Best avation movie?

[legoalex2000]

i liked Flight of the Phoenix. (the old one)

I'll have to see the old one, cause i thought the new one was awesome

[C]

Not Top Gun or Pearl Harbor!

BoB is good, but for entertainment value Memphis Belle wins...

[beaky]

Are you thinking of "Piece of Cake" or was that ITV? As I recall it was none too accurate. Typical "docu-drama" & more drama than doc. I also read the book & was disappointed. Nice aircraft & flying sequences though.

Yeah, that's the one. Not too surprised it sacrificed accuracy for drama (though I could hardly tell, not being an expert). No doubt you've seen "Waldo Pepper"...? Or how about "The Blue Max"?
Suddenly I'm remembering a REAL oldie..."One of Our Aircraft is Missing". It's sorta dull and plodding compared to today's features, but it's intense. I actually own that on VHS...

[Hagar]

Yeah, that's the one. Not too surprised it sacrificed accuracy for drama (though I could hardly tell, not being an expert). No doubt you've seen "Waldo Pepper"...? Or how about "The Blue Max"?
Suddenly I'm remembering a REAL oldie..."One of Our Aircraft is Missing". It's sorta dull and plodding compared to today's features, but it's intense. I actually own that on VHS...

Yup, I've seen all those & plenty more besides.. I reckon I've seen every film featuring aircraft ever made up to a certain date. Seen most of 'em several times too.

I have to agree with Charlie. I was very impressed with Memphis Belle. One of the better modern WWII films I've seen. I've also seen the original William Wyler 1943 doco it was based on. I prefer the older films even if they're B&W. They don't make 'em like that any more.

PS. What about the "Magnificent Men"? Brilliant.

[ozzy72]

Nice aircraft & flying sequences though

Well that IS an understatement Doug, frankly Piece of Cake is worth having if only to watch Ray Hanna taking a MkIX along a river and under a bridge that would make me soil my flightsuit.
If you don't have Piece of Cake in your collection, you don't like WWII or flying!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hagar]

Well that IS an understatement Doug, frankly Piece of Cake is worth having if only to watch Ray Hanna taking a MkIX along a river and under a bridge that would make me soil my flightsuit.
If you don't have Piece of Cake in your collection, you don't like WWII or flying!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Mark, I expect you would think the worst film ever made was fantastic if it contained a short clip of your precious Spitfire.

[ozzy72]

I expect you would think the worst film ever made was fantastic if it contained a short clip of your precious Spitfire

What are you saying Doug? That I'm biased? Don't try and hide behind innuendo and hyperbole...

[C]

Suddenly I'm remembering a REAL oldie..."One of Our Aircraft is Missing". It's sorta dull and plodding compared to today's features, but it's intense. I actually own that on VHS...

Several of the actors were real aircrew if I remember correctly...

Edit - this is from IMDB...

The extra squadron members were all active members of the RAF (XVI) squadron.

Charlie

[Jared]

Well if you had to break it down into categories

Historical (Space Age) - The Right Stuff
Historical (World War) - Memphis Belle
Historical (Epic Intergalactic War) - Star Wars
Comedy - Airplane
Glamour - Top Gun
Fiction - The Final Countdown

Ah, someone else who has seen the final countdown...

I'm with him on all of the above... ;-)

[Rifleman]

I would have thought someone might know about " Captains of the Clouds " starring Jimmy Cagney....?

If you've never heard of it, see if you can rent it and take a look.....it may surprise you for its day....done in 1942.....

[Romulus111VADT]

WWI
Wings (1927)
Lafayette Escadrille (1958 )
Blue Max (1966)

WWII
Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Battle of Britain (1969)
Tora Tora Tora (1970)
Memphis Belle (1990)

Vietnam
Flight of the Intruder (1991)

Modern
Top Gun (1986)

[ATI_7500]

Well Mark, I expect you would think the worst film ever made was fantastic if it contained a short clip of your precious Spitfire.

Pearl Harbor,eh?

[ozzy72]

I tried to watch it a while back, the Spitfire bits I could handle, but then it just got so bad even I switched off the TV!!!

[Mr. Bones]

of course the Right Stuff!

althought I haven't seen it yet, but the new IMAX movie about Red Flag through the eyes of a F-15 pilot looks very good (saw the trailer). maybe someone around here already saw this movie? I think it's called Fighter Pilot...

[Hagar]

Note that most of the examples quoted are war films or feature military aircraft. There aren't too many dealing with civil aviation but these are worth watching if you can find them.

Many films that look promising are actually aviation-based dramas that have very few flying sequences. Some of the best I've seen were the semi-propaganda Hollywood films made in the 50s with the full cooperation of the US services. Although these were released internationally as full feature films I assume the intention was to encourage recruitment. One example that springs to mind is Strategic Air Command starring James Stewart. Lots of excellent & rare colour footage of the B-36 & B-47.