Flyboys (2006)

The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.

Director:

Tony Bill

Writers:

Phil Sears (screenplay), Blake T. Evans (screenplay)

Stars:

James Franco, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Franco	...	Blaine Rawlings
Scott Hazell	...	Cinema Usher
Mac McDonald	...	Sheriff Detweiller
Philip Winchester	...	William Jensen
Todd Boyce	...	Mr. Jensen
Karen Ford	...	Mrs. Jensen
Ruth Bradley	...	Laura
Abdul Salis	...	Eugene Skinner
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Skinner's trainer
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Mr. Lowry
Tyler Labine	...	Briggs Lowry
Gail Downey	...	Mrs. Lowry
David Ellison	...	Eddie Beagle
Jean Reno	...	Capt. Thenault
Augustin Legrand	...	L.T. Giroux

Storyline

Before the United States enters World War I, some American youths volunteer for the French military. Subsequently, they become the first U.S. fighter pilots and form a squadron known as the Lafayette Escadrille, whose exploits and heroism become the stuff of legend. This fictional version follows a laconic Texas rancher, an eager Nebraska kid, a Black boxer already in France, and a New York swell, as they arrive green for training, get their baptism by fire when German planes ambush them on their first mission, and graduate to heroics. Rawlings, the Texan, falls in love with a young woman he meets at a bordel.

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Plot Keywords:

american | france | pilot | training | military | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by a true story

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war action violence and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Electric Entertainment [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

22 September 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flyboys - Helden der Lüfte

Filming Locations:

Epping, Essex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$6,004,219 (USA) (22 September 2006)

Gross:

$13,082,288 (USA) (15 December 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Electric Entertainment, Flyboys Films, Ingenious Film Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Blaine Rawlings home town of Aberdeen, Texas, actually existed as a tiny community during World War I. Located in the state's Panhandle, it ceased to exist in 1963. The former location of Aberdeen is about 5-miles from the nearest paved road.

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Goofs

The Black Falcon and the Gotha bomber bear the straight-edged Balkan Cross of 1918 instead of the Iron Cross of 1914-17.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: By the start of 1916, World War I had wreaked havoc across Europe. Over nine million people would eventually die.
Title Card: Although the airplane had only recently been invented, it was quickly adapted into a war machine.
Title Card: The young men who flew them became the first fighter pilots and a new kind of hero was born.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Worst of 2006 (2007)

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Soundtracks

Onward Christian Soldiers
Written by Sabine Baring-Gould (as Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould) and Arthur Sullivan

User Reviews

Just attended the Premier

I just attended the premier of Flyboys at the Oshkosh Airshow. Enjoyed it thoroughly. The flight scene special effects were difficult to impossible to distinguish from the actual flying. Director Tony Bill discussed the background and making of the film to an audience composed largely of aviators including some of the best such as Bob Hoover, Sean Tucker and others. A difficult audience to impress and impressed they were.

The film does not shy away from the ugly aspects of combat nor does it ignore the seamier aspects of the non-flying life although that is nowhere near becoming graphic. The history has been treated accurately

• and yes there was really a black pilot as portrayed in the film. I

have read a number of histories and autobiographical accounts of the American volunteers - they were idealistic and naive. Thats just the age they lived in - don't judge the characterizations by todays standards.

Anyway, a wonderful film.