The Rocketeer (1991)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Gangster | Aviation | Blimp | 1930s

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Bill Campbell	...	Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly	...	Jenny Blake
Alan Arkin	...	A. 'Peevy' Peabody
Timothy Dalton	...	Neville Sinclair
Paul Sorvino	...	Eddie Valentine
Terry O'Quinn	...	Howard Hughes
Ed Lauter	...	Agent Fitch
James Handy	...	Agent 'Wooly' Wolinski
Tiny Ron	...	Lothar / Good Old Boy
Robert Miranda	...	Spanish Johnny (as Robert Guy Miranda)
John Lavachielli	...	Rusty, Valentine Hood
Jon Polito	...	Otis Bigelow
Eddie Jones	...	Malcolm the Mechanic
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
Clint Howard	...	Mark
Tommy J. Huff	...	Lenny
Paul DeSouza	...	Pauly
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Mrs. Pye
Julian Barnes	...	Charlie
Sam Vincent	...	Victor
Lisa Pedersen	...	Noblewoman in Laughing Bandit
Peter Bromilow	...	Nobleman in Laughing Bandit
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 Club Singer
Bob Leeman	...	W.C. Fields
Rick Overton	...	South Seas Club 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	...	Hospital Prison Ward Nurse
David Pressman	...	Hospital Prison Ward Guard
Lila Finn	...	Clothesline Lady
Perry Cook	...	Good Old Boy
Taylor Gilbert	...	Stewardess
Ele Keats	...	Girl at Newsstand
Danielle Bedau	...	Girl at Newsstand
Chance Michael Corbitt	...	Newspaper Kid
Bob Sandman	...	South Seas Club Bandleader
Lori Lynn Ross	...	South Seas Club Mermaid
Kathleen Michaels	...	South Seas Club 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)
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
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

Makeup Department
Rick Baker	....	makeup creator: Lothar
Michael Mills	....	makeup artist
Greg Nelson	....	makeup artist: Lothar
Carol A. O'Connell	....	hair styles supervisor
Shari Perry	....	additional hair stylist
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 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
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)
Timothy Eaton	....	visual effects editor (as Tim Eaton)
John Ellis	....	optical photography supervisor
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 James	....	visual effects production assistant
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
Mickey McGovern	....	assistant visual effects editor (as Michael McGovern)
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)
Michael Olague	....	stage technician
Kate O'Neill	....	first assistant camera: visual effects
Randy Ottenberg	....	chief model maker
Josh Pines	....	film scanner operator (as Joshua Pines)
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
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical lineup (as Tom Rosseter)
Scott Ross	....	general manager
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 for 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)
John Goodson	....	model maker (uncredited)
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects (uncredited)

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

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Anderson	....	camera operator (as Roy Anderson)
William L. Asman	....	camera operator: "a" camera: 2nd Unit
Dustin Ault	....	grip
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Chris Blauvelt	....	clapper loader
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
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
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Jo Ann Kane	....	supervising music copyist (as Joanne Kane)
Elliot Kaplan	....	orchestrator
Nathan Kaproff	....	orchestra contractor
Billy May	....	additional orchestrator
Brian L. McCarty	....	music coordinator
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
John Neufeld	....	orchestrator
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator
Joe E. Rand	....	assistant music editor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Arnold Steck	....	composer: additional music
James Horner	....	conductor (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
Mario Iscovich	....	production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Walt Disney Home Video
• Warner Bros. (Spain)

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  for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom this picture was created by

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)

Certification:

Iceland:10 (original rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | 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

Filming Locations:

Ennis-Brown House - 2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

The reproduction of the Gee Bee racer flown by Cliff Secord is currently on display at the Museum Of Flight in Seattle, WA. The original Gee Bee this aircraft was based on was painted in the same color scheme as the one used in the movie, however the original was named the "City of Springfield" and was flown by pilot Lowell Bayles. Bayles flew barefoot, as he said it gave him a better feel of the rudder. He was killed flying this airplane while making a record speed attempt in December 1931.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie makes a reference to the "Spruce Goose". The concept of the plane did not occur until 1942, not 1938 as seems stated in the movie.

Quotes:

Cliff Secord: Jenny, prepare yourself for a shock: I'm the Rocketeer.
Jenny: The Rocke-who?
Cliff Secord: [frustrated] Oh for crying out loud, haven't you read the papers?
Jenny: [beat] No, I've been working all day.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fanboys (2008)

Soundtrack:

DRUM MAJORETTE

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.