[parsig9]

Just got my hands on The Way to the Stars (Johnny in the Clouds) and The One That Got Away on DVD.

They are U region coded and play fine. The first is about a Blenheim/Boston squadron and its changes through the war years.
The second is about Von Werra's capture and subsequent escape to the neutral U.S. ( There is the book on this too)
Both are great!
Anybody have any suggestions for other rare ones? Not 12:00 High sort of stuff but a little less well known...

I've been hunting for a copy of Der Stern Von Afrika w/ subtitles.

[bsmith13]

WHERE did you get your hands on these movies?

[parsig9]

Ebay seller. Bit of Britain or Bit O' Britain...something. You'll find it.

Just email him despite what titles he has listed, he can get anything and they are not home made but the real deal.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by parsig9

Just got my hands on The Way to the Stars (Johnny in the Clouds) and The One That Got Away on DVD.

They are U region coded and play fine. The first is about a Blenheim/Boston squadron and its changes through the war years.

Anybody have any suggestions for other rare ones? Not 12:00 High sort of stuff but a little less well known.....

Yeah parsig,

A couple that (initially) spring to mind are..........

1, "Journey Together" (1943) starring - Edward G. Robinson & (a VERY young Sir Richard Attenborough).

Another 'obscure' Brit film, with a famous, but unlikely pairing in the lead roles......!!!!!

Makes a change, seeing the famous Edward G. starring as Attenborough's flying instructor, instead of in a archtypical ('G') role of a 1930's Gangster or a Police Cheif.

Training for bomber a/c, it's a good film with good reviews & solid acting (as you'd expect) - (there's a VHS copy on U.S. E-bay now!!!).


2, " A Yank in the RAF" (1941) starring - Tyrone Power & Betty Grable.

Bit more lighthearted, but fun - T.P. is a Lockheed Hudson pilot on patrol over Dunkirk (yes it did happen with 'Hudsons', they actually shot down some '109's in real-life whilst over there) - ends up on a bombing raid against the Nazi's & fighting to save his crippled Hudson & crew, over the Dutch coast = good fun & GREAT theme music ("RAF March-past"). available on DVD.

3, " Captains of the Clouds" (1942) starring - James Cagney & Alan Hale & W.W.I ace 'Billy' Bishop

Co-incidentally, like the Edward G. Robinson film, Cagney doesn't play his stereotypical 'hard-Gangster-with-George-Raft' role.
Also (Co-incidentally) he ends up piloting a Lockheed Hudson - another good film with ariel-sequences.


4, "The Sound Barrier" (1952) starring John Justin - Nigel Patrick - (Sir) Ralph Richardson - Denholm Elliot

One of the BEST aircraft film's you're ever likely to see - basically about the realms of compressability & their respective setbacks, there are just SO MANY OUTSTANDING a/c & AERIAL SEQUENCES (more than most films) - features late-war Spitfires, Swift's & the World's first Jet-Airliner, the de-Havilland Comet.
An OUTSTANDING film.



5, "The Best Years Of Our Lives" (1946) starring - Dana Andrews - Frederick March - Myrna Loy- Harold Russell


Probably, the best film here - Very powerful tale of three U.S. servicemen returning home State-side & their consequent re-adjustment.

Several sequences with B.17's - including Dana Andrews returning to the B.17 'bone-yard' (Kingman,Arizona) where he boards old (8th A.F) Boeing B.17 named "Round-Trip". Sadly, thousands more B.17's, also waiting to be 'cut-up'.
Harold Russell won 'Best Supporting actor' (deservedly), as an ex-Navy guy, with NO hands (as per the real actor).
The scene in the drug-store, with Harold Russell (being insulted), with staff member/friend (Dana Andrews) in attendance, is an absolute classic & used to have me gritting my teeth in anger, even as a kid !!!!!!!
Riveting from start to end, I CANNOT rate this film highly enough (my dad loves this so much, he nicked my copy !!!!).

These films are no-where near as commonly well-known as (say) "Twelve O' clock High", despite some VERY famous actors.

[parsig9]

I have #2 with Betty Grable but will look into the others. Thanks!

[jim]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Yeah parsig,

5, "The Best Years Of Our Lives" (1946) starring - Dana Andrews - Frederick March - Myrna Loy- Harold Russell


Probably, the best film here - Very powerful tale of three U.S. servicemen returning home State-side & their consequent re-adjustment.

Several sequences with B.17's - including Dana Andrews returning to the B.17 'bone-yard' (Kingman,Arizona) where he boards old (8th A.F) Boeing B.17 named "Round-Trip". Sadly, thousands more B.17's, also waiting to be 'cut-up'.
Harold Russell won 'Best Supporting actor' (deservedly), as an ex-Navy guy, with NO hands (as per the real actor).
The scene in the drug-store, with Harold Russell (being insulted), with staff member/friend (Dana Andrews) in attendance, is an absolute classic & used to have me gritting my teeth in anger, even as a kid !!!!!!!
Riveting from start to end, I CANNOT rate this film highly enough (my dad loves this so much, he nicked my copy !!!!).

These films are no-where near as commonly well-known as (say) "Twelve O' clock High", despite some VERY famous actors.

Hornchurch is this the film where one of the crew sits in the nose of a B17 and relives in his mind the terror and horror he experienced over Germany? If it is I remember seeing it in about 1964 ish. It stuck in my mind as being one of the best portrayals of the truama those young men had to deal with and come to terms with after the war.

I would strongly advise everyone to watch this film, it will stay with you long afterwards.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by jim

Hornchurch is this the film where one of the crew sits in the nose of a B17 and relives in his mind the terror and horror he experienced over Germany?

I would strongly advise everyone to watch this film, it will stay with you long afterwards.

That's the one Jim !!!! Blimey, I was in nappies & the Vietnam-War had just kicked off when you first saw that !!!!!!!!!

Hard to belive that such an outstanding film, that absolutely swept the board with the amount of 'Oscars' it WON (not just nominated)

in 1946, is today largely overlooked.

The film IS A CLASSIC.

(Glad to see you hold the same strong opinion).

[flyXwire]

I would recommend Dive Bomber: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited...asp?sku=D52632 This movie is about to be released on DVD from Turner Home Entertainment. The
movie is noted for the pre-war aircrafts used by the US Navy and the film shot at a naval base in San Diego, California in the late 30s. Check out the Northrop BT-1 dive bomber - the grand-daddy
of the Douglas SBD Dauntless in action. Also from TNE, Dawn Patrol: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited...asp?sku=D52631, another Errol Flyn movie about WWI Aces.

There are a lot of classic Hollywood Aviation film titles I would definitely wish to add to my collection. You could actually vote on some of these titles for future release at the Turner Classic website.
Here's a list of them already compiled at from another forum I frequent. You can just click the movie links and cast your vote. It's that easy!

http://p197.ezboard.com/A-request-to-those-into-Hollywood-Aviation-films/fonesixthnetfrm37.showMessage?topicID=598.topic

[Maple 01]

A matter of Life and Death? Pilot jumps from shot-up Lancaster without a 'chute, is suposed to die but his 'conductor' misses him in the fog. meanwhile he falls for an American ATC girl. Film covers the court case in the heavens for his soul

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038733/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Matter_of_Life_and_Death_%28film%29

[flyXwire]

Another highly recommend WWII movies from Hollywood:

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited...asp?sku=D97662 B-25's Doolittle Raiders galore!
Command Decision: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited...asp?sku=D97659 8th AF B-17 missions with footage of Army Air Corp fighters being compared to the Me 262 performance.
Air Force: http://tcmdb.com/title/title.jsp?stid=575 Drama of B-17 crew after the Pearl Harbor attack.