Flyboys (film): Difference between revisions
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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As appearing in screen credits (main roles identified):<ref name= "credits"/> |
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<!--- * [[Mitchell Edwards]] not in IMDB listing ---> |
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* [[David Ellison]] as Eddie Beagle (based on [[Courtney Campbell]] and [[Bert Hall]]) |
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| [[David Ellison]] || Eddie Beagle (based on [[Courtney Campbell]] and [[Bert Hall]]) |
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<!--- * [[Clay Roul]] not in IMDB listing ---> |
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| [[Tyler Labine]] || Briggs Lowry (based on Norman Prince) |
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| Philip Winchester|| William Jensen (based on several pilots) |
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A full cast and production crew list is too lengthy to include, see: IMDb profile.<ref name= "credits">[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454824/fullcredits Flyboys (2006) Full credits]</ref> |
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<!--- * [[Clay Roul]] not in IMDB listing ---><!--- * [[David Baggs]] not in IMDB listing ---><!--- * [[Stephen J. Bush|Stephen Bush]] not in IMDB listing ---><!--- * [[Mitchell Edwards]] not in IMDB listing ---> |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The film was shot on location in the [[United Kingdom]] in spring 2005 . The trench scenes were shot in [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]], the same location used for ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' and ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above [[RAF Halton]] (near Aylesbury) where hangers, mess rooms and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert woods. All were removed when filming ended. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, [[Halton House]]. |
The film was shot on location in the [[United Kingdom]] in spring 2005 . The trench scenes were shot in [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]], the same location used for ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' and ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above [[RAF Halton]] (near Aylesbury) where hangers, mess rooms and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert woods. All were removed when filming ended. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, [[Halton House]]. |
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The film was financed privately outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer [[Dean Devlin]] and pilot David Ellison, son of [[Oracle Corp.]] founder [[Larry Ellison]]; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market ''Flyboys''. |
The film was financed privately outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer [[Dean Devlin]] and pilot David Ellison, son of [[Oracle Corp.]] founder [[Larry Ellison]]; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market ''Flyboys''. |
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The [[Nieuport 17]]s featured in the film included four replicas built by |
The [[Nieuport 17]]s featured in the film included four replicas built by Airdrome Aeroplanes, an aircraft company based outside of [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. The other aircraft used were a mix of authentic aircraft and replicas including Nieuport 17s, a sole [[Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter]] and a number of [[Fokker Dr.I]] replicas. |
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==Filming errors== |
==Filming errors== |
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This film has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy. Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. The [[rotary engines]] used in early aircraft rotated along with the propeller at the same speed. The [[anti-aircraft artillery]] shown in use by the Germans was not of any type used by any side in World War I. Had any of the portrayed flak bursts come as close as they appeared in the film, the aircraft would have been most likely destroyed.{{Facts|date=July 2007}} |
This film has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy. Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. The [[rotary engines]] used in early aircraft rotated along with the propeller at the same speed. The [[anti-aircraft artillery]] shown in use by the Germans was not of any type used by any side in World War I. Had any of the portrayed flak bursts come as close as they appeared in the film, the aircraft would have been most likely destroyed.{{Facts|date=July 2007}} |
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One major point of contention in the film is the wide usage of [[Fokker Dr.I]] triplanes. Almost every triplane was painted red in the film (another problem, since [[Manfred von Richthofen]] |
One major point of contention in the film is the wide usage of [[Fokker Dr.I]] triplanes. Almost every triplane was painted red in the film (another problem, since [[Manfred von Richthofen]] flew the only "blood-red" Triplane). In the film, the [[RMS Aquitania]] is depicted as a luxury liner, however, in early 1914 she was converted to use as an armed merchant cruiser, and by 1915 had been put into use as a troop transport ship and painted with dazzle style [[camouflage]]. However, the film might have used it to demonstrate the style of transport ships during the war. Also, one scene describes the Germans as using a new 9 mm caliber "Spandau" machine gun, even though no German machine gun was ever produced in 9 mm, but rather in 7.92mm (although it is possible this scene was meant to demonstrate the large amounts of inaccurate "scuttlebutt" that was passed along during the war). |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:FB 2767.jpg|thumb|left|A screenshot showing (from left to right) Martin Henderson, James Franco, David Ellison]] --> |
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:FB 2767.jpg|thumb|left|A screenshot showing (from left to right) Martin Henderson, James Franco, David Ellison]] --> |
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Critics generally gave unfavorable reviews of the film based on the hackneyed dialogue and inconsistency if the plot, although public acceptance was more forgiving focusing more on the realistic aerial scenes. The [[Rotten Tomatoes]] web site, as of [[25 September]] [[2006]], gave it a "rotten" rating with a mere 30% positive reviews.[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flyboys/] Google Movies provided an average rating of 2.6 out of 5 as of [[13 November]] [[2006]]. Established reviewers did, however, credit the film for the exciting action sequences in the air. |
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The movie opened fourth at the box office with a gross of $6 million.[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=flyboys.htm] On [[26 December]] [[2006]], [[Variety magazine|Variety]] named it one of the ten biggest box office flops of the year, citing an estimated shortfall of $90 million.[http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/26/box.office.bombs.reut/index.html] |
The movie opened fourth at the box office with a gross of $6 million.[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=flyboys.htm] On [[26 December]] [[2006]], [[Variety magazine|Variety]] named it one of the ten biggest box office flops of the year, citing an estimated shortfall of $90 million.[http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/26/box.office.bombs.reut/index.html] |
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Revision as of 13:17, 17 February 2008
| Flyboys | |
|---|---|
 Movie Poster for Flyboys | |
| Directed by | Tony Bill |
| Produced by | Dean Devlin and Marc Frydman |
| Starring | James Franco Martin Henderson Jean Reno Jennifer Decker David Ellison Tyler Labine |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release date | 22 September 2006 |
Running time | 140 minutes. |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English French |
| Budget | $60 million |
Flyboys is a 2006 drama film set during World War I, starring James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison and Tyler Labine. It was directed by Tony Bill, a pilot and aviation enthusiast. [1] Screenplay was by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans and David S. Ward and story by Blake T. Evans.
The film follows the enlistment, training and aerial combat service of a group of young Americans who volunteer to become fighter pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The squadron consisted entirely of American volunteers who wanted to fly biplanes and fight in World War I during the early years when the United States remained neutral.
Plot
A group of young Americans go to France, for different personal reasons, and volunteer to fight in the French Air Service, the Aéronautique militaire, during World War I prior to America's entrance into the war. During the training period, the film mostly follows their personalities and developments; later, the focus shifts to the art of the aerial dogfight. Themes of revenge and love are also explored. The film ends with an explanation of what happened to each character, as the movie was based on real occurrences.
Cast
As appearing in screen credits (main roles identified):[2]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Todd Boyce | Mr. Jensen |
| Jennifer Decker | Lucienne |
| David Ellison | Eddie Beagle (based on Courtney Campbell and Bert Hall) |
| James Franco | Blaine Rawlings (based on Frank Luke) |
| Martin Henderson | Reed Cassidy (based on Raoul Lufbery) |
| Michael Jibson | Lyle Porter |
| Tyler Labine | Briggs Lowry (based on Norman Prince) |
| Augustin Legrand | Lt. Giroux |
| Keith McErlean | Toddman |
| Jean Reno | Captain Georges Thenault |
| Ian Rose | Wolfert |
| Abdul Salis | Eugene Skinner (based on Eugene Bullard) |
| Gunnar Winbergh | The Black Falcon |
| Philip Winchester | William Jensen (based on several pilots) |
A full cast and production crew list is too lengthy to include, see: IMDb profile.[2]
Production
The film was shot on location in the United Kingdom in spring 2005 . The trench scenes were shot in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, the same location used for Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above RAF Halton (near Aylesbury) where hangers, mess rooms and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert woods. All were removed when filming ended. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, Halton House.
The film was financed privately outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer Dean Devlin and pilot David Ellison, son of Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market Flyboys.
The Nieuport 17s featured in the film included four replicas built by Airdrome Aeroplanes, an aircraft company based outside of Kansas City, Missouri. The other aircraft used were a mix of authentic aircraft and replicas including Nieuport 17s, a sole Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter and a number of Fokker Dr.I replicas.
Filming errors
This film has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy. Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. The rotary engines used in early aircraft rotated along with the propeller at the same speed. The anti-aircraft artillery shown in use by the Germans was not of any type used by any side in World War I. Had any of the portrayed flak bursts come as close as they appeared in the film, the aircraft would have been most likely destroyed.[citation needed]
One major point of contention in the film is the wide usage of Fokker Dr.I triplanes. Almost every triplane was painted red in the film (another problem, since Manfred von Richthofen flew the only "blood-red" Triplane). In the film, the RMS Aquitania is depicted as a luxury liner, however, in early 1914 she was converted to use as an armed merchant cruiser, and by 1915 had been put into use as a troop transport ship and painted with dazzle style camouflage. However, the film might have used it to demonstrate the style of transport ships during the war. Also, one scene describes the Germans as using a new 9 mm caliber "Spandau" machine gun, even though no German machine gun was ever produced in 9 mm, but rather in 7.92mm (although it is possible this scene was meant to demonstrate the large amounts of inaccurate "scuttlebutt" that was passed along during the war).
Reception
Critics generally gave unfavorable reviews of the film based on the hackneyed dialogue and inconsistency if the plot, although public acceptance was more forgiving focusing more on the realistic aerial scenes. The Rotten Tomatoes web site, as of 25 September 2006, gave it a "rotten" rating with a mere 30% positive reviews.[1] Google Movies provided an average rating of 2.6 out of 5 as of 13 November 2006. Established reviewers did, however, credit the film for the exciting action sequences in the air.
The movie opened fourth at the box office with a gross of $6 million.[2] On 26 December 2006, Variety named it one of the ten biggest box office flops of the year, citing an estimated shortfall of $90 million.[3]
References
Notes
- ^ Farmer 2006, p. 18.
- ^ a b Flyboys (2006) Full credits
Bibliography
- Farmer, Jim. "The Making of Flyboys." Air Classics, Vol. 42, No. 11, November 2006.