Contributing editor Walter J. Boyne rates Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines and Wings (left and right) among the best aviation movies, and Top Gun (center) among the worst.'While it will offend many, my first choice for worst aviation film ever is Top Gun, starring the man who needed the biggest pillow available to reach the controls, Tom Cruise'
In a very happy coincidence, the airplane and the motion picture came into their own at roughly the same time. The significance of the December 17, 1903, Wright brothers flight is paralleled in film history by the advent of two famous cinematic productions, A Trip to the Moon in 1902 and The Great Train Robbery in 1903. If you're willing to stretch your definitions a bit, A Trip to the Moon might even be construed as an aviation film, though it definitely would not make most people's 10 best—or 10 worst—lists.
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Picking such a list is entirely subjective, of course, not only as a matter of taste but as a matter of background, your age when you first saw a film, your ability to suspend disbelief and your willingness not to be too picky about technical details. I've had the excellent help of some experts in the field in putting together my own list, including author Barrett Tillman (BT); editor, publisher and distinguished film critic David Hogan (DH); and inimitable Jeopardy player, writer and industry champion Jeff Rhodes (JR). All the choices listed here are my own, but I'll also include my collaborators' insightful comments, attributed by means of their initials.
On the whole, most of us might confess to being too picky. We're upset when warplane markings are not correct for the period, and we get downright angry when those blasted three Douglas SBDs are portrayed once again as Japanese dive bombers. Perhaps not surprisingly, we are not so picky with films about other subjects. Most of us can watch a film about medical procedures or courtroom protocol and never see the glaring inaccuracies that leap to the eyes of doctors or lawyers.
For this article, I have set some ground rules for myself in evaluating both the selections and the rationale for selection of the 10 best and 10 worst aviation films ever made. They are:
1. Taking into consideration when the film was made.
2. Not being too stuffy about minor technical errors.
3. Not letting a saccharine story line get you down, even if June Allyson cries more than she usually does.
4. Attempting to evaluate the film as a story rather than as merely a medium to show aircraft.
5. Going with my gut feeling (probably the most important).
6. Making sure it deals with World War I (just kidding, maybe).
You'll note there's no mention of the current blessing or blight, depending upon your point of view, of using computer-generated imagery (CGI). We have to admit that it has come a long way, even if the artists involved ignore such things as turn rates, acceleration, speeds and so on. There is no question that the 9-G turns at street level in Pearl Harbor were hard to swallow. And while we may not be happy with the torturous story line of Flyboys (and could they have picked a more insulting title?), you must admit that seeing Gothas in flight is remarkable even as CGI. And so were the images of the Zeppelin, especially the sequential explosion of its gas bags. So for the purposes of this article, let us forgive them their CGI errors, and bless them for what they offer in images that are otherwise totally unavailable.
Top 10 Best
1. Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)
This good-humored romp has it all, with wonderful replicas of both successful and unsuccessful early flying machines, beautiful scenery and a great cast that includes Terry Thomas, Sarah Miles and Irina Demick as Brigitte, Ingrid, Marlene, Françoise, Yvette and Betty. Each of Demick's characters is gorgeous, dutifully surprised and wonderfully willing. Even though the replica aircraft had more reliable power plants and were better built than the originals, they were still challenging to fly, and they nicely convey just how magnificent flying truly was in the first decade of flight.
2. Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Written in part by Beirne Lay Jr., this epic reflects both his love of the U.S. Army Air Forces and his firsthand knowledge of the real events upon which the film is based. Gregory Peck, always a reliable performer, is at his best in this film, which takes advantage of still available B-17s and extensive combat footage to make the flight scenes very realistic.
Twelve O'Clock High is of course about leadership and command more than it is about airplanes, and as such it could serve today as both a military and a corporate training vehicle. Mercifully, the screenwriters did not feel the need to interject the usual mandatory love interest, and the film benefits greatly from this. DH rightly says, "The only other one that comes close (and indeed it comes pretty close) is Command Decision (with Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, Charles Bickford, Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy, John Hodiak and Cameron Mitchell—wow!).
3. Wings (1927)
Wings was awarded the first-ever Best Picture Oscar in 1929, a salute to its director William Wellman, a former member of the Lafayette Flying Corps. Wellman had flown in France with the same Tommy Hitchcock who one war later saw the potential of the Merlin engine to power the P-51 Mustang. Wellman also served briefly after the war with the U.S. Army Air Corps. He got a job in Hollywood as a messenger, and quickly worked his way up to director.
Wellman's reputation and contacts were enough to persuade the Air Corps to furnish a virtual armada of more than 220 aircraft for the picture. These include Thomas Morse MB-3A Scouts, Curtiss P-1 Hawks, Martin MB-2s and de Havilland D.H.4s. A few World War I aircraft, including a Spad VII, a Fokker D.VII and an S.E.5a, also make appearances.
In contrast to Twelve O'Clock High, the film features a typically goofy love story of the time, a triangle between Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen and the inimitable Clara Bow. Interestingly enough, Wellman, writer F.J. Saunders, Arlen and Rogers were all pilots. I'm told that Bow had other interests. DH comments that "The love triangle is well played: It's tongue in cheek and a little bit understated, and you just can't beat Clara Bow. In real life she was a very frightened, unhappy woman, but she remains a luminous screen presence, and a good actress, too." BT notes that in one scene Rogers is clearly shown flying a Thomas Morse. Wow! It was very unusual for a star's life to be risked in such a manner.
4. Hell's Angels (1930)
Good acting isn't everything, not if you can marshal the number of genuine WWI aircraft Howard Hughes used to produce this extravaganza. He also went to great lengths to make contemporary aircraft look enough like the real thing when flown in formation or lined up for takeoff, even making over a Curtiss Jenny to resemble an Avro 504. Only a relatively small percentage of this film deals with aviation, but that little bit is remarkable. The studio work done with the Zeppelin is amazing, better than many of today's special effects. The monumental dogfight scenes were incorporated in dozens of other films and are still stolen today for use in documentaries. So despite its many faults (terrible acting, bad story line, not enough flying scenes), Hell's Angels is an inevitable choice for the top 10. (As an aside, the best part of the recent film The Aviator was the segment devoted to Hughes' making Hell's Angels.)
DH says that the dogfight and Zeppelin scenes are great—"Plus you get the immortal Jean Harlow (in two-strip Technicolor, no less). She hadn't yet learned how to act (she mostly strikes poses), but her flesh impact is overpowering."
5. Strategic Air Command (1955)
The aerial shots of the Convair B-36 and Boeing B-47 in Strategic Air Command are perhaps the most beautiful ever filmed. They expertly convey the majesty of flight as summoned by those two remarkable aircraft. Jimmy Stewart is especially good in the scenes where he is purportedly flying the aircraft. His realistic manner—with no drastic movements of the control yoke, no dead-ahead stare, no wandering gaze—tells you he is an experienced pilot. He sits and scans the instruments, making small incremental corrections—showing he knows exactly what he is doing.
The story and screenplay by Beirne Lay is adequate except that it provides an opportunity for the always teary-eyed June Allyson to give her usual irritating impression of a wife who doesn't get it about her husband's love of flying. My ranking of Strategic Air Command among the top 10 rests primarily on its aerial photography and only secondarily on its story about the dedication of the members of SAC.
6. The Blue Max (1966)
What, another WWI movie? Well yes, I grew up on these, and can tell you that nothing was more welcome than the arrival of The Blue Max, the first (to my knowledge) WWI aviation film made in color. We owe a lot to Jack Hunter, author of the novel on which the film is based, who died this past year.
The replicas built for the film are adequate—let's face it, seeing any Pfalz in flight is worthwhile. The cinematography is superb. George Peppard plays his usual stone-faced self, but there is Ursula Andress to compensate.
The story line has an interesting twist—the aristocrats versus the plebes in a German fighter squadron. As we know, many German fighter pilots were not commissioned, so it must have been Peppard's personality that brought down Willi von Klugerman's (Jeremy Kemp's) disdain. DH is, as usual, more charitable than I, pointing out that Peppard "was always good at projecting haughtiness (see him as the all-but-in-name Howard Hughes, building his aviation empire, in The Carpetbaggers)."
7. Battle of Britain (1969)
The massive effort to gather the requisite number of Hurricanes, Messerschmitts, Spitfires and Heinkels was well worthwhile, and the special effects are not bad for the time. All aficionados know that the Messerschmitts and Heinkels were ex–Spanish air force, powered by Merlin engines, but it doesn't bother anyone. The cast of characters is spectacular, and the producers had the good taste and good sense to cast Laurence Olivier as Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding. Susannah York is thrown in as a good-looking, worthwhile addition. The plot line is derived from an excellent book of the time, The Narrow Margin.
The ground scenes were filmed at Duxford, contributing to the general realism of the effort. They actually burned down a WWII hangar for the film—that's getting a little too realistic. BT adds, "When I was at Duxford in 1991, there was a plaque on the site of the former hangar, saying that it had regrettably been blown up during the filming of a motion picture!"
8. The Dam Busters (1955) and 633 Squadron (1964)
These two films are lumped together because they represent a time when good, clean, patriotic airplane films were made in the UK, using real airplanes and decent special effects. The number of Lancasters and Mosquitos available to the producers was limited, but in the case of The Dam Busters, some good wartime film footage was edited in. I'm sure anyone who knew "bouncing bomb" inventor Barnes Wallis in real life must have laughed a little at Michael Redgraves' avuncular portrayal of him, but Richard Todd was perfect for the Guy Gibson role. In 633 Squadron, Cliff Roberston did his usual fine job, no doubt enjoying the chance to be around the Mosquito.
BT notes that "At least one or two serial numbers are correct on the Lancs. When did Hollywood ever do that?" (Answer: Never ever.) DH adds a comment I wish I'd been smart enough to make: "The Dam Busters is solid on just about every level, but what most impresses me about it is its determination to show and explain rather complex physics—and make it thrilling." And re 633 Squadron, BT laments: "They BURNED A MOSSIE! Apparently an airworthy one, at that."
9. The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
"Where do they get these men?" is, I believe, the question asked by Fredric March at the end of the film, and in a way this really defines the movie's message. (DH agrees, commenting: "The conclusion of The Bridges at Toko-Ri shocked audiences in 1954, and not simply because a big movie star ends up dead. What's devastating is the sacrifice made by noncareer fliers who rise to the occasion and do great things when called.") Operating jets off WWII-era carriers was tricky business at best, and doing it under the conditions prevailing in Korea made it even more difficult. While the movie doesn't portray the accident rate as anything like it was at the time, it does convey the ever-present danger and the courage it took to make the really tough missions. William Holden does his angry man routine, but Mickey Rooney more than makes up for it with his portrayal of the helicopter pilot.
10. The High and the Mighty (1954)
Another airplane film directed by William Wellman, with the great Ernest Gann authoring not only the book on which it is based but also the screenplay. The result is an aviation disaster film that represents the best of the genre. It has solid, if dated, acting by a good cast, and a believable ending that even Sully Sullenberger would approve of. BT comments: "I used to date a 737 driver. She said all the FOs loved the film because the copilot slugs the pilot and gets away with it." DH notes that "The High and the Mighty finally made it to DVD in the last year or so, to great excitement in the movie buff community."
And in a worthy coda to our top-10 list, BT points to the "Best aero flick not mentioned here: Task Force (1949) with Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, a Dauntless, a Wildcat and some surprisingly good detail." Barrett is as usual correct, and it also really bothers me to have left out such excellent candidates as Dive Bomber, I Wanted Wings, Dawn Patrol and so many others.
Top 10 Worst
1. Top Gun (1986)
While it will offend many, my first choice for worst aviation film ever is Top Gun, starring the man who needed the biggest pillow available to reach the controls, Tom Cruise. I know that many are enamored of this film, and some fighter pilots even suggest that it is a true representation of the cocky fighter pilot spirit, but to me it was an embarrassing waste of time and money. The airplanes are gorgeous, but they are slavered over with the hot spittle of guys who think they are really cute in flying gear, especially when they have neato names. I cannot imagine that anyone of their ilk would be tolerated in any military unit. (I'm now donning my flak jacket to protect myself from the flying insults.) The irony of it is that Hot Shots, the spoof of Top Gun, is a far better film. I rest my case on the fact that an avowed fan of Top Gun, a naval aviator who should know better, is also a fan of the Iron Eagle series.
2. Firefox (1982)
Please don't tell Clint Eastwood I said this, but it is easily the worst picture he ever made, and it also deals incidentally with aircraft. The plot is familiar—the retired expert recalled to do the one-in-a-million job that only he can do—and the imaginary airplane is not bad. But otherwise it is dull, predictable and without any redeeming actual aerial action.
3. Jet Pilot (1957)
Howard Hughes and John Wayne were undoubtedly both ashamed of this mishmash of ideas, made over eight years with different airplanes. The end result was an agonizing, predictable bore. There are some pluses, including shots of a variety of aircraft such as the Northrop F-89, Republic F-84 and others. Reportedly Chuck Yeager did some of the aerobatic flying, which is also a plus. But beautiful Janet Leigh was somehow not convincing as a cold but nonetheless seductive Communist pilot/spy.
4. Stealth (2005)
This film gained a great deal of buzz when photos of a "mystery Navy stealth fighter" were released on the Internet. The mock-up was really quite good and took many people in. The movie itself, however, is amazingly empty of anything but clichés.
5. Midway (1976)
Midway is distinguished by having more changes to an airplane in the course of one sortie than any other picture. It is condemned by the completely phony love story that was stapled to it. Coming after 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora!, it was a real disappointment. Hal Holbrook plays the role of code-breaker Commander Joseph Rochefort with such a broad Mark Twain accent that you expect the carriers to be stern-wheelers.
6. Memphis Belle (1990)
Probably the worst thing about this movie is the fact that William Wyler's wartime documentary about the famous Flying Fortress was so good. While the movie hews generally to the original, The Memphis Belle, the actors' looks and demeanor seem completely foreign to the time. Oddly enough, it has been well reviewed, but any comparison of the original and this film sends this one to the bottom of the barrel.
7. Snakes on a Plane (2006)
This one hardly needs explanation—utterly ghastly in all respects. One can only imagine the amount of cocaine consumed in its creation.
8. Lafayette Escadrille (1958)
William Wellman betrayed his heritage with this turkey of a film, which—by his own admission—was totally unworthy of him. And pairing Tab Hunter with a pretend fighter plane is miscasting of the first order. Even if it's about WWI aviation, it's still terrible.
9. Iron Eagle (1986) and its three sequels
There are some nice airplanes in these films, quite a variety in fact, but the plot lines are so insulting that they make you dislike the people involved with the airplanes. A terrible waste of film, fuel and, if there had been any, talent.
10. Pearl Harbor (2001)
Despite the fact that there are airplanes in this movie, it is probably the worst aviation film ever made, with a startlingly wrong portrayal of the great Jimmy Doolittle by the loathsome Alec Baldwin being the most unforgivable of many errors. They spent so much money and had such a great opportunity to do something well. Instead they delivered this mishmash of bad performances, bad ideas and bad computer effects that condemn the film to the worst 10 of any list.
JR comments that the "All-time worst aviation movie and possibly the worst movie ever made award has to go to Interceptor—ridiculous plot, even more ridiculous ending. You had a little bit of everything—terrorists sliding down the inside of a refueling boom, fully politically correct crew on a C-5, a C-5 opening the front visor in flight, folding-wing F-117s that dogfight and launch air-to-air missiles. Watching this movie was like watching a train wreck; you couldn't keep from NOT watching for fear of missing what was coming next." I've had the good fortune not to see the film, so I couldn't include it on the list, despite its obvious lack of merit.
So there you have it—one man's opinion, for what it's worth, on the 10 best and 10 worst aviation films ever. I'm sure there are many different opinions out there, so post your list below or click here to go to the discussion page.
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I enjoyed Mr.Boyne's Article,"The 10 best and 10 worst Avaition Movies" in the March2010 Issue,but I don't understand why the film"Spirit of St.Louis";Billy Wilder's 1957 film, starring Jimmy Stewart,isn't even mentioned. In Johnny Carson's 1980's interview,Stewart's campain to get the role, although he was over 40,was discussed briefly. Not only was his performance good, what about the 3 replicas built for the film. We have a great example of a pilot making a film about a pilot. The replias were built pretty accurate as far as I know. One is in the Greenfield Village and Henrey Ford Museum. I don't recall the others. I own and watch the movie every year in May…..
To; Walter Boyne, I agree that Top Gun is not a great aviation film, I feel I should say that in Robert K. Wilcox,s book Scream of Eagles,he notes that the call signs/ nicknames ofsome of the real navy pilots who started the ACM movementwhere in fact , Goose ,Iceman and Mavrick. Bob Getts
I would have thought "the Great Waldo Pepper" should be in the top 10.
agree w/comment suggesting "Waldo" get serious consideraion for the list.
Also wonder where "Tora Tora Tora" falls, given the rather meticulous recreation of the attack from both sides, and he significant airframe mods to make period warbirds (AT-6, BT-13, etc.) look remarkably like Zeros and Vals .. Still seen as popular attractions at airshows and in other films. Also, clips from the film are used routinely in many other products revisitinng Pear Harbor — including the well-described turkey of the same name. How many times have you seen the burning PBY; the P-40 prop walking across the ramp and the Navy personnel carrier tossed on its side?
I agree with Boyne that "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" is a really great aviation film.
However, in his "tip of the hat" some were overlooked. James Arness is a Pilot. James Brolin is a Pilot.
All though I am not certain about it, I understand that Paul Newman was an SBD gunner in WW II.
Paul Newman was a radio operator/rear turret gunner on the TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bomber (Torpedo Bomber, Grumman [F] or General Motors [M], not the SBD Dauntless Scout Dive-Bomber Douglas [D].
"The Right Stuff" probably could've bumped one of the selected best films. Though there is limited aviation shown in "The Longest Day" it has memorable performances by both men and machines.
I'm rather surprised that "Men of the Fighting Lady" wasn't included in the Best list. At least as good as "…Toko-ri," it didn't have nearly as much sappy stuff as the Bill Holden/Grace Kelly film. And while I agree Mickey Rooney was great in "…Toko-ri," the rest of the supporting cast was much stronger in "Men of the Fighting Lady."
I would have liked to have seen "Flight of the Phoenix" listed as one of the top 10 greatest. An aircraft down and damaged and then resurrected as a completely different plane. Focus on human endurance and survival. James Stewart as pilot.
How about:
"Fate is the Hunter" Rod Taylor and Glenn Ford, etc.
A airline film with WWII and Cold War scenes, authored
by Gann.
Also many minor British and Canadian films, seldom seen as was that recent Polish film about Poles in the RAF.
Doc
I think That "Battle of britain" presents the add interest that a lot of planes involved, were real ones, procedents from the Museums and fron some airforces, as the Spanish Airforce Buchon (C4k) frame of Me 109 G with rolls royce engine,…and he-111, that ha sbeen made by CAS with the original H-1 airfeame and the ever presents rolls -royce engines, some of the Spitfire and (Hurricane, too, I think) came from RAF museums, british and american enthusiast (Confederate air force), and I´ve read that the nimber of planes involved make this "phanton air-force" take a place before a lot of others national airforces of the day !!!.
I love too, "Mephis belle". and "The Red Baron", "The Star of Africa" (a propaganda film on J. Marseille), and a Czech film named (in Spanish Un cielo azul oscuro " – A dark blue, Sky-´
Modern Combat: Top-Gun.
Thanks to all of you
Regards
Miguel
I'm a little surprised that "Final Countdown" wasn't even mentioned. The dogfights between Zeroes and F-14s were at least interesting, if not terribly plausible…….. ;-)
No "Tora! Tora! Tora!" ? Come on.
And worst is not close. How in God's name did you miss " I Bombed Pearl Harbor" ? NOTHING repeat NOTHING comes close to this crap masterpiece! Wires showing on the wings….Revelle on the ships hull….Get with it. If you're going to do an all-time, you cannot miss the super stinkers.
I was not surprised to see "Midway" on the worst list, but not including "Tora, Tora, Tora" in the Top 10? Clearly an oversight.
Mixed feelings on "Top Gun". Totally misrepresented what the school was about, unbelievable tactical developments, etc, but the planes were real, the cinematogfraphy great (if unrealistic) and it was just plain fun, if not total BS.
Aren't there 11 films in the "Best" list? Two #8s should mean no #9.
I wish there was a place on the Best list for "Spirit of St. Louis" (previously mentioned), the story of Lindbergh's remarkable first solo flight across the Atlantic — I mean, he flew just above the water line and with no front view, and accomplished something no one had done before, and the movie quality is very good. Also, my personal fave is missing: the entertaining classic,"Dawn Patrol."
And, I agree that "Pearl Harbor" had its problems, but the opening with the Japanese planes flying low across Hawaii on their approach to Pearl Harbor, I thought was chilling and very well done.
I acutally like the ones in the worst list better than the originals but I am so not a fan of old black and white war movies or any of them. I am strictly a modern movie but much prefer the sci fi ones. I loved Close Encounters, the first Star Trek movie loved the original and all the sequels, along with the subsequent TV versions of it. Star Wars the first three are all I remember the others have only seen on TV not the same. I will admit I was born in 1952 so maybe there is a generational, male – female point of seeing the movies lol. My husband does love the old ones at least he will sit and watch them but not me. I'm hunting for something else to watch.
I have to strongly agree with the assessment of casting Alec Baldwin as Jimmy Doolittle. Having also been cast as William Barrett Travis in Thirteen Days To Glory I have to wonder just what Hollywood's idea of a real hero is. It sure as heck isn't the likes of Alec Baldwin. I was almost as offended by casting him as these two real heroes as I was at the casting of Martin Sheen as General Robert E. Lee. But I digress. The butcher's job that they did on the Doolittle Raid in Pearl Harbor was unforgiveable. First of all they were all volunteers and it is ridiculous to even pretend that the two brave pilots that managed to get off the ground in their P-40s and shoot down some Japanese planes were involved in that raid, much less ordered to be. That notion totally detracts from the real fact that all 80 of those guys in that raid volunteered. None backed out when given the opportunity. And the firefight and hand-to-hand combat between the downed crew and the Japanese soldiers is as lousy an example of re-writing History as I have ever witnessed. Shame on the makers of that dog and cudos for including it in the worst, but believe me it should edge Top Gun out for the absolute worst.
Command Decision, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, and Flying Tigers, are three I would have listed.
One more thought – Would anyone recommend the short flim clip of the Flight of the Spruce Goose?
just to prove the modern generation can outdo the old guys – ignoring Pearl Harbour (please everyone ignore pearl horbour)
the latest WW1 offerings, Flyboys and Red Baron – truelly raise the bar on CRAP FILMs.
If you ever get a chance to to watch them – don,t they are a truelly wased couple of hours of ones life.
And if you know anything about the subject – they are painful.
I agree that Flyboys was terrible, but didn't think the Red Baron was too bad. Also check out 'Von Richthofen and Brown', another decent movie not mentioned in this discussion.
An all-time worst list that doesn't have Flyboys in the top five isn't a valid list.
Decent group of actors and somebody ruined what could have been a great story. The plot was unbelievable and the actions scenes were some of the worst fx I've seen since The Toxic Avenger.
Forgot to add that I loved Malcolm McDowell's Aces High. Not for the action sequences but for the drama and pressure aspects pilots in WWI obviously felt.
The B-17 flying sequences in The War Lover are certainly some of the best and should have been mentioned.
My opinions somewhat match, reasons differ from experience.
Nice to see the new are 'abit more accurate,editors are still showing wrong aircraft. Is a hoot..
Not so for what I want to tell grand kids about.
Should I just call it entertainment?
I don't see "Chain Lightning" on the worst aviation movie list. This turkey starred Humphry Bogart. as a jet pilot, whose plane engine flamed out. However he makes a dead-stick landing. As far as i'm concerned, the best review of this film was the four-word statement in a UCLA student paper: "Somebody pull the chain." What a waste of outstanding talent.
I know it's hard to whittle down a list to just ten but what about "The Spirit of St. Louis"? I have always enjoyed it lo these fifty years, and every time it comes on late at night I end up watching it to the end.
Agree with "Fate Is The Hunter" as essential to understanding the spirit of the historical "God is my co-pilot" phase of flying (up to the 1950's) when instruments and support systems were still rudimentary (relative to today), and people needed guts, a wing and a prayer – and good luck. Better than June Alyson is Glynis Johns in "No Highway In The Sky" with Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. How many of us oldsters first learned about metal fatigue and points of no return from that movie and the interesting fantasy aircraft, the Reindeer? Don't forget that nice Ju 52 in "Where Eagles Dare"…
Strategic Air Command should be on your WORST list !! I went to it with high hopes, but It was poor acting, a nothing plot, and I thought at the time just a propaganda film for the Strategic Air Command–and still think so. And yes Tora Tora Tora was enough of an "aviation" movie to have been high on your Best list–it was great–and factional as was Midway but for the silly love story.
Thanks for this, reminds me to go find what I never got to see or knew about.
I have to mention the movie "the Hunters" with Robert Mitchum. Lots of great F86 shots plus some F84 bad guys. Hokey story line especially the later half but the flying is fine. Pity they did not follow Salter's book more but guess that was a tad more depressing in the end. A Top Ten list, good or bad, is always fun as there are lots of movies that could have been included…gets you thinking..lots of fans out there.
The Hunters tops my list as one of the all the all time greats…
Tsk Tsk! How could you have possibly overlooked for the Best Ten my all time favorite WWI air combat movie, "The Dawn Patrol", starring those heroic men of steel Basil Rathbone, Errol Flynn and David Niven? I still watch it for the umpteenth time whenever it comes back on TV, even when it's scheduled to show again at 2:30 a.m.
Yeah…great movie…great acting!
Re: Jimmy Stewart in Strategic Air Command
There's a good reason that Jimmy Stewart would seem at home in an Air Force bomber's cockpit. He served in the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve as a bomber piilot for 27 years, from WWII to the Vietnam War, retiring as a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve.
I watched "Battle of Britain" on TV the other day. Problem is, the tv guide I-D'd it as the similarly named "the Battle of Britain", filmed in 1943. It took a while before I figured it out, I couldn't beleive they were destroying actual flight-worthy aircraft at the height of WWII.
Some other great aviation movies not mentioned: Fighter Squadron with Robert Stack, Winged Victory with Edmund O'Brien and The McConnell Story with Alan Ladd.
In an interview Paul Newman described his WWII role as "a back-man on a torpedo bomber". Charles Bronson was a gunner on a B 29 and Jack Palance got his sinister face from injuries suffered in a B 24 crash.
I believe George Peppard was also a pilot and did some of his own flying in the Blue Max (though not the under-the-bridge scenes). The scenes where he loops the doomed "mono-plane" have lighting and shadows that would be impossible to fake.
I agree with many-"Tora, Tora, Tora" should be on anyone's "best" list. When speaking of awful, how could you overlook "Flyboys?"
Interesting article and basically I agree with the ratings of these movies. There was one off the list, however, that had some really good F14 Tomcat flying scenes, and carrier scenes, called The Final Countdown, with Kirk Douglas.
Can anyone name the Robert Mitchum movie about Koran War jet action…I think also "A Gathering of Eagles" should be on one of the list.
By the by, the comment about Tom Cruise needing a pillow…I have never met a fighter pilot over average height (5'8") most were two or three inches below.
"One Minute to Zero." My father was Air Force technical advisor for this film. S. Paul Latiolais. I was looking for this film on this list. Thanks!
I'm 5'10". It's is true that you've never met me. But all the fighter pilots I work with are taller than Tom Cruise, a few are so tall they have to slouch to meet the ejection seat requirements.
Best All-time Aviation Movie??? That's easy — The Rocketeer! It had it all…real flying replicas from the Golden Age of Air Racing, an autogyro, a dirigible, cool cars, big band music, good looking babes, a guy with a jet-pack and plenty of good old hollywood hokum to keep you entertained.
The Gee Bee Model Z, used in the Rocketeer, can be seen at Kermit Weeks' place in Florida. I believe Weeks also has Delmar Benjamin's R-1.
The Great Waldo Pepper comes in second in my book.
The rocketeer…a wonderfully fun if not campy movie…!
I do n't understand why such a fine movie like "High Aces" was not involved into Top 10 Best aviation movies ever produced. I suppose it' is better than "Blue Max".
I'm sorry that I missed in the "Top Best" the movie that I suppose is one of the best about WWI. This is "High Aces" with the excellent performance of Mc Dowel.
Movies that I like that were omitted: Flight of The Intruder, Bat 21, Air America, Flyboys, The Great Santini, Blackhawk Down.
For my money, the all-time worst aviation film is "God is My Co-Pilot," based on the book by my namesake Robert Scott. The book is excellent, but the movie was made in a hurry and intended to be a propaganda device. Really awful scenes of dogfights between Zero's and P-40s (which the Americans avoided as a rule,) and enemy pilots conversing with each other over their radios using corny, absurd phrases like "Now you die, Yankee dog!" Good grief.
Am I the only person on the planet that enjoyed "Flyboys?" I loved the digital aerial scenes and the spectacular camera work enough to tolerate some of the more silly stuff. I did my homework. There was a black guy in the real group and there were a couple of pet lions on the scene as well.
I thought the War Lover was good. I know the plot line was weak and it was more of a love story but I would put in my top ten for the B-17 fottage. My favorite line from movie was "the trouble with you Bolin is that you don't know how to relax" (in context anyway). Top Gun was silly and "feel good" but I've know some fighter pilots were just like Maverick. Not all movies are meant to be documentaries. I also liked Memphis Belle. It intrigued me the youth and leadership expectations of the young Caption. What a position to be put in at that young age.
just glad this is your opinion and nothing more
What impressed me most about Wings (no. 3) was the holding back of showing the actual flying aircraft. There was a lot of buildup with shadows and actors looking up, including the fatal crash of then bit-player Gary Cooper.
When the heroes finally lift off from the airfield it feels like you too are lifted into the air.
The worst aviation film ever was "Starfighters."
As much as I love the F-104, I had to put a gun to my head to get through this piece of "stuff,"
I would like to know what you think of Dark Blue World.
It is one of my favourites together with Dam Busters and Battle of Britain. Don't know why many like Blue Max though. Found the ground scenes when they fly over trenches and shelled houses so staged.
Agree on Top Gun. You couldn't find any cornier than that. Apart from Pearl Harbor. But thank God we got Tora, Tora, Tora.
Midway is just flat out an irritating retelling of a truely amazing war story. For me the actual battle of Midway is equal to Waterloo and Gettysburg. With so much history to recount why waste time with the love story? And where did the Navy suddenly get all those Corsairs in1942? I also can't bear the script of the movie Dive Bomber, but the fact that it was being filmed just as the Navy was changing its airplanes' colors is facinating. In one scene, as Paul Mantz is stunting his trusty Tavelair over the field, you can see on the ground by the hangers a number of PBYs in the process of being repainted; some with yellow wings, others with non-spectral blue/green. Some of the Devastators in the movie still have the colorful 1930s markings, and others have been painted in the international neutrality warm gray. The opening frames during the introduction show Devastators from the Yorktown, flying in echelon, probably in the spring of 1941. All but two of those planes would be destroyed less than a year and a half later at Midway and the survivors would be badly mauled. The aircraft carrier in the film is the actual Enterprize. A great movie for historians; just turn down the volume and get ready to hit the pause and zoom buttons. This film is packed with stuff that the loud, stupid dialog detracts from. (Schneider test, indeed!)
The Great Waldo Pepper ranks very high with me. It accurately recounts much of the inaccurate mythology of WW I aviation and post war barnstorming. It reminds me of when I first became interested in aviation and started reading everything I could find about the old bi-planes and pilots (I am very sentimental about Ernst Udet). The little boy, Scooter, could easily have been me. I'v spent a lifetime since then, sorting out the facts from fiction. I wish I could find a DVD copy, I'm worried about my VHS tape getting old.
What about documentaries? Do documentaries count in your critique? The ones about the P-47s in Italy and The Memphis Belle really get me going. The first time I saw those "Jugs" coming at me in P-47 I went out and bought a bigger TV set. And listen to the "Belle's" engines speed up after she drops her bombs and heads for home. Most compelling. Way better than most fictionalized warstories.
If you like seeing P-47's in action, check out my film "The Thundering 8th".
P.S.
Terrific blog
I will tell you about two of the WORST AVIATOR-HATER POLITICIANS running for office in California.
There have been hundreds of airports that have been closed in this country due to self centered NIMBY politicians. Unless, there are consequences for their actions, their assaults on aviation will continue. Pilots and aviation professionals must fight back at the ballot box and make airport killing hazardous to political careers.
In California, there are not one, but TWO aviator-hater NIMBYs running for statewide office. First, would be Senator Barbara Boxer who started her 34 year political career as a Marin County Supervisor leading the fight to kill civilian aviation re-use at the former Hamilton Air Force Base. Today, the runways have been turned into Boxer Swamp and have received over $220 million in federal and state taxdollars to make this happen.
Next, would be Mimi Walters who is running for California State Treasurer. She was the CHAIR of a 10 city NIMBY coalition in South Orange County that killed aviation re-use at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The "Great Park" which replaced the airport was promised to be tax-free. It is not. In fact, Barbara Boxer has given federal earmarks to the so called "Great Park" and has put in requests for another earmark for Fiscal Year 2011.
I urge California voters to vote for anyone but Boxer and Walters and make examples out of them being defeated. For more extensive detail about them, please see
nonimbys.blogspot.com
Some overlooked movies:
Fighter Command (1948) : a real sleeper with P-47 (yes,real P-47s) and P-51s as the Bf-109s.
The Hunters: great F-86 action with F-84F s masquerading as Migs
The Sea Shall Not Have them: Great British ASR movie
Catch 22: best B-25 takeoff scene
Dawn Patrol-Classic WWI film
In the comments I've read so far, I can't believe no one has called this guy on his BS. Every one of his picks are from the golden age of film. Your first clue to his obvious prejudices came in "Rationale" number 1 "Taking into consideration when the movie was made" and 6 "Making sure it deals with World War I (just kidding, maybe)." Do you get the impression that he is nostalgic and biased yet?
Picking "…Magnificent Men…" as the best aviation movie of all time is either a joke or insanity. That movie wasnt even original when it came out. Everyone was making race movies and this one didnt even stand out among them. Now if you picked it based solely on the aircraft then MAYBE it deserves mention for variety. It was decent as an aviation film, no where near the best.
He suggest in "rationale number 3" that he would overlook mushy story lines then he knocks Top Gun for being too cocky. Apparently he doesn't know much about fighter pilots. "The difference between god and a fighter pilot is, god knows he's not a fighter pilot." I have dozens of quotes from pilots of every era to prove cocky is not an exception, it's the rule.
Dark Blue World is in my opinion one of the best Aviation movies ever made. Along with "The Aviator." My only beef with Pearl Harbor is there was not enough action in the air aside from the same old recreation of the attack that we've seen too many times and the abundance of mush.
Memphis Belle was a decent all around film as well. Another film made in Europe deserves a bit of credit is "The Red Baron." All of these films had good stories, plots, and dialog in spite of any mush included for commercial reasons, and so as a whole deserve credit.
I havent seen all of the films on this list, but from what I've seen, not a single one of these films is deserving of an Oscar by todays standards for acting or screenplay. And most are barely original even during their own era.
Fly Boys was far more entertaining to watch than any classic aviation film I've ever watched. Both for story and action and I didn't even like it that much! How could you even compare flying scenes from the 20s to CGI that puts you in places that even today can't be filmed any other way.
So what is the real criteria here? Rationale number 4 suggest that story is the most important to this guy. Well, all of the films I and others suggested have great stories. They may not have been well written or acted movies, but the stories (the plots) are great.
Obviously the criteria doesnt stand firmly at aerial action, involvement, or realism, or Top Gun would surely be there and many of those classics wouldn't. Unless you are judging by their commercial success relative to their respective eras. Then only maybe.
Everything about Top Gun screamed airplanes, adventure, and piloting. Yes it was "Hollywood'ish" but it certainly doesn't deserve to be the worst aviation movie of all time based on ANY criteria. In fact, a movie that instantly raised Naval and Air Force enlistment rates 300% shouldn't even be close to the "worst" list. It had a GREAT story and is the epitome of an aviation film. Oh and it's NOT my favorite!
I take exception to this assumption that classic movies are better than todays. Even within the VERY BEST of them, the acting was often absurd, the action was often weak and ridiculously fake and the only reason I have to watch them now is because I'm also a bit nostalgic. What I am not is, biased!
633 squadron ranked #8 doesn't get a single comment? And Thirty Seconds over Tokyo deserves to be watched in every history class in the USA.
Enjoyed the "History of Flight" in IMAX a few years ago also..
No Porco Rosso??
What happened to "The Spirit of St. Louis" with Jimmy Stewart?
What happened to "The Aviator" with Leonardo DeCaprio?
Both aviation movies about aviators.
I am visiting your website, reading this article, and seeing these comments for the first time (Dec 2010). Walter Boyne is probably the world's greatest authority on aviation history (IMHO) – the contributions he has made are too numerous to mention. His listing, as stated at the beginning, was from his personal taste and it doesn't make sense to critique that, as so many of your writers decided to do. The article was informative and enlightening as so much of Mr. Boyne's material is. I have to comment on "12 O"Clock High" (which none of the readers mentioned). Mr. Boyne probably knows that this film was in fact used as a leadership training film by the USAF's Squadron Officer School for a long time (from the 50's well into the 70's) until the students couldn't take B&W movies and old prop bombers any longer. I was one of the instructors fortunate to have the assignment of keeping the reading material associated with the film updated, and providing teaching commentary for the students. My favorite part of the movie was Gregory Peck's assignment of screw-ups to the Leper Colony crew of screw-ups, and his commentary that went with it (paraphrased): The Leper Colony gets every navigator who can't find his way to the men's room, and every bombardier who can't hit his plate with his fork. The point was to force the leader of that crew to take responsibility for training and leadership. Did it really happen that way? Doubtful, but that was a classic scene and one that has been repeated in crew briefings not just a few times since. But the movie did accurately portray the daylight bombing dilemma faced by the under-manned and under-planed early WW2 B-17 units working out of Britain, and unfortunately, the horrible price paid by the men who flew those sorties time after time, in the face of pretty bad odds. Thanks to Mr. Boyne for recognizing the true grit of that great film.
I'm surprised nobody even considered "The Flight of the Phoenix" (the original, not the CGI remake) and "The Spirit of Saint Louis" for inclusion amongst the ten best airplane movies. Apparently the only airplane movies deemed worthy of consideration were those involved with MILITARY flying.
The original F of the P included an excellent cast and was very well done, no mean feat considering the highly technical aspect of much of the story (the rebuilding of the wreck of a crashed airplane). As for S of St. L, that has to deserve mention for the outstanding job Billy Wilder did of keeping a movie interesting that took place almost entirely inside the cockpit of a small, single-seat airplane – surely no mean feat of film making!
worst – snakes on a plane
What about Memphis belle (1990) with john lithgow and Matthew modine that movie is AMAZING! Tora tora tora is great too…
Hasn't any one here seen the third Jimmy Stewart movie ? Before
Strategic Air Command and Flight Of The Phoenix there was one with
Marlene Dietrich ! ! ( as a movie actress ),,,Glynis Johns (from The Battle Of Britton ), as an air line stewardess ,,and Jack Hawkins (The Bridge ) as a batman ( flunky). The best part was when the whole tail of this real ugly plane gets in the act . It gives new meaning to the word psychic as it was made shortly before the Commet / deHavilland crashes.
I left the title out,,,it is " No Highway In The Sky" ( 1951 ),,sorry
Great Story…amazing cinematography!
How is starting with knocking Tom Cruise's height the foundation for a rational stance? This list is just a basis for promoting older and weathered movies which, while probably are more historically accurate, are boring to all but people primarily interested in history.
So pretty much you hate anything new and you like a bunch of old crappy acted movies. This was a waste of a review for someone looking to waste your time on movies made in and age of just horrible, unrealistic acting and even worse quality of footage. I know for it's time is must have been really good, I understand your qualms with Top Gun but at the same time it is a movie and a story, take it for what you will it did much better then any of the movies on your "BEST" list, and thats because it was interesting…
Basically, what you are saying is: "If the movie was made after 1970, it is terrible." Your list made for some wonderful comic relief. I am a little stunned after reading that you are actually serious. You obviously know nothing about anything and have wasted 10 minutes of my time. Having said that, I am surfing your page at 1am so, maybe I am a loser too, haha.
Sorry, but I must disagree with this list.
According to the top 10 all the good movies were made prior to 1970 an nothing good has been made since then. I love all things aviation and am actually a pilot. That said, I'm 45 and younger than most of the movies in the top 10 list.
I have no interest in most of the top 10 movies. This is 2011 and I can't even stomach the thought of watching black and white, silent movies, on my plasma with 5.1 surround sound. The only exception is Hells Angels because I like Howard Hughes.
I don't think Memphis Belle belongs in the worst 10, I enjoyed that movie. I think the Aviator belongs in the top 10 as well.
Top Gun? Yes it's cheesy, but it's classically cheesy like everything else from the 80's. What aviation buff hasn't watched it and enjoyed it? As cheesy as this movie was, I'm not embarrassed to say that I enjoyed it and will watch again on some rainy day or when I stay home sick.
IMHO, this list is completely wrong for anyone my age or even younger than my father. Maybe this list should be the 10 most historic aviation movies.
Anyhow, that's my two cents.
David Lyons
http://jamproa.com
I was a small boy, (Just four years and one month old.) when the Battle of Britain officially began on July 10th. 1940. I can remember standing with my Dad in our back garden, and watching the vapor trails in the sky overhead. I never saw a German plane shot down. They were so high in the sky, they just looked like specks. When the wind veered, one could occsionally hear the, "Ripping Calico," sound of the machineguns. One machine gun may sound like, ":rat-at-at," but not eight of them all at once!
At a fund raising event, in the suburb of Ealing, where I lived with my parents and elder sister, some R.A.F. Personnel had a ME 109 Emil on display. A Flight Sergeant lifted me into the cockpit of this plane. All I can remember was that the panel was lots of holes with what looked like pipes sticking out. I now realise of course, that all the instrumens had been removed so that the Boffins could check them out! Even when I stood up in the seat of the 109, I still could not see a thing!
The Battle of Britain only lasted for 113 days! (Officially!) During that time those UNBELIEVABLE young men faced exhaustion, fear, and almost unbelievable odds, to pull Britains Chestnuts out of the fire. They were truly heroes, but none would have considered themselves so at the time. Names have gone down in History, Sailor Malan, The Dundas Brothers, Ginger Lacey, Air Vice Marshal Park, Sir Hugh Dowding, and the remarkable airplanes, The Hawker Hurricane, and the immortal Supermarine Spitfire! The Hurricane shoot down more enemy aircraft than the Spitfire, but wasnot quite as fast. Both could turn inside an ME 109, but the Hurricane was a more stable gun platform, and the fact that its four machineguns in each wing were grouped much closer together, made the delivery of the fire more devastating to the enemy plane. I have written accounts of Polish Pilots who squirted a ME 109 with less than a one second burst, and were delighted to see the canopy fly off, together with chunks of the engine cowling, then see the aircraft enveloped in flame, and fall onto the Thames Estury, in several burning pieces by the time it hit the water!
As a WW II Airplane enthusiast, I ws disappointed to see the "Wrong," shape of the ME 109's depiceted in that movie! The Rolls Royce Merlin gave the thing a completely different, "LOOK!" Douglas Bader was supposed to have expressed disgust when he saw the Spanish Messerschmitts assembled at Duxford for the making of the movie. "This is all wrong," he is supposed to have said, "We should have shot the Bastards down before they had a chance to land!" Bader could be incredibly rude sometimes! At a post war gathering of both R.A.F, and Ex-Luftwaffe pilots in Germany somewhere, he is supposed to have looked at the crowd of German Pilots in amazement, then said, "My God! I didn't think we left this many of the Bastards alive?"
I watch any and all WW II movies that deal with flying! I do not have a TV that works, and as I live on Social Security and food stamps, I cannot afford to get the type of TV supplier, that would enable me to watch the History and Military channels. I also need something to be fitted into my computer so that I can take advantage of the many movies that are available on-line! That too costs money! I am grateful for forums like this, where I can see the views of other aviation fans, and get a chance to make my own feelings known as well. I live in Phoenix,Arizona now, and fly W II combat with a Microsoft game. My Boyhood Dream of flyiing a Spitfire & Huricane, and shooting down Messerschmitts has finaly come true……….About sixty years on!
I am now 75 years young, and my Dad was a WW I veteran, who lost a leg at the Battle of the Somme on July 1st. 1916! He was forty years old when I was born in June, 1936. So I have tales to tell of both world wars! I would like to pass them onto anyone who would like to record them for Posterity! So if anyone is TRULY interested in either my Father's story, or mine, I would love to tell the tale before it is too late, and I solve the final mystery that life has to offer! Best wishes to all those who fly…In real planes or in Cyberspace!
Sincerely, Johnnie Roper.
Hi Johnnie:
I was born during WWII, and flew privately and then in the USAF, including a year in Vietnam. Your story sounds very interesting to an (aviation) history buff like me.
If you would be interested in putting your story on audio tape, let me know by return email. I'll be glad to try and help.
Ben
Add: Flying Tigers, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, Test Pilot, and Great Santini (with three cameo nominations – chopper scene in Apocalypse Now, the last scene in Casablanca where the engine sound is piercingly dramatic and perfectly timed, and the final battle scene in Saving Private Ryan where the fighters are filmed magnificently)
I agree with Dick that 30 Seconds over Tokyo (although it loses steam after they literally hit the Chinese coast) belongs on the list, along with Flying Tigers (the pattern for many fighter pilot movies).
The actors in Test Pilot, especially Tracy's characters pull off the script, and Robert Duvall, the finest actor ever, make Great Santini so real and special.
I cannot wait to see RED TAILS, the Lucas film about the Tuskegee Airmen – an hour of battle scenes and an hour of dramatic story coming out in January.
I disagree with the whole list i think you got your best and wost mixed up
You can say what you want, but i think it's plain stupid to put topgun on the worst aviation movies ever. Top gun did what it was intented for, to get new pilots for the navy.
I really loved the movie, and i've probably seen it 20 times. Perfect
soundtrack too. How could you ever dislike this movie ??
Suprised nobody has mentioned Bat 21 with Danny Glover and Gene Hackman.
Red Tails – January 20, 2012 release WILL BE TOP TEN!!!
Pretty hard to pick top ten in either category…made a few comments on other posts…Some personal favorites include 'The Hunters'…'Spirit of St. Louis'…'12 O'clock High'…'Battle of Britain'…'Midway…in spite of the love story connections'…'Bridges at Toko Ri…Mickey Roonies best acting roll in my opinion'…and believe it not 'Pearl Harbor' Thought it was a believable story placed into context of world changing events…'The Right Stuff'…'30 Seconds over Tokyo'…'Blue Max…great WWI flying story…hated the love story connections.
The Tuskegee Airmen 1995, not ?…