BOOKS & MOVIES.....

[Apteryx]

Being fairly new to this forum, have you ever asked for members recomendations on (even old) books & movies.

Movie-wise: there are some great movies and outstanding flying sequences, wasted in mediocre movies, (that if you've got a good slow-mo feature, are worth the price of the movie).
-Flight of the Phoenix, (Jimmie Stewart), of coarse.
-MAD-MAD WORLD comes to mind, imagine flying through that billboard.
-Birds of Prey, helicopter chase movie, with David Jennsen (long version) has some of James Gavin's, (helicopter "movie" pilot's), best work.
-Warlover (Steve McQueen), great buzz job

-Books: Chickenhawk (Robert Mason), thankfully I just missed Viet Nam but following Roberts transformation into a helicopter pilot, gives me a felling of what it probably would have been like....

LOVE TO KEEP THIS ROLLING........................................... .Paul

[AAFO_WSagar]

Paul, I second "ChickenHawk" GREAT book! I read it several times and have a well worn copy somewhere in storage. I also read his sequel to it... not nearly as interesting but interesting to see where he wound up.

Movie you did not mention but absolute classic.. "1941" Ackroid & Belushi <sp?> Robert stack, Treat Williams (as Sgt. or Lt. obsessed with the pretty blondie)

I'm also very fond of "Caddyshack" though it's not aviation related.

Good thread!

Wayne

[rpzo]

I third Chickenhawk, great book.

Two aviation movies that I find myself watching whenever they are on the History Channel or AMC are "The Tuskegee Airmen" and "The Bridges of To Ko Ri." I also have a well worn video of "The Memphis Belle".

Another lesser known aviation related movie that I enjoyed was called "Cloud Dancer" (?) with David Carradine (?). It is about the two aerobatic competition pilots that get involved with flying drugs over the border. Very menacing P-51 that tries to force them down over the desert. I think I got the name right, been awhile since I last saw it.

Rick

[AAFO_WSagar]

Another lesser known aviation related movie that I enjoyed was called "Cloud Dancer" (?) with David Carradine (?). It is about the two aerobatic competition pilots that get involved with flying drugs over the border. Very menacing P-51 that tries to force them down over the desert. I think I got the name right, been awhile since I last saw itOur friend Jimmy Leeward flew his airplane in that movie and, I *think* that's where he got the name for her.

It remains one that I've not seen and, since I subscribe to "NetFlix" I'm gonna go there right now and see if I can find it!

If you are a movie watcher, NetFlix is awesome. They have nearly every movie ever produced it seems. I've found obscure titles that I've never seen in video stores and have asked about only to get blank stares.. one of which is "Buckaroo Banzi" .. if you like offbeat humor, you'll like this one..

Wayne

[rpzo]

Hey Wayne, If you can't find it on NetFlix I've got a third generation copy of Cloud Dancer in a box somewhere that I could send to you. The problem is that you would have to watch through a video of the Blue Angels flying F-4's, Thunderbirds flying F-4's, F-15's based out of Bitburg Germany in mock dogfights, a friend of mine flying a glider over the Air Force Academy, as well as a few other odds and ends before you got to the movie.

Rick

[AAFO_WSagar]

Hey Wayne, If you can't find it on NetFlix I've got a third generation copy of Cloud Dancer in a box somewhere that I could send to you. The problem is that you would have to watch through a video of the Blue Angels flying F-4's, Thunderbirds flying F-4's, F-15's based out of Bitburg Germany in mock dogfights, a friend of mine flying a glider over the Air Force Academy, as well as a few other odds and ends before you got to the movie.

RickRick, much to my disappointment, NetFlix does not have the movie listed! And that, after my having given them a free plug too boot!

It's a pretty old "Made for TV" flick I think so that'd probably be why..

I'd love to see the copy you have.. do you need me to send you a blank tape for copying? I wonder if Jimmy has any old copies of it lying around?

Wayne

[rpzo]

Hmmm, finding 2 VCR's to do the copies could be a problem. Lemme see what I can work out.

[Apteryx]

[QUOTE=rpzo]"The Bridges of Toko Ri" & "Cloud Dancer"
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Sidebar(s):

Rick-

There's a segment from ( :dunno: ) show, that details the making of To Ko Ri, well worth watching.... The bridge attack sequences, were actually shot with leaded scale aircraft, over a big model board. Had me fooled the first time I saw it. In the days horribly disproportionate movies like Godzilla, it change the standards for movie modeling.

Second, Cloud Dancer had a REAL low budget, they wanted the star pilot to have a unique leather flight suite, but could only afford to have ONE made, so they selected the REAL pilot by approximating Carradine's size. I believe it was Gene Soucy that (won) that distinktion. Anyway,
Carradine was going through his hippie phase, (Grasshopper no bathe),
and were they were shooting, was hot.........
Imagine slipping into somebody elses , hot, sweaty leathers........ :eek:
So Gene,(correct if I'm wrong here), went WAY above & beyond...
The things people do for aviation that often go unrewarded.
SALUTE...................... :thumbsup:
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Paul

[AAFO_WSagar]

Hmmm, finding 2 VCR's to do the copies could be a problem. Lemme see what I can work out.Yep, I always have that problem when I want to run off a copy of a tape. Someday, computers will be able to accept a normal TV output, record it and put it on DVD...

I'm laughing at myself, because I spent as much on the video card for this computer as many people spend on their entire computer and it has all that video crap built in, if I ever took the time to hook it up properly, I should be able to do just what I described above..

Bout the time I need to replace the card, I'll feel really bad because I spent so much money... till then, I'm sitting here thinking about all my Hi8 mm tapes from the races...hummn... I would have to dig back, find the tapes, then I could tell you what year but, I think, '88 or so.. I was pretty much taping all the unlmited races from the stands from start to finish. I also spent a lot of time walking around the pits doing video stuff.. It's all pretty HQ with the Hi8 but I bet I've only watched one or two of them..

If that..

Anyway... if you find a way to copy it or trust me to send it back.. lemme know, I'll spring for the postage..

Wayne

[T. Adams]

I'm sure few people have seen this, but "Threshold - The Blue Angels Experience" is 93 minutes of awesome action from 1975. It was filmed in 1970. This was when they were flying the F-4's. It is really something. I have a VHS copy bought at the EAA museum many years ago at Oshkosh. A quick check on the imdb.com shows that it is not available in any form now. There was a edited 30min version called "Winter Training", but the full version is just a classic.

Also always a classic, but not with a lot of action is 12 O'Clock High.


By the way there are 5 used copies of Cloud Dancer on Amazon.com.

[rpzo]

Threshold - The Blue Angels Experience

That's on this tape I have too! Awesome stuff. Another one of the titles is "Once Upon a Thunderbird" which is the T-birds in their F-4's. It's been awhile since I watched either but I have a feeling I may be making a pan of popcorn and staying up late tonight.

[Apteryx]

...
Also always a classic, but not with a lot of action is 12 O'Clock High.

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I don't think Gregory Peck has made a BAD movie, really FELT his pain of sending (boys/men) off to die.
I loved him in Horatio Hornblower,too, (great sea flick, bye the way. Showing things like trying to repair the ship while still engaged in battle, so they're not sitting ducks, don't see that in other similar movies).
......................................
Ditto-Threshold, loved when the solo giggles, inverted at the top of a loop, and goes HMPH, "got down to 45 knots on that one..."
Always admired and strived for the focus and crispness of the formation calls, but I'd usually get 1-GO,2-GO,3-GO,4----------oooohhhh......aaaahhhhhhh......yeah...........I mean-GO.....I guess...........(Don't fly formation with people with A.D.D.)
.................................................. ...................Paul

[T. Adams]

As for books, I highly recommend any of the books about the 8th Air Force in WWII by Roger Freeman. There are three that I have read. "The Phantom Story" by Anthony Thornborough is also excellent.

OT - but I have to also recommend "When Pride Still Mattered", Vince Lombardi's biography

[Apteryx]

continuing....
Books: I've got a warm spot for Richard Bach's work. Anything actually
written by Tom Clancey. Martain Caidens "Fork Tailed Devils". "Flight
of the Intruder". Of coarse Ernst Gahn....
I've received a collection of Antionne de St. Exbury, (hope I got that right), recomended to me, but haven't got around to them yet.
"Black Sheep" Boyington and one his squadron's guys: "They Once
Were Eagles". The womans perspective of WWII flying in "Silver
Wings and Santiago Blue". Had one of our more seasoned pilots,
strongly recomend "Sagitarius Rising" but it's way out of print & haven't found a copy, yet...

Movies: I neglected "Airplane" earlier, (even funnier for those familiar with the genre of films, it's parodying, (God Is My Co-pilot....)
"The Aviator" has some beautiful sequences
"Fate is the Hunter", good story, personally didn't like the casting
"Blue Thunder"
a little obscure: John Carpenters first VERY low budget "Dark Star"
(one of the space suites is a Rug-Doctor, with a muffin tin on the chest,
ship controls are from a Pinto. The alien is a beach-ball, but it's probably the best representation of what long term space flight would REALLY be like, everyone's going a little nuts. Philisophical discussion with a sentiant bomb, make it a (cult) classic.

T.V. for us old farts: "Sky King", "Whirley Birds", come on Wayne, help out here.
Got Most of my stuff in storage right now, doing this from memory, more to follow...........................................P aul

[AAFO_WSagar]

T.V. for us old farts: "Sky King", "Whirley Birds", come on Wayne, help out here.Oh man... I remember that chopper show being my absolute favorite! Once when I lived in Fallon (long time ago) my family actually my mom and my sisters, went to the rodeo and they had one selling rides.. we couldn't afford a ride for both of us, and my dad hated flying. The guy giving the rides said he'd fit me in for free in the middle if I wanted to go.. I was too scared (only about 5 yrs maybe 4 old) to go without my dad so we just sat there in our car and watched for hours.. The Bell 47 is still a very neat machine... all framework and a bubble, that's about it.

I've got a ton of great aviation books that I'd dig through and give recommendations but they too are in storage.

Wonder if any of the old Whirly Birds series episodes were put on any sort of media that any survive today? Would be neat to see just how "bad" it was... As I recall, the two main stars were kind of a for hire service but each week, something bad happened that only their -47 could save the day... cool stuff!

Wayne

[connie]

Being fairly new to this forum, have you ever asked for members recomendations on (even old) books & movies.

Here's a link to a list of movies w/ Aviation. By the way, I'd love to get a copy of Toward the Unknown. I think William Holden is in it.
Connie
http://faculty.dwc.edu/nicosia/apcm_list_of_aviation_movies.htm

[AAFO_WSagar]

I notice a fair amount of messages where the "quote" thing gets truncated... and it's usually at the end of the message quote..

If you make sure that the end of the quote has a bracket going this way [ then the forward slash / then quote behind that, then a closing ] it will all work...

The [ tells the proggy that a command is going to be given, then since the quote started with a [quote if you don't close the [/quote (that's what the forward slash does is close the command) the proggy doesn't present it as a quote..

Dont worry much about it.. if I see them, I usually open up your message and fix the "code" so it works.. ;)

Wayner

[Apteryx]

Here's a link to a list of movies w/ Aviation. By the way, I'd love to get a copy of Toward the Unknown. I think William Holden is in it.
Connie
http://faculty.dwc.edu/nicosia/apcm_list_of_aviation_movies.htm
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Thanks Connie, good link... :thumbsup:
That would take a life-time to wade through. that's were the recomendations come in handy.
I'd frogetten Dr. Strangelove....George C. Scott's line about
"frying chickens, in the barnyard" alone is enough to put it on the list.
keep 'em coming...................................Paul

[Apteryx]

Oh man...
Wonder if any of the old Whirly Birds series episodes were put on any sort of media that any survive today? Would be neat to see just how "bad" it was... As I recall, the two main stars were kind of a for hire service but each week, something bad happened that only their -47 could save the day... cool stuff!

Wayne
Helicopter 38-Bravo, out of Longwood Field (I've got a wierd memory),
I could sing you the theme songs, to a lot of those old shows, but I don't drink anymore........................(Fireball-XL5 was my singature piece).
Sky King episodes are showing up, hope they'll show up, someday.
Used to love "Jett Jackson" too, (with his sidekick Icabod Mudd <2-d's>).
Saw a clip of that one, not too long ago, I dont think I'd be Tivo-ing it, today.
I Did manage to wangle some stick-time in a '47
:D... :cool: ....... :thumbsup: ................................Paul

[AAFO_WSagar]

.
I'd frogetten Dr. Strangelove....George C. Scott's line about
"frying chickens, in the barnyard" alone is enough to put it on the list.
keep 'em coming...................................PaulI had forgotten about that movie and then was reminded of it by the "act" that the B-52 commander put on while partying with them down at the O club at Nellis... (sort of a "kill kill kill pysco act ;)) Now the crew were all in no more than their 20's, the commander, maybe eary to mid 30's. So the movie is not exactly their generation. I wondered if they'd seen it... bah.. stupid question! They not only have seen it, as soon as I asked, they started doing scenes from the movie. Had all the dialoge nailed they did... That was a fun bunch! Got to tour their airplane the next day also.. VERY hot up there without the AC on... Those airplanes are OLD and there has been no effort to "restore" them. They are vastly modernized electronically but, just OLD everywhere else..

Wayne

[Apteryx]

B-52's, Those airplanes are OLD and there has been no effort to "restore" them. They are vastly modernized electronically but, just OLD everywhere else..

Wayne
WAYNE-
I know I'm about the same age, and I could use some new "moderinized" parts.
Had a friend assigned to a B52 squadren, and not ONE of the guy's, was older then the airplanes they were flying.

P.S. OK I think I've got a handle on the quote-thing...... :D .......Paul

[AAFO_WSagar]

WAYNE-
I know I'm about the same age, and I could use some new "moderinized" parts.
Had a friend assigned to a B52 squadren, and not ONE of the guy's, was older then the airplanes they were flying.

P.S. OK I think I've got a handle on the quote-thing...... :D .......PaulThey are quite the airplane! I'd never been that close to one, let alone, get up inside and sit in the right seater's slot!

And yes, you've got the quote thing doan and, I could use some of those new parts as well!

Wayner

[Apteryx]

They are quite the airplane! I'd never been that close to one, let alone, get up inside and sit in the right seater's slot!
Wayner
WANDERING OFF THREAD-
I just like to watch them take-off, they don't rotate, they levitate.
I don't know if they still have them, but they used to have (nuclear) blast sheilds, that drop down behind the cockpit windows, to slightly, prolong the crews lives. Talk about trusting your instruments......
Nixon had them orbiting JUST outside Soviet airspace, a few times, they DO make a statement. Their missions are often looooong, they are hot, heavy, smelly, relatively slow, beasts, a big salute to the men and women that fly them, certainly not glamorous duty.... :thumbsup:

[AAFO_WSagar]

WANDERING OFF THREAD-
I just like to watch them take-off, they don't rotate, they levitate.
I don't know if they still have them, but they used to have (nuclear) blast sheilds, that drop down behind the cockpit windows, to slightly, prolong the crews lives. Talk about trusting your instruments......
Nixon had them orbiting JUST outside Soviet airspace, a few times, they DO make a statement. Their missions are often looooong, they are hot, heavy, smelly, relatively slow, beasts, a big salute to the men and women that fly them, certainly not glamorous duty.... :thumbsup:No ****e! They take off with a negative angle of attack a lot of times! Nose down climb... that's kind of helicopter like..

Second the salute!

Wayne

[T. Adams]

Movies- I forgot about The Right Stuff. The F-104 takeoff sequence is my favorite part. Good home theater surround sound demo clip at the time it came out. I even had it on Laserdisc!!

[Apteryx]

Movies- I forgot about The Right Stuff. !
I'll still take the book, that's the problem with Hollywood, they try to "punch-up", or glamorize, stories that stand well enough, on there own. Changing history, dumbing-up story lines, laugh tracks, fictitional characters, simplifying dialoge, trying to reach the lowest common denominator. I've seen footage from a cruise missle test, knap of the earth, that beats that stupid "psychodelic" cr*p for Yeagers mach runs. What, was he supposed to be on acid. PLEEEASE.

Of coarse there's TOP GUN, some beautiful footage, and saddly lost Art Scholl, to the thing, but there wasn't a military pilot I know, that didn't need a barf-bag.

I've seen a multiple generation video copy of carrier mis-haps, no narration, that I'd pay to see, over 98% of Hollywood's offerings.

Sorry "T", that movie pulls my "eject" handle .................Paul

[rpzo]

Of coarse there's TOP GUN, some beautiful footage, and saddly lost Art Scholl, to the thing, but there wasn't a military pilot I know, that didn't need a barf-bag.

My favorite line from Top Gun was when Iceman says "Maverick's in a flat spin, and he's headed out to sea." :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Of course, if you edit out all the non-flying sequences and anything plot related your left with about 37 minutes of decent F-14 flying footage.

[Apteryx]

RE: Top Gun
Of course, if you edit out all the non-flying sequences and anything plot related your left with about 37 minutes of decent F-14 flying footage.
....TRUE
They got a pretty recruiting film out of it, but I'd rather watch
"Hot Shots" one or duex, "be careful, it's dangerous out there...".. :D
.................................................. ......................Paul

[Eric]

In the movie "Empire of the Sun" had a great scene at the end when some Mustangs attack the POW/Japanese Airfield and the kid just going crazy seeing them. They focus one part on the kid just staring and one of the pilot's as he waves to him. Pretty dramatic!

[Apteryx]

In the movie "Empire of the Sun" had a great scene at the end when some Mustangs attack the POW/Japanese Airfield
I'd heard they were scaled r/c's, anyone know for sure ?
They did look pretty good.............................................. .Paul

[T. Adams]

I'd heard they were scaled r/c's, anyone know for sure ?
They did look pretty good.............................................. .Paul


Those were real Mustangs. Here is an obit for one of the Pilots.
http://www.ofmc.co.uk/mah/obituary.htm

More info. on the UK outfit who supplied the P-51's for the movie.
http://www.ukwarbirds.fsnet.co.uk/operators%20%20OFMC.htm

[rpzo]

I'd heard they were scaled r/c's, anyone know for sure ?

Those were real Mustangs. Here is an obit for one of the Pilots.

Your both right. Spielberg used a combination of real aircraft and R/C's.

Check out this link about 3/4 of the way down the page.

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_4/empireofthesun.html

I recall seeing the behind the scenes documentary of the making of that movie and that they used both. I recall that the R/C Mustangs had about a 6 foot wingspan.

Rick

[Apteryx]

There are some HORRIBLE movies, with ligitimate crash scenes, that make them worth picking up at the bargain table. Here's two:

1)-"Attack of the Killer Tomatoes", the helicopter crash scene was NOT planned, and when you slo-mo, the reaction of the 'cop' actor in the foreground, is priceless.

2)-"Mother Lode", a movie I'm sure Charelton Heston would just as soon forget, but other then some good flight sequences in the begining, there's a crash, (TOTALLY UNPLANNED), of an amphib (think it was a 206), landing on a mountain lake, that caused them to completly re-write the movie, because they just COULDN'T pass up using the footage. They inserted the dialogue of the "concerned" girl friend, saying "are you SURE we're going to make-it, and the pilot of coarse says "PIECE OF CAKE" (famous last words).

*NOTE- I would never knowingly recomend ANY footage, we're anyone is seriously hurt. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT ABOUT SOME OF THESE STUPID 'VIDEO' SHOWS.........Paul

[hattend]

I saw a long trailer for the new "Flight of the Phoenix" on Sunday.

I hate to say it as I am a big fan of the Jimmy Stewart classic, but the new movie looks like it will be fun.

Can't wait to see it

Don

My favorite flying movies?

12 O'Clock High
Waldo Pepper
Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Spirit of St Louis
Strategic Air Command
Flight of the Phoenix
Top Gun (cut out the ground bound stuff)
Bridges of Toko Ri
Birds of Prey (Unbelievable Helicopter action)
TV Series Black Sheep Squadron
The mini-series From the Earth to the Moon
Final Countdown

Plus lots more...heheheh

Don

[Apteryx]

I saw a long trailer for the new "Flight of the Phoenix" on Sunday.
I hate to say it as I am a big fan of the Jimmy Stewart classic, but the new movie looks like it will be fun.
Can't wait to see it
Some of my favorite flying movies:
Birds of Prey (Unbelievable Helicopter action)
TV Series Black Sheep Squadron
Final Countdown
Don
Don-
*Here's hoping, on 'Phoenix', (I can count the remakes I liked, on one hand.
-If youv'e got good slo-mo, watch the scene in Birds of Prey, were they are chasing the guy down the road, the helicopter's tail rotor is actually taking chunks out of the bushes; and the face-off in the hanger, must've been some INTERESTING turbulance...Gavin & his crew are amazing
-The real Boyington met the tv version, and reportley said: "I'd love to have had you in my squadron......so I could've knock you on your *ss...".
-Top Gun, Loved the footage, wouldn't have minded the ground stuff, if Kelley had reprieved the "Witness" bath scene......(I know, pervert)..
-Forgot about Final Countdown. Loved the disparety in technologies it really puncuates, how far we've come.

Anyway, thanks for keeping the thread, rolling...........Paul