The Rocketeer (1991)

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Dave Stevens (graphic novel "The Rocketeer")
Danny Bilson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 June 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Three years before the United States declares war, Cliff Secord leads America's first battle against the Nazis.

Plot:

A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high flying masked hero.

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Gangster | 1930s | Blimp | Aviation

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Billy Campbell	...	Cliff (as Bill Campbell)
Jennifer Connelly	...	Jenny
Alan Arkin	...	Peevy
Timothy Dalton	...	Neville Sinclair
Paul Sorvino	...	Eddie Valentine
Terry O'Quinn	...	Howard Hughes
Ed Lauter	...	Fitch
James Handy	...	Wooly
Robert Miranda	...	Spanish Johnny (as Robert Guy Miranda)
John Lavachielli	...	Rusty
Jon Polito	...	Bigelow
Eddie Jones	...	Malcolm
William Sanderson	...	Skeets
Don Pugsley	...	Goose
Nada Despotovich	...	Irma
Margo Martindale	...	Millie
America Martin	...	Patsy
Max Grodénchik	...	Wilmer
Michael Milhoan	...	Jeff
Daniel O'Shea	...	Mike
Joe D'Angerio	...	Stevie (as Joseph D'Angerio)
Clint Howard	...	Mark
Tommy J. Huff	...	Lenny (as Thomas J. Huff)
Paul DeSouza	...	Pauly
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Mrs. Pye
Julian Barnes	...	Charlie - Filmstage Actor
Sam Vincent	...	Filmstage Director
Lisa Pedersen	...	Noblewoman
Peter Bromilow	...	Nobleman
Tom Kindle	...	Clapperboy
Charlie Stavola	...	Assistant Director
William Boyett	...	Government Liaison
William Frankfather	...	Government Liaison
Heinrich James	...	Nazi Agent
Herman Poppe	...	Zeppelin Captain
Norbert Weisser	...	Zeppelin Pilot
Michael Francis Clarke	...	G-Man
Darryl Henriques	...	G-Man
Scanlon Gail	...	G-Man at Chaplin Field
Melora Hardin	...	South Seas Singer
Bob Leeman	...	W.C. Fields
Rick Overton	...	South Seas Patron
Gene Daily	...	Clark Gable
Dick Warlock	...	FBI Agent (as Richard Warlock)
Thomas Lee Tully	...	Reporter
Mike Finneran	...	Reporter
Doug McGrath	...	Reporter
Dave Adams	...	Reporter
Arlee Reed	...	Cameraman
Kim Sebastian	...	Nurse
David Pressman	...	Hospital Guard
Lila Finn	...	Clothesline Lady
Perry Cook	...	Good Old Boy
Tiny Ron	...	Lothar / Good Old Boy (as Tiny Ron Taylor)
Taylor Gilbert	...	Stewardess
Ele Keats	...	Girl at Newsstand
Danielle Bedau	...	Girl at Newsstand
Chance Michael Corbitt	...	Newspaper Kid
Bob Sandman	...	South Seas Bandleader
Lori Lynn Ross	...	South Seas Mermaid
Kathleen Michaels	...	South Seas Camera Girl
Merritt Yohnka	...	Nazi Crewman
Peter Frankland	...	Nazi Commando
Kristopher Logan	...	Nazi Commando
Paul Forsyth	...	Nazi Commando
Craig Hosking	...	Airshow Pilot
Steve Hinton Sr.	...	Airshow Pilot (as Steve Hinton)
Jim Franklin	...	Airshow Pilot
Richard T. Brickert	...	Airshow Pilot
Chuck Wentworth	...	Airshow Pilot
Bill Turner	...	Airshow Pilot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bret Culpepper	...	Startled Tri-Motor Passenger (uncredited)
Wilhelm Frick	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Steve Moriarty	...	Spectator at Air Show (uncredited)
Tim Neeley	...	Ganster (uncredited)
William Woodson	...	Newsreel Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe Johnston

Writing credits (WGA)
Dave Stevens		(graphic novel "The Rocketeer")
Danny Bilson		(story) &
Paul De Meo		(story) &
William Dear		(story)
Danny Bilson		(screenplay) &
Paul De Meo		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lisa Bailey	....	associate producer
Larry J. Franco	....	executive producer (as Larry Franco)
Charles Gordon	....	producer
Lawrence Gordon	....	producer
Lloyd Levin	....	producer
Dave Stevens	....	co-producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Hiro Narita		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Arthur Schmidt

Casting by
Nancy Foy

Production Design by
James D. Bissell		(as Jim Bissell)

Art Direction by
Christopher Burian-Mohr

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance		(as Marilyn Vance-Straker)

Makeup Department
Rick Baker	....	makeup creator: Lothar
Michael Mills	....	makeup artist
Greg Nelson	....	makeup artist: Lothar
Carol A. O'Connell	....	hair styles supervisor
Matt Rose	....	special makeup effects crew: Cinovation Studios
Dione Taylor	....	hair stylist
Brad Wilder	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Ian Bryce	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Tom Archuleta	....	first assistant director: second unit
M. James Arnett	....	second unit director
Jack Gallagher	....	first assistant director: ILM
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	second assistant director
Ken Ralston	....	second unit director
Kenneth J. Silverstein	....	second second assistant director (as Kenneth Silverstein)
David Spitzer	....	dga trainee

Art Department
John Alvin	....	poster artist
John Berger	....	set designer
Marco A. Campos	....	construction foreman
Ernest Depew	....	construction coordinator (as Ernie Depew)
Brad Einhorn	....	property master
Edward Eyth	....	production illustrator
Sara Gardner-Gail	....	set dresser
Christopher Gilman	....	props
Eero Hautanen	....	construction general foreman
James Hegedus	....	production illustrator
George Jenson	....	production illustrator
Gary A. Krakoff	....	construction coordinator
Tim R. Lafferty	....	construction general foreman (as Tim Lafferty)
David Lowery	....	production illustrator
Edward T. McAvoy	....	assistant art director
Ric McElvin	....	lead man
John Root	....	signwriter supervisor
Eric S. Saperstein	....	painter
Andrew M. Siegel	....	assistant property master
Paul Sonski	....	set designer
Carl J. Stensel	....	set designer
Tom von Badinski	....	props
Leslie Warren	....	set dresser/fabricator
Frank White	....	propmaker
Timothy S. Wiles	....	second assistant property master
Christopher Windisch	....	construction foreman
Greg Knapp	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Beshears	....	sound effects editor
Joseph F. Brennan	....	boom operator (as Joseph Brennan)
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David Campbell)
Thomas Causey	....	production sound mixer
Louis L. Edemann	....	sound editor
David Gertz	....	adr recordist
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Andrea Horta	....	adr editor
Allen Hurd	....	dubbing recordist (as J. Allen Hurd)
Doug Jackson	....	sound editor
Fred Judkins	....	sound editor
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Richard Kite	....	utility sound
Gary Krivacek	....	sound editor
Angie Luckey	....	assistant sound editor
Donald J. Malouf	....	supervising sound editor (as Don Malouf)
Gary Mundheim	....	sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Rod Rogers	....	assistant adr editor
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jackson Schwartz	....	foley mixer
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
Randy Smith	....	sound recordist
Bernard Weiser	....	sound editor
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jon G. Belyeu	....	special effects supervisor
Chris Burton	....	special effects foreman
Steve Fink	....	prosthetics technician
Scott Forbes	....	special effects foreman
Larry L. Fuentes	....	special effects foreman
Bruce Y. Kuroyama	....	special effects technician
Alan Rifkin	....	special effects technician
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects foreman (as Jim D. Schwalm)
Mike Wever	....	special effects technician
Richard Zarro	....	special effects technician
Ronald Zarro	....	special effects technician (as Ron Zarro)
Rich E. Cordobes	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Michael Meier	....	pyrotechnician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jon Alexander	....	optical camera operator
Sandra Almond	....	visual effects production assistant (as Sandra Almond Williams)
Charles Bailey	....	chief model maker (as Charlie Bailey)
Randall K. Bean	....	film scanner operator
John Bell	....	visual effects art director
Tom Bertino	....	rotoscope supervisor
Patricia Blau	....	visual effects producer
Anne Calanchini	....	visual effects coordinator
Terry Chostner	....	visual effects cameramen
Charlie Clavadetscher	....	effects camera operator
Michael Curtis	....	designer: one-sheet
Peter Daulton	....	visual effects cameraman
Jeff Doran	....	optical camera operator
Dick Dova	....	stage technician (as Richard Spah)
Loring Doyle	....	visual effects artist
Timothy Eaton	....	visual effects editor (as Tim Eaton)
John Ellis	....	optical photography supervisor: ILM
Bob Finley III	....	stage technician (as Robert Finley III)
Robert Finley Jr.	....	stage technician
Ron Fode	....	assistant visual effects editor
Michael Fulmer	....	chief model maker (as Mike Fulmer)
Steve Gawley	....	supervising model maker
Brian Gernand	....	model maker: ILM
Joanne Hafner	....	rotoscope artist
David Hanks	....	first assistant camera: visual effects
David Heron	....	stage technician
Rebecca Heskes	....	rotoscope artist
Edward Hirsh	....	project manager (as Ed Hirsh)
Sandy Houston	....	rotoscope artist
Peg Hunter	....	optical lineup
David P.I. James	....	visual effects production assistant (as David James)
Keith Johnson	....	optical camera operator
Ed Jones	....	visual effects executive in charge of post-production (as Ed L. Jones)
David Karpman	....	optical lineup
Sandra Ford Karpman	....	computer graphics: ILM (as Sandra R. Ford)
Ira Keeler	....	chief model maker
Jennifer Lee	....	optical lineup
Jeffrey B. Light	....	film scanner operator (as Jeff B. Light)
James Lim	....	optical camera operator
Karl J. Martin	....	visual effects model maker
Michael McGovern	....	assistant visual effects editor
Richard Miller	....	chief model maker
Terry Molatore	....	rotoscope artist
Jack Mongovan	....	rotoscope artist
Tim Morgan	....	stage technician
Jim Morris	....	executive in charge of production
Ellen Mueller	....	rotoscope artist
Patrick T. Myers	....	effects camera operator (as Patrick Myers)
Lori J. Nelson	....	optical lineup (as Lori Nelson)
Kate O'Neill	....	first assistant camera: visual effects
Michael Olague	....	stage technician
Randy Ottenberg	....	chief model maker
Joshua Pines	....	film scanner operator
Vance Piper	....	first assistant camera: visual effects
Ken Ralston	....	visual effects supervisor
Pat Repola	....	optical camera operator
Louis Rivera	....	negative cutter: ILM
Stuart Robertson	....	digital effects supervisor: ILM
Scott Ross	....	general manager
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical lineup (as Tom Rosseter)
Penny Runge	....	visual effects coordinator
Kenneth Smith	....	optical camera operator
Tom St. Amand	....	stop motion animator
Mark Sullivan	....	chief matte painter
Pat Sweeney	....	visual effects cameramen
Wes Takahashi	....	animation supervisor (as Wes Ford Takahashi)
Larry Tan	....	chief model maker
Pat Turner	....	director of photography: visual effects (as Patrick Turner)
Bruce Vecchitto	....	optical photography supervisor
Bruce Walters	....	matte painting supervisor
John Whisnant	....	optical lineup
Gene Young	....	model maker
David Biedny	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Daniel Brown	....	model maker (uncredited)
Susan Adele Colletta	....	post production coordinator: ILM (uncredited)
John Goodson	....	model maker (uncredited)
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects (uncredited)
David J. Rowe	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator
Seth Arnett	....	stunt performer
Janet Brady	....	stunt performer
Jake Brake	....	stunt performer
John Branagan	....	stunt performer
R.J. Chambers	....	stunt performer
Steven Chambers	....	stunt performer (as Steve Chambers)
Gary Combs	....	stunt performer
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt performer (as Mark DeAlessandro)
Mike De Luna	....	stunt performer (as Michael DeLuna)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunt performer (as Justin DeRosa)
Gary Epper	....	stunt performer
Linda Fetters	....	stunt performer
Matt Franco	....	stunt performer
Marian Green	....	stunt performer
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunt performer (as Maria Kelly)
Eddie Matthews	....	stunt performer
Jimmy Medearis	....	stunt performer
Janet Lee Orcutt	....	stunt performer
J. Suzanne Rampe	....	stunt performer
J.N. Roberts	....	stunt performer
Peter Rocca	....	stunt performer
Pat Romano	....	stunt performer
R.A. Rondell	....	stunt performer
Michael Runyard	....	stunt performer (as Mike Runyard)
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunt performer (as Michael John Sarna)
Ron Thiele	....	stunt performer
Danny Wynands	....	stunt performer
Perry Barndt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bret Culpepper	....	stunt safety (uncredited)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steve Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry Holt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Scott Leva	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob McGovern	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Randy Peters	....	stunts (uncredited)
Denney Pierce	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Rocca	....	stunt double: Alan Arkin (uncredited)
George Marshall Ruge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Myke Schwartz	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Anderson	....	camera operator (as Roy Anderson)
William L. Asman	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit
Dustin Ault	....	grip
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Christopher Blauvelt	....	clapper loader (as Chris Blauvelt)
Bruce Byall	....	best boy grip
Tim Collins	....	dolly grip (as Timothy Collins)
Jeff Durling	....	electrician
Todd Griffith	....	company grip
Frank M. Holgate	....	director of photography: second unit (as Frank Holgate)
Brett Laumann	....	electrical best boy
Kim Marks	....	camera operator
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer (as Steven R. Mathis)
Rexford L. Metz	....	director of photography: second unit (as Rexford Metz)
Rob Morey	....	first assistant camera
John Murphy	....	grip
Tom Prophet Jr.	....	key grip: second unit
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator
Steve Smith	....	key grip
Richard Stevens	....	second assistant camera (as Richard M. Stevens)
David Wagreich	....	director of photography: second unit
Dwayne Platz	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Gordon Baker	....	animator
James Beihold	....	layout artist (as Jim Beihold)
Charlie Canfield	....	animator
Kevin Coffey	....	animator
Mark Dindal	....	director: animation segments
Loring Doyle	....	animator
Chris R. Green	....	animator
Crispy Green	....	animator
Philip Phillipson	....	background artist (as Phil Phillipson)
Anthony Stacchi	....	animator

Casting Department
Nancy Foy	....	casting
Nicole Gelbard	....	casting assistant (as Nicole Boroda-Gelbard)
Marshall Peck	....	extras casting: Santa Maria

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacqueline G. Arthur	....	assistant to costume designer (as Jacki Arthur)
Winnie D. Brown	....	costume supervisor: women
James P. Cullen	....	costumer (as Jim Cullen)
Karen M. Davis	....	costumer
Lois DeArmond	....	costume illustrator
Daniel J. Lester	....	costume supervisor: men (as Dan Lester)
Alan Martin	....	costumer
Bill Tiegs	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Harry Hitner	....	assistant editor
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer
Peter Lonsdale	....	additional editor
Stephen L. Meek	....	assistant editor
Eric O. Schusterman	....	apprentice editor
Carin-Anne Strohmaier	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Jo Ann Kane	....	supervising music copyist (as Joanne Kane)
Elliot Kaplan	....	orchestrator
Nathan Kaproff	....	orchestra contractor
Billy May	....	additional orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	music scoring mixer
John Neufeld	....	orchestrator
Joe E. Rand	....	assistant music editor
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)
Brian L. McCarty	....	music coordinator (uncredited)
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Sheridan Ross Batson	....	transportation co-captain
Sharon Hollis	....	transportation co-captain (as Sharon G. Hollis)
Randy Musselman	....	transportation co-captain
Randy Peters	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Dulys	....	driver (uncredited)
Tom Marchetti	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jackie Baugh	....	production accountant
Danny Cadow	....	flying effects technician
David W. Dale	....	assistant: Jennifer Connelly
David W. Dale	....	production assistant (as David Dale)
Tony Didio Jr.	....	armorer
Cliff Fleming	....	pilot
David Fulton	....	unit publicist (as Dave Fulton)
Miranda Garrison	....	choreographer
James W. Gavin	....	pilot
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Jay Gowey	....	location trainee
Henry H. Hammond	....	production assistant
Robert Harman	....	wire rigs (as Bob Harman)
Angela Heald	....	production coordinator
Maureen Higgins	....	second assistant accountant
Grey Hill	....	shop hand
Steve Hinton	....	pilot
Craig Hosking	....	aerial coordinator
Craig Hosking	....	pilot
Kristina H. Jones	....	production assistant
Alec Kamp	....	assistant: Larry Franco
Gladys Kaye McCall	....	assistant production accountant (as Kaye McCall)
Damian Mcknight	....	studio runner
Jonise Misiewicz	....	assistant production accountant
Christopher Mollo	....	assistant: Larry Gordon
Wendell Morris	....	production assistant
Toby C. Schwartz	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Sims	....	painter: Cinovation
Laura Sode-Matteson	....	location manager
Kristen Stavola	....	assistant: Lloyd Levin
Janna Stern	....	script supervisor
Judie Surridge	....	assistant: Chuck Gordon
Paul Tinsley	....	script supervisor: second unit
Diana Vilkaitis	....	production assistant
Sid Wagner	....	assistant production accountant
Jeff Winn	....	craft service
Mario Iscovich	....	production executive (uncredited)
Anne Lockhart	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Pictures (presents) (USA & Canada)
• Touchstone Pictures (presents) (overseas)
• Silver Screen Partners IV (in assocation with)
• Gordon Company

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc.)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (all media) (limited)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Aerial Wire Stunts Inc.  wire rigs
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recording (as Buena Vista Sound Studios)
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Columbia Recording Studios  music recorded at (as Columbia Recording Studio)
• Eastman Film  produced and distributed on
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Lucasfilm THX / TAP Theater Alignment Program  
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• People of Santa Maria Valley, The  producers wish to thank
• Santa Maria Airport District, The  producers wish to thank
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  main title graphics
• TAJ Soundworks  foley
• Video Hawks  video playback services
• Walt Disney Feature Animation  animation production (as WDP Feature Animation)
• Walt Disney Pictures and Television  this motion picture was created by, for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom

Also Known As:

"Rocketeer" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #31206) | Iceland:10 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

Lloyd Bridges turned down the role of Peevy Peabody.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Cliff flies around inside the nightclub, the rope that is pulling the food cart he is riding can be seen just before he hits the wall.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Peevy:[as they bring the Gee Bee out for its maiden flight] Keep her straight, keep her level. It's your first time up, so don't do anything interesting.
Cliff Secord:Who, me?
Peevy:And remember, she stalls out at about a hundred. So keep the air speed up. Otherwise, you're gonna be drifting around all over the sky. And if the ailerons start to shimmy...
Cliff Secord:Peevy, I have flown a plane or two in my life.
Peevy:Not like this one, you haven't. This one's... This one's a handful. You sneeze in this thing and you're gonna end up upside-down in the bean field.
[walking past the tail of the Gee Bee, Cliff takes some chewed-up gum from his mouth and puts it on the rudder]
Peevy:That's fresh paint, dammit!
Cliff Secord:You want me to crash?
Peevy:Chewing gum ain't gonna keep your butt up in the air.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

BEGIN THE BEGUINE

Pretty enjoyable

There's more fun to be had out of this movie than I'd expected. The story is given elsewhere so I'll pretty much skip it and get to the more important things, like the twenty-year-old Jennifer Connelly. She's a bit plumper (all over) than we're used to seeing her but it's okay because cartoon figures ought to be slightly overdone. She looks and sounds magnificent -- those over-sized nacreous incisors, I guess. She could open mangoes with those teeth. Not that she's as beautiful as any woman possibly could be. Connelly COULD be better looking but if she were it would probably be against some law.

Bill Campbell looks like a cartoon too. In fact everyone in the movie looks like a cartoon except the guy playing the huge thug working for Paul Sorvino. That guy doesn't look like a cartoon. He looks exactly like Rondo Hatten, an acromegalic actor from a few 40s horror flicks. But, it must be admitted, Rondo Hatten looked like a cartoon. And, well, if A = B and B = C, then A = C, no? It's a conundrum alright.

The movie is filled with delicious 1938 atmosphere. I wasn't around to enjoy it but it's always struck a resonant chord in me when I glimpse it in movies or listen to recordings from the period. Here we have an Artie Shaw sort of band playing "Begin the Beguine" with a close simulation of that famous arrangement that made it such a hit. A smiling singer who looks like Nicole Kidman stands on the stage and sings without rolling around or smashing a guitar. Call me retro, but I prefer it to Snoop Dog Eeeze 2 Dudes. All seriousness aside, what happened to pop music anyway? Where are our Cole Porters and Ira Gershwins. Somebody hand me a hankie.

I enjoyed the airplanes too. The one in the beginning of the movie was built exclusively for racing. (I forget its designation.) It was a horror to fly because it was hardly more than a huge engine with a tiny airplane built around it, as unstable a craft as ever took wing. Scary news footage exists of one of them zipping along at a tremendous rate and then, out of nowhere, kaboom, spinning deliriously into the ground at full speed. The 1930s were famous for their air races, like NASCAR is today. Heroes were made out of aviators. Airplanes that later became famous as fighters in WWII were first configured as racers -- Curtis P-40s, for instance, and the British Spitfires.

Of course it's an imitation of the Indiana Jones series and maybe an imitation of some Indiana Jones imitations, a kind of meta-imitation, but, gee, it's enjoyable. What atmosphere. And lots of action. Everybody and everything is turned into mincemeat one way or another but not in any way that's offensive.

It's really kind of engaging if you don't ask for significance.