. It is a pity that it did not concentrate on the Doolittle Raid, a remake of this (without love interest) is long overdue. I cannot believe that the producers allowed the RAF squadron commander to refer to one of his Spitfires as a 'crate'. Douglas Bader probably turned in his grave. But if you cannot spell 'harbour' how could you produce a film that includes the Royal Air Force. STARS:- Zero (rebuilt originals), Val and Kate (replicas as used in Tora! Tora! Tora!), Stearman, Mitchell, Warhawk, Spitfire, Hurricane, Buchon. Reach for the Sky (1956) Kenneth More The epitome of the post-war British war film. Kenneth More stars as Douglas Bader. Other stars are:- Avro 504, Bristol Bulldog, Spitfire, Hurricane. Saving Private Ryan (1998) Tom Hanks The trouble with modern war films is that there is too much blood and gore, and none more than this one. At the end of all this 'grunt' action the day is saved by Mustangs from the Old Flying Machines Company. Sink the Bismarck! (1960) Kenneth Moore Classic British WWII story featuring Swordfish and Catalina and an obligatory Spitfire. Tactical Assault (1998) Rutger Hauer A silly film, but plenty for the aeroplane spotter. You need to concentrate because the aeroplane types regularly change mid-mission. Sentry, Albatross, Mi 17(Hip), F16 Falcon, Phantom, Mig 29 Fulcrum Target Unknown (1951) Mark Stevens Some nice stock footage of B26 Marauders, but nothing else to commend this film Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) Martin Balsam Epic Pearl Harbour film which won an Oscar for visual effects. The very realistic Zero, Val and Kate were converted Vultee BT-13 and AT-6. The arrival of the Flying Fortresses during the battle is the subject of the 1943 film Air Force. The Fortress 'wheels-up' was a real accident. Also starring Stearman, Warhawk, Kingfisher and Catalina. Some of the filming done on USS Yorktown. A Town Like Alice (1956) Virginia McKenna This film is featured because I am a Nevil Shute fan and for the cameo appearance of DH90 Dragonfly VH-UTJ. Twelve O'clock High (1949) Gregory Peck The belly landing at the beginning of the film was a genuine stunt crash flown by Paul Mantz (he was killed in 1965 filming The Flight of the Phoenix). The combat scenes are wartime archive footage (some of the same footage was used in Memphis Belle). Authentic and believable apart from the "Lord Haw Haw" and "Leper Colony" episodes. You can still buy the featured Toby Jug The War Lover (1962) Steve McQueen Some good flying scenes including realistic low-level beat-ups. The belly landing is the same one as used in Twelve O'clock High but from a slightly different camera angle. All the usual archive footage. Too much love interest for the aeroplane enthusiast, but well worth watching. The star is the Flying Fortress. A book called Everything But the Flak tells the story of how three B17s were ferried to England to make the film. The Way to the Stars (1945) John Mills, Michael Redgrave, Douglass Montgomery After some initial action the rest of the film is set mainly in the Golden Lion Hotel. Starring aircraft are Blenheim, Hurricane, Boston and Flying Fortress. Would love to know where the Golden Lion was, and whether it is still there. A Wing and a Prayer (1944) Dana Andrews US carrier operations in the Pacific featuring Helldiver, Hellcat, Avenger and Dauntless. The usual models and stock footage of the period but plenty of real aeroplanes and a couple of 'wizard prangs'. One scene shows an aircraft being launched from the hangar deck, I have not seen that before. Yangtse Incident (1957) Richard Todd, William Hartnell The true story of how HMS Amethyst got caught up in the Chinese civil war in 1949. The ship came under heavy fire and ran aground in the Yangtse River, a Sunderland was despatched from Hong Kong to deliver a doctor and essential supplies. A Yank in the RAF (1941) Tyrone Power A very dated film with an American idea of the sterotype RAF officer. I was annoyed by the officers continually calling their fellow crew member 'Corporal'. Compare this with 'The Way to the Stars' (1945) where the gunner, Nobby, is always drinking with the pilots. In 'Twelve O'clock High' (1949) the general calls his driver Ernie and gives him a fag, much more realistic. I was also put off by the background music, 'These Foolish Things', because I know the rude version. Don't look if you are prudish. A popular drinking song in my day. Stars:- Harvard, Spitfire, Hudson. You Only Live Twice (1967) Sean Connery The Wallis Autogyro known as 'Little Nellie' appears briefly but is the star as far as I'm concerned, I am not keen on James Bond films. Ken Wallis lives not far from Dereham and I have had the honour of meeting him several times, also did some non destructive testing for him when I was in the RAF. I also witnessed his flight in the Wallbro Replica at Swanton Morley. |
