Best Aviation Movies

[Souichiro]

- Chevalier Du Ciel has some of the nicest flying action I've seen so far!

- Battle of Britain..... a classic!

- and the mosquito movie.....erm? 633 squadron?

and of course this latest one

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/478961/ ... tste_.html

[specter177]

Oh, I forgot "The Great Waldo Pepper."

[C]

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

The director of which, Ken Annakin, passed away yesterday (which imdb hasn't noticed yet).

My list:

The Way to the Stars - the gripping story of the ficticious RAF aerodrome at "Halfpenny Field" the only film which concentrates on both the RAF and USAAF, with Michael Redgrave, John Mills, and (the often present in British made films) Bonar Colleano in his often reprised role as the loud New Yorker! Great film, in a typically understated film.

The Dambusters. Micheal Redgrave again! Awesome film, and an excellent example of how to tell a heroic story without bending the truth, or altering history altogether. Early appearance from Inspector Wexford too.

Mag Men - see above. Aviation meets comedy at its best. Aside from that, it produced some excellent reproduction pre WWI aircraft, some of which still fly today.

Battle of Britain. Epic. Aerial filming possibly only better by the film below. Did wonders for the future of warbirds (thanks to Hamish Mahaddie, ironically an RAF bomber pilot in WWII). Great cast, and a super soundtrack by William Walton (which they then replaced with a very good one, but slighly repetitive one by Ron Goodwin) - due to the wonders of DVD you can now watch it with either.

Memphis Belle - like the Dambusters in the way it told it's story, although "fictionalised" the elements of Memphis Belle story, it didn't do it to the ridiculous extent of other Hollywood offerings (Pearl Harbo(u)r, etc) - which maybe explains why it wasn't as successful as it could have been). Great casting too. Aerial shots to die for, and good that they spent the extra money to film it in the UK with authentic scenery.

[olderndirt]

Re 'A piece of cake'.

[BFMF]

It had been awhile since I saw Battle of Britain, so I dug up my dvd and watched it lastnight.


"You can teach monkeys to fly better than that"....lol

[Mictheslik]

It had been awhile since I saw Battle of Britain, so I dug up my dvd and watched it lastnight.


"You can teach monkeys to fly better than that"....lol

I have it on my iPod for whenever I need a bit of Merlin action...especially to the tune of the Battle of Britain march

My only problem with that film is the fact they destroyed one of the lovely (and rare) hangars at Duxford.....

.mic

[Hagar]

My only problem with that film is the fact they destroyed one of the lovely (and rare) hangars at Duxford.....

.mic

I thought that was an accident. :-/

On the positive side the 'Battle of Britain' was responsible for the start of the warbird restoration industry we're fortunate in having today.

633 Squadron was far worse for the mistreatment of extremely rare aircraft.

[aussiewannabe]

[quote]How about that movie with Robert Redford - Susan Sarandon fell off his wing.

[beaky]

I see a few of my faves here already, but then there's...

The High and the Mighty
One of Our Aircraft is Missing
Flight of the Phoenix (the original)
Dark Blue World
Island in the Sky
The Hunters
The Spirit of St. Louis

[C]

My only problem with that film is the fact they destroyed one of the lovely (and rare) hangars at Duxford.....

.mic

They aren't that rare (compared to some hangars), and that was all a small misunderstanding - not the criminal vandalism of the Mosquito killing films, "633 Squadron" and its sequel "Mosquito Squadron". In fairness it created a bit more pan space at Duxford.

633 and Mosquito Sqn did the opposite the BoB for aircraft preservation.

[olderndirt]

[quote]How about that movie with Robert Redford - Susan Sarandon fell off his wing.

[patchz]

Strategic Air Command
Flight Of The Intruder
Air America
Bat 21
Flying Tigers
Flying Leathernecks

[C]

Strategic Air Command

Another classic, if not just for the B-36s.

[The Ruptured Duck]

Oh, I forgot "The Great Waldo Pepper."

Totally

One Six Right anyone?
How about The Rocketeer, if not just for the sequences with the 1930's air racing.
The Aviator?
Tuskeegee Airmen?
The Right Stuff?  (ok so the movie could have been better, but the book was pretty good)

And the ultimate "non-aviation" movie that is worth mentioning is Dr Strangelove

[U4EA]

Strategic Air Command

Another classic, if not just for the B-36s.

Top of my list!  The B-47 inflight sequences almost give me a.....welllll, you know!