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Reviews
Toward the Unknown (1956)
Great X-plane/1950's Air Force Time Capsule
I admit I am somewhat biased by the subject matter, as I am very intrigued by the 1950's era of rapid aviation development and flight testing.It seemed we were willing to try anything if it would give us a hand-up on the Russians, similar to the effort of the German war technology in WW2 to stave off the Allied advance. At any rate, the movie is an enjoyable time capsule of 1950's test aircraft and prototypes, especially a rare view of the Martin XB-51 (Gilbert XF-120 in the movie)of which none of the two built survive as they were destroyed in real-life crashes.The story-line is of course clichéd and predictable, though loosely based on actual test pilot Pete Everest. Stars William Holden, with a supporting role by James Garner who makes his motion picture debut. By the way, the movie is not available in the mass market, but I paid $45.00 for an excellent (legal) DVD copy off an internet company from Hollywood. It was worth it, as I hadn't seen the movie for 40 years. There is a website for this movie (search under "Toward the Unknown")that mentions the DVD company, as the name escapes me.
Flyboys (2006)
Unintentional Parady of WW1 Flying Movies. Watch Blue Max instead.
Filled with predictable war movie clichés,it was a difficult movie to watch. As a pilot of 27 years experience and an avid aviation history and aviation movie viewer, I had to cringe at the "Hollywood-ized" treatment of the story of the Lafayette Escadrille...meaning that historical accuracy takes a back seat to special effects and old-formula war movie routine. The viewer is led to believe that the Germans only had three-wing Fokker DR-1's, and that there was armor plating behind the cockpit of the French Neuports, as they were riddled with bullet holes with no effect to pilot. Overly predictable, if you go in with low expectations, you may be able to finish it. I know if I had seen it at the cinema instead of renting it, I would have walked out. The greatest WW 1 aviation movie remains the 1966 "Blue Max".