The Great WWII Aviation Movie Thread

MDFrench · 10-10-2004, 04:40 PM

Hey Guys -

Thought we could compile our knowledge of films and airplanes and get a good list going of flicks, both old and new, that feature warbirds in good detail.

I'll start with a few that give a good look at the RAF -

Battle of Britain - (a whole fleet of planes! they'll never do this again - the whole film is UNREAL as far as planes go)

Piece of Cake - (six beautiful Spitfires for a whole mini-series)

Dark Blue World - (beautiful Spitfire footage)

Mosquito Squadron

633 Squadron - (more Mosquitos)

OK, Paddy, I could name a bunch of Mighty Eighth films, but I'm leaving that up to you!

MK · 10-10-2004, 10:21 PM

Those are great.......but you forgot the best aviation movie of all time.....

......Iron Eagle!

LOL

Matt Deckard · 10-10-2004, 10:26 PM

Actually MK it was Iron Eagle 3!

PADDY · 10-11-2004, 12:41 AM

Yes, there is a whole pile of movies on the USAAF, but I think I'll just list the ones that put a smile on my face, rather than a big listing...

TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (movie and series)
THE WAR LOVER (Steve McQueen)
A GUY NAMED JOE (Spencer Tracy)
30 minutes over Tokyo (Spencer again)
FLYNG LEATHERNECKS (I know, USMC..! and The Duke!)

By the way, talkng of RAF movies, I do like that "Dark Blue World" on the Czech volunteers! a really nice little budget movie that works so well!

Oooops ..Bells gone, and times out!!

Who do I pass this relay baton to now...?????

MK · 10-11-2004, 07:45 AM

Those are great.......but you forgot the best aviation movie of all time.....

......Iron Eagle!

LOL

MDFrench · 10-11-2004, 08:05 AM

MK,

I am laughing uncontrollably, and by goodness I needed that after the news of Chris Reeve's death.

Thanks,
Mike

Continuing the thread:

Memphis Belle - both the war film AND the feature film!

RAAF · 10-11-2004, 01:07 PM

if you have the DVD set for the movie, the behind the scenes segments show that a fair amount of the aerial footage used was outtakes from the 1969 epic "Battle of Britain". the BoB footage was digitally touched up to remove squadron codes and also any additional aircraft beyond the pair shown in most scenes. cool movie though!

Quigley Brown · 10-11-2004, 01:28 PM

The Dam Busters, Tora, Tora, Tora, 12 O'Clock High...

Wild Root · 10-11-2004, 04:34 PM

Tora, Tora, Tora, is a good film! I however do not like that the 70's fashion snuck it's way into the womens hair and clothes in some parts of that flick. But, other then that, it was a super film!

I like Flying Tigers, Memphis Belle, Midway, A Guy Named Joe, Test Pilot, and so on.

Root.

MDFrench · 10-11-2004, 04:37 PM

What's nice about that Dark Blue World footage is that it takes the Battle of Britain aerial footage and digitally cleans and manipulates it in such a way that it makes the footage fresh, exciting, and more detailed without creating fake digital airplanes. Tracers and debris are added, but there is still the benefit of real planes, unlike the "Sky Captaining" that Michael Bay did to the P-40s in Pearl Harbor - Ugh.

In short, leave comic book flying and digital whiz-bang to comic book films like Sky Captain and keep historic pieces respectable with a subtle mix of real and digital. Just my humble opinion.

Continuing the thread: What's up with Iron Eagle III? Great planes, lousy flick.

MikeyB17 · 10-12-2004, 09:14 AM

Some of my favourites not yet mentioned:-

Catch-22 (B-25's and beautiful A-2s)
The Way to the Stars (both RAF and 8th AAF, and some nice rare aircraft like Avro Ansons and A-20 Havocs-Bostons in this case)
Appointment in London (Dirk Bogarde and Lancasters)
Stalag 17 (no aircraft but crawling with flight jackets)
The Tuskegee Airmen
Empire of the Sun (Love the strafing scene with the P-51's-the flight jacket Christian Bale wears is a repro though!)

Might think of a few more later!

Daniel Riser · 10-27-2004, 03:08 PM

Pearl Harbor. HAHAHAHAHAH Ok ok, hey hey, no no put those down, wait you don't wanna do that *BANG BANG

and the moronic film goer was...no more

Cienfuegos · 10-28-2004, 09:00 AM

I believe that one of the best movies on the aviation during the WW II is TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH
This one shows us with enough realism of the diurnal missions of bombardment.
also there is a movie that I like much, though it does not treat of WW II that it is THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER

Halliburton · 10-28-2004, 12:14 PM

There are some good flying scenes in the last episode of "Foyle's War" first season.

Anyone say "1941" yet?

"Bridge Too Far"
"The English Patient"

MikeyB17 · 10-28-2004, 12:28 PM

More nautical than aviation, but notable for probably the only cinematic appearance of a Grumman Duck, is 'Murphy's War'.
Must be more, must be more...'Flying Tigers', of course. And there's a B-25 in 'Forever Young' (Mel Gibson chick flick). Oh yes of course-'The Dambusters', and 'The Right Stuff'! Bound to be others.

10-10-2004, 04:40 PM	#1
MDFrench "A" List Customer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, London, Atlanta, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Atlanta Posts: 429	The Great WWII Aviation Movie Thread Hey Guys - Thought we could compile our knowledge of films and airplanes and get a good list going of flicks, both old and new, that feature warbirds in good detail. I'll start with a few that give a good look at the RAF - Battle of Britain - (a whole fleet of planes! they'll never do this again - the whole film is UNREAL as far as planes go) Piece of Cake - (six beautiful Spitfires for a whole mini-series) Dark Blue World - (beautiful Spitfire footage) Mosquito Squadron 633 Squadron - (more Mosquitos) OK, Paddy, I could name a bunch of Mighty Eighth films, but I'm leaving that up to you! __________________ If you go looking for a fight, you can always find one - Eugene Tobin, RAF Spitfire pilot, 1940

10-10-2004, 10:21 PM	#2
MK The Guy in Charge Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vancouver (not B.C), Washington (not D.C.) Posts: 4,785	Those are great.......but you forgot the best aviation movie of all time..... ......Iron Eagle! LOL __________________ All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

10-10-2004, 10:26 PM	#3
Matt Deckard Bartender Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: A devout capitalist in Rosemead CA. Posts: 8,624	Actually MK it was Iron Eagle 3! __________________ Matt Deckard Apparel Deckard's Guide Looking for my Emma Peel. END OF LINE

10-11-2004, 12:41 AM	#4
PADDY Bartender Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: COMMAND CNTR TFL EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS Posts: 4,977	Gauntlet has been picked up on Air Corps movies... Yes, there is a whole pile of movies on the USAAF, but I think I'll just list the ones that put a smile on my face, rather than a big listing... TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (movie and series) THE WAR LOVER (Steve McQueen) A GUY NAMED JOE (Spencer Tracy) 30 minutes over Tokyo (Spencer again) FLYNG LEATHERNECKS (I know, USMC..! and The Duke!) By the way, talkng of RAF movies, I do like that "Dark Blue World" on the Czech volunteers! a really nice little budget movie that works so well! Oooops ..Bells gone, and times out!! Who do I pass this relay baton to now...????? __________________ *"I'm talking satin, fire and ice; Fred Astaire in a glass; redemption and absolution. I'm talking a martini"*

10-11-2004, 07:45 AM	#5
MK The Guy in Charge Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vancouver (not B.C), Washington (not D.C.) Posts: 4,785	Those are great.......but you forgot the best aviation movie of all time..... ......Iron Eagle! LOL __________________ All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

10-11-2004, 08:05 AM	#6
MDFrench "A" List Customer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, London, Atlanta, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Atlanta Posts: 429	MK, I am laughing uncontrollably, and by goodness I needed that after the news of Chris Reeve's death. Thanks, Mike Continuing the thread: Memphis Belle - both the war film AND the feature film! __________________ If you go looking for a fight, you can always find one - Eugene Tobin, RAF Spitfire pilot, 1940

10-11-2004, 01:07 PM	#7
RAAF New in Town Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: my house Posts: 21	Dark Blue World footage if you have the DVD set for the movie, the behind the scenes segments show that a fair amount of the aerial footage used was outtakes from the 1969 epic "Battle of Britain". the BoB footage was digitally touched up to remove squadron codes and also any additional aircraft beyond the pair shown in most scenes. cool movie though!

10-11-2004, 01:28 PM	#8
Quigley Brown One Too Many Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: small town Iowa Posts: 1,785	The Dam Busters, Tora, Tora, Tora, 12 O'Clock High...

10-11-2004, 04:34 PM	#9
Wild Root Gone Home Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Monrovia California. Posts: 5,590	Tora, Tora, Tora, is a good film! I however do not like that the 70's fashion snuck it's way into the womens hair and clothes in some parts of that flick. But, other then that, it was a super film! I like Flying Tigers, Memphis Belle, Midway, A Guy Named Joe, Test Pilot, and so on. Root. __________________ Wrong is wrong even if every one says it's right. Right is right even if every one else says it's wrong. -Hugh Beaumont

10-11-2004, 04:37 PM	#10
MDFrench "A" List Customer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville, London, Atlanta, Syracuse, Los Angeles, Atlanta Posts: 429	What's nice about that Dark Blue World footage is that it takes the Battle of Britain aerial footage and digitally cleans and manipulates it in such a way that it makes the footage fresh, exciting, and more detailed without creating fake digital airplanes. Tracers and debris are added, but there is still the benefit of real planes, unlike the "Sky Captaining" that Michael Bay did to the P-40s in Pearl Harbor - Ugh. In short, leave comic book flying and digital whiz-bang to comic book films like Sky Captain and keep historic pieces respectable with a subtle mix of real and digital. Just my humble opinion. Continuing the thread: What's up with Iron Eagle III? Great planes, lousy flick. __________________ If you go looking for a fight, you can always find one - Eugene Tobin, RAF Spitfire pilot, 1940

10-12-2004, 09:14 AM	#11
MikeyB17 One of the Regulars Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 190	A few more... Some of my favourites not yet mentioned:- Catch-22 (B-25's and beautiful A-2s) The Way to the Stars (both RAF and 8th AAF, and some nice rare aircraft like Avro Ansons and A-20 Havocs-Bostons in this case) Appointment in London (Dirk Bogarde and Lancasters) Stalag 17 (no aircraft but crawling with flight jackets) The Tuskegee Airmen Empire of the Sun (Love the strafing scene with the P-51's-the flight jacket Christian Bale wears is a repro though!) Might think of a few more later! __________________ 'Don't hit me with those negative waves!' 'That's some bad hat, Harry.'

10-27-2004, 03:08 PM	#12
Daniel Riser "A" List Customer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 51st State Posts: 348	Pearl Harbor. HAHAHAHAHAH Ok ok, hey hey, no no put those down, wait you don't wanna do that BANG BANG and the moronic film goer was...no more __________________ God Bless you too, Jim Carrey Veronica Parra* www.treasureofthetemplars.com

10-28-2004, 09:00 AM	#13
Cienfuegos New in Town Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gran Canaria Posts: 17	I believe that one of the best movies on the aviation during the WW II is TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH This one shows us with enough realism of the diurnal missions of bombardment. also there is a movie that I like much, though it does not treat of WW II that it is THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER

10-28-2004, 12:14 PM	#14
Halliburton New in Town Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 27	There are some good flying scenes in the last episode of "Foyle's War" first season. Anyone say "1941" yet? "Bridge Too Far" "The English Patient" __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...alliburton.jpg

10-28-2004, 12:28 PM	#15
MikeyB17 One of the Regulars Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 190	More nautical than aviation, but notable for probably the only cinematic appearance of a Grumman Duck, is 'Murphy's War'. Must be more, must be more...'Flying Tigers', of course. And there's a B-25 in 'Forever Young' (Mel Gibson chick flick). Oh yes of course-'The Dambusters', and 'The Right Stuff'! Bound to be others. __________________ 'Don't hit me with those negative waves!' 'That's some bad hat, Harry.'

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode