Is it time for a WWI flying film?

Cafe Society
21

John,

Knowing what I know about you (“Flyboy”), I’d love to see a WWI one movie you would have a hand in making.

Mostly, I’d like to see how the pilots were trained, because we see so little of that in those kinds of films.

I also badly need to see the inside of a B-52, my favorite airplane in the whole world!

Q

22

That’s a bit after WWI. :wink:

But Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb has some good interiors.

23

Yeah, that film DOES have some good interiors, apparently from what I see on the dvd, but that thing is VERY long, and I need to see what else is in there, John!

From what I gather of the Strangelove film story, somehow, someone got a glimpse of a schematic or even of the cockpit itself, and that’s how we got those great Kubrick scenes!

I will (as always) bow to those who know more than I do about this, okay?

Also, anyone know about, or seen the film Failsafe! I love it!!!

Now back to my friend John and his WWI wish to shoot a decent film of its pilots, their planes (and hopefully, of their training. May have to do some research about that one, Bro’!)

Your friend,

Quasi

24

And, oh yeah: If I were a mogul/magnate with a bunch of bucks, I’d finance a film like that!

But since I’m not, I just wish my friend full throttle and go for it!

Q

25

I think there’d be several issues in trying to market any reasonably accurate WWI flying film:

(1) It would be an action movie, but a very slow paced one in the eyes of the post-Top Gun generation.

(2) No built in fan base of WWI enthusiasts and nostalgia mavens, as with the case of WWII.

(3) For that matter, easily confused in the public’s mind with WWII, even though it’s a radically different kind of war.

(4) Hard to tout a very well defined bad guy. Von Richtofen is the most famous WWI ace, and likely the only one most people could name, and he fought for the purported bad guys.

26

There’s Goshawk Squadron. I didn’t find t book slow-paced.

27

Agreed about the audience, Koxinga, but why does there have to be a “bad guy” at all?

Sorry to keep hammering on this, but why couldn’t John’s film be about the Canadian Ace and his training, split-filmed with Von Richthoven and his?

Not only that, but lets go a step further and look at both of them as little boys, contrasting and/or comparing them right up until the time, Roy Brown (I know, it hasn’t yet been proven) shot him down.

Back to Koxinga’s comment about the “bad guy”: for the kids, yeah, they’re going to be looking for one, aren’t they? But the challenge in Johnny’s film would be for them to realize that there isn’t one. Back then the weapons and means of using them were pretty much equal, weren’t they?

This is a very interesting thread and whether or not you agree with me, I am looking forward to reading your comments!

Quasi

28

There already is a movie about Von Richthoven and Brown. That’s it’s title. It had a nice bit at the end where Herman Goering is pissed because he gets no respect without a Von in his name, but he’ll show 'em.

Without a bad guy, you get your typical preachy “war is the enemy” movie, such as Aces High, with Malcolm MacDowell as Alex DeLarge in a Sopwith. People don’t go to movies for moral instruction, they want to see bad guys get what they have coming.

On the other hand, William Wellman, who was there, made some pretty good WWI air war movies, without demonizing the Germans. The drama mostly originated with the long odds of digital and the primitive technology, or Tab Hunter’s redemption once his pretty face was melted half off.

29

Not to shoot you down (heh), but I think that RED BARON’S LAST FLIGHT: A Mystery Investigated is pretty convincing that Brown did not shoot Richthofen down. It seems fairly certain that Australian gunner Robert Buie shot him down from the ground, based on evidence (including the bullet path) presented in the book.

Just to be clear: If someone were to dump a couple-hundred million dollars in my lap, I’d love to direct a film on Richthofen. That ain’t gonna happen, so I’d just like to see a good, accurate, exciting film on the air war in WWI. :wink:

IMO, WWI was a dick-measuring contest that got out of hand. I think that the real ‘bad guy’ is the stupidity of it all. I think that’s why I liked reading Goshawk Squadron so much.

30

Given all of which has been posted, I reckon I may be guilty of taking Johnny’s film idea and working it into my own “project”.:smack:

That wasn’t my intent, but I do hope someone drops a couple “hundred million” into your lap for this, John!

Better yet: “________________________” (insert your film title)

A film by: Johnny L A

And, somewhere in the credits, this: A Straight Dope Production

Wouldn’t that be awesome?:wink:

And all of us Dopers could come to the premiere and show the whole world what a bunch of international friends who have never even met, can accomplish!

Thanks,

Q

31

Too late to add: And we already have the greatest minds in the world to be the technical advisors!

We have all we need to get John’s film going.

I say we explore this and let’s get it produced and shown (preferably before I go to totally batshit, please!).

Who’s with me (and no, don’t cue the goddam crickets, either!)?

In the credits, I wanna be listed as “Best Boy” and “Idea-Haver”, please.

Thanks

Quasi

32

Here’s problem A

And here’s problem B

Asking for both is too much.:frowning:

33

Problem C is that it would have to include some superb writing on some human drama involved, to the extent that it’s not really so much about the planes at all. At least in my view: as I’ll freely confess that I’m not all that interested in seeing a film featuring the planes as the main attraction. The “wow” factor on that one sailed at least 50 years ago, I reckon.

34

the red baron’s “flying circus” would have been an interesting topic. be sure to highlight characters like herman goering and ernst udet. maybe slip in one scene showing a sorry army corporal named adolf hitler.

35

lcdr

36

See? We’re already identifying the problems!!!:slight_smile:

Now all we have to do is figure out the way (s) to eradicate them, and that can be a whole separate department of the production staff!

We’ll call y’all “The Eradicators” and list your names in the credits!

We have a director, so now all we need is a script, some actors and some money!

Solution? The Eradicators!!!

Quasi

37

:rolleyes:

38

Oh y’all of little faith! ;):):smiley:

I wish you knew my friend like I do. There is no doubt in my mind that once he sets his mind on something, he’ll succeed.

But let’s leave it at this; There’s been some ahem good initial input into his idea, so let’s see what develops.

I still think a film project by the members of STMB is an awesome idea!

Quasi

39

I’d just be happy if someone made a good one I could buy on DVD!

40

I would love to see a biography of Charles Nunguesser. There’s just so much:

  1. His own logo on his airplane – and probably the most badass one in aviation history.
  2. Basically indestructible. His list of injuries after the war: “Skull fracture, brain concussion, internal injuries (multiple), five fractures of the upper jaw, two fractures of lower jaw, piece of anti-aircraft shrapnel imbedded [sic] in right arm, dislocation of knees (left and right), re-dislocation of left knee, bullet wound in mouth, bullet wound in ear, atrophy of tendons in left leg, atrophy of muscles in calf, dislocated clavicle, dislocated wrist, dislocated right ankle, loss of teeth, contusions too numerous to mention.” He often could not get in or out of the cockpit without help.
  3. Completely undisciplined. At one point he was grounded, but still took off and shot down a German plane. He was put under house arrest for for a week – and then was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was grounded several other times for insubordination.
  4. Would often sneak off to Paris for an night of drinking and carousing, then drive back at top speed to the front in time to take part in the a patrol at dawn.
  5. Finished the war as France’s #3 ace, with 45 planes shot down.
  6. Died in 1927 as he tried to fly the Atlantic.

He’s practically begging for a bio.