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IMDbPro

The Rocketeer

  • 19911991
  • PGPG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
58K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,777
691
Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
Trailer for The Rocketeer
Play trailer0:31
7 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureFamily
A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero.A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero.A young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
58K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,777
691
  • Director
    • Joe Johnston
  • Writers
    • Dave Stevens(graphic novel "The Rocketeer")
    • Danny Bilson(story)
    • Paul De Meo(story)
  • Stars
    • Billy Campbell
    • Jennifer Connelly
    • Alan Arkin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joe Johnston
  • Writers
    • Dave Stevens(graphic novel "The Rocketeer")
    • Danny Bilson(story)
    • Paul De Meo(story)
  • Stars
    • Billy Campbell
    • Jennifer Connelly
    • Alan Arkin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 182User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 6 nominations

    Videos7

    The Rocketeer
    Trailer 0:31
    The Rocketeer
    What Roles Has Jennifer Connelly Turned Down?
    Clip 3:18
    What Roles Has Jennifer Connelly Turned Down?
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:19
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:14
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:29
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:19
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:18
    The Rocketeer: 20th Anniversary Edition

    Photos326

    Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Alan Arkin and Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Paul Sorvino, John Lavachielli, and Robert Miranda in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Terry O'Quinn in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Paul Sorvino, Timothy Dalton, John Lavachielli, and Robert Miranda in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Jennifer Connelly and Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Timothy Dalton in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Alan Arkin in The Rocketeer (1991)
    Alan Arkin and Billy Campbell in The Rocketeer (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Billy Campbell
    Billy Campbell
    • Cliff
    • (as Bill Campbell)
    Jennifer Connelly
    Jennifer Connelly
    • Jenny
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Peevy
    Timothy Dalton
    Timothy Dalton
    • Neville Sinclair
    Paul Sorvino
    Paul Sorvino
    • Eddie Valentine
    Terry O'Quinn
    Terry O'Quinn
    • Howard Hughes
    Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    • Fitch
    James Handy
    James Handy
    • Wooly
    Robert Miranda
    Robert Miranda
    • Spanish Johnny
    • (as Robert Guy Miranda)
    John Lavachielli
    • Rusty
    Jon Polito
    Jon Polito
    • Bigelow
    Eddie Jones
    Eddie Jones
    • Malcolm
    William Sanderson
    William Sanderson
    • Skeets
    Don Pugsley
    Don Pugsley
    • Goose
    Nada Despotovich
    • Irma
    Margo Martindale
    Margo Martindale
    • Millie
    America Martin
    • Patsy
    Max Grodénchik
    Max Grodénchik
    • Wilmer
    • Director
      • Joe Johnston
    • Writers
      • Dave Stevens(graphic novel "The Rocketeer")
      • Danny Bilson(story) (screenplay)
      • Paul De Meo(story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Gee Bee racer was nicknamed "The Widowmaker" and "The Flying Coffin" because it was incredibly difficult to fly and was prone to crashing. Because of its speed and maneuverability, some pilots still raced it despite the danger.
    • Goofs
      Set in 1938 but mentions the Deutschmark, which weren't introduced as the West German currency until 1948. German currency, up to and including the Nazi era, was the Reichsmark. The term "Deutschmark" may have been used, despite the anachronism, for its double-D alliteration, as Campbell's line is "He pay you in dollars, or Deutschmark?"
    • Quotes

      Neville Sinclair: [on the road leading to the Griffith Observatory] C'mon, Eddie. I'm paying you well. Does it really matter where the money comes from?

      [siding with the G-men to fight the Nazis]

      Eddie Valentine: It matters to me. I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American. I don't work for no two-bit Nazi. Let the girl go!

      [Neville laughs, then calls out - in German - a group of hidden armed Sturmabteilung German soldiers who promptly hold everyone at gunpoint]

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves/Straight Out of Brooklyn/Dark Obsession/Bright Angel (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Der Hoelle Rache
      from Queen of the Night's "Aria" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performed by Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin

      Courtesy of Laserlight Digital, by arrangement with Sounds of Film

    User reviews182

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American. I don't work for no two-bit Nazi.
    Rocketeer is directed by Joe Johnston and co-written by Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo and William Dear. It is based on Dave Stevens' comic book The Rocketeer. It stars Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton and Paul Sorvino. Music is scored by James Horner and cinematography by Hiro Narita.

    It took eight years to get to the screen, with many rewrites, changes in personal, changes in setting and etc, the only thing consistent was Disney's inconsistency. Once out the film received generally positive reviews but posted only a small profit, in the wake of a Tim Burton inspired reinvention of the Super Hero genre, Rocketeer fell away into cultdom, sequels planned were shelved and its reputation remains to this day one of being a misfire. Unfair say I! Rocketeer is a lovingly crafted adventure film, nodding towards the serials of the 1930s, it's awash with period Hollywood delights, Art Deco imagery, has a damsel in distress, square jawed heroics, Nazi villains, wonderful effects and a blunderbuss Zeppelin finale. Backed by beautiful smooth tone photography and an evocative heart stirring music score, it's a family friendly blockbuster that ticks all the requisite boxes. The quality of the action sequences still hold up today, and Johnston, who wanted the job big time, directs with a knowing grasp of the setting, and crucially he never once loses a grip on tone and pacing. There's no self parody here, no deep Fruedian dissection of the main character, just a honest to goodness good against bad axis, with a romantic cause deftly wafted over proceedings.

    The role of Cliff Secord (Rocketeer) proved hard to cast, where Vincent D'Onofrio turned it down and "name" actors such as Dennis Quaid, Emilio Estevez, Kurt Russell and Bill Paxton auditioned for the part. Paxton, it's believed, was very close to getting it as well. Disney wanted an A list man, Johnny Depp and Kevin Costner were mooted, but Johnston had a feel for unknown Billy Campbell and managed to convince nervous Disney heads that he was perfect. Much of the scorn that has flown towards Rocketeer has landed at Campbell's door, again, this is unfair. It's hard to tell if one of those A list actors could have made the character work better, for it helps in this instance to not have a familiar face propelling the adventure. There's an innocence, an awkwardness to Campbell's portrayal that just sits right for a guy stumbling upon a rocket pack and finding himself submerged in a chase and harry battle against bad. He also has the looks, a handsome dude who creates a homespun based chemistry with the sensuous Connelly. It's Dalton's movie, though, he's having a devil of a time as the chief villain. Modeled on Errol Flynn and the spurious notion that he was once a Nazi spy, Dalton has the looks, the gusto, the moustache twirling shiftiness and a voice perfect for such material. A roll call of great character actors fill out the support slots, with Terry O'Quinn, Paul Sorvino and Ed Lauter particularly striking the right chords.

    A smashing piece of escapism, no pretensions or ideas above its station. The willingness to tap into the basic premise of a comic book actioner and entertain in grand Hollywood terms, to be applauded. And I do, and I do love it so. 8/10
    helpful•14
    3
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jun 1, 2012

    FAQ1

    • Who played Lothar the giant?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 21, 1991 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Le Rocketeer
    • Filming locations
      • Ennis House - 2607 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Walt Disney Pictures
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Silver Screen Partners IV
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $46,704,056
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,600,754
      • Jun 23, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $46,704,056
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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