Misplaced Pages

Flyboys (film): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:26, 6 November 2023 edit74.71.138.188 (talk) →External links← Previous edit Latest revision as of 00:36, 21 December 2024 edit undoGreenC bot (talk | contribs)Bots2,555,765 edits Reformat 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:USURPURL and JUDI batch #20 
(26 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|2006 film by Tony Bill}}
{{Distinguish|The Flyboys (film)}} {{Distinguish|The Flyboys (film)}}
{{Tone|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
Line 15: Line 15:
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = Chris Blunden<br />Ron Rosen | editing = Chris Blunden<br />Ron Rosen
| studio = ]<br />]<br />]<br>] | studio = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| distributor = ] (United States)<br>Verve Pictures (United Kingdom)<ref name="boxmojo"/><ref name="bbfc"/><ref name="lum"/> | distributor = ] (United States)<br>Verve Pictures (United Kingdom)<ref name="boxmojo"/><ref name="bbfc"/><ref name="lum"/>
| released = {{Film date|2006|09|22|United States|2007|06|01|United Kingdom}} | released = {{Film date|2006|09|22|United States|2007|06|01|United Kingdom}}
| runtime = 138 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 138:29--><ref name="bbfc">{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/flyboys-2007-0 | title=''FLYBOYS'' (12A) | work=] | date=February 27, 2007 | access-date=December 16, 2014}}</ref> | runtime = 138 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 138:29--><ref name="bbfc">{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/flyboys-2007-0 | title=''FLYBOYS'' (12A) | work=] | date=February 27, 2007 | access-date=December 16, 2014}}</ref>
Line 26: Line 26:
'''''Flyboys''''' is a 2006 ] ] starring ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. It was directed by ], a pilot and aviation enthusiast,<ref>Farmer 2006, p. 18.</ref> and written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, and David S. Ward, with the story by Evans. Set during ], the film follows the enlistment, training, and combat experiences of a group of young Americans who volunteered to become fighter pilots in the ], the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916.<ref name= "Lafayette">Sherman, Steven. ''acepilots.com'', 2007. Retrieved: April 27, 2008.</ref> The film deals with themes of friendship, racial prejudice, revenge, and love. '''''Flyboys''''' is a 2006 ] ] starring ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. It was directed by ], a pilot and aviation enthusiast,<ref>Farmer 2006, p. 18.</ref> and written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, and David S. Ward, with the story by Evans. Set during ], the film follows the enlistment, training, and combat experiences of a group of young Americans who volunteered to become fighter pilots in the ], the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916.<ref name= "Lafayette">Sherman, Steven. ''acepilots.com'', 2007. Retrieved: April 27, 2008.</ref> The film deals with themes of friendship, racial prejudice, revenge, and love.


''Flyboys'' was released on September 22, 2006. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a ], grossing just $17 million against its $60 million budget. ''Flyboys'' was released on September 22, 2006. It received mixed reviews from critics, but was a ], grossing just $17 million against its $60 million budget.


==Plot== ==Plot==
In 1916, a group of young Americans go to ] to serve in the French Air Service, ''L']'' during World War I. The recruits are under the command of French ] ], with veteran ] Reed Cassidy as their mentor. <!-- Per ], plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. -->In 1916, a group of Americans go to France to serve in the French Air Service, ''L']'', in World War I. They are placed under the command of ] ], with veteran ] Reed Cassidy as their mentor.


Pilot Blaine Rawlings runs out of fuel on a practice flight and crashes. He meets a young woman named Lucienne and the two develop a relationship. She expresses concern about the dangers of his service.
The pilots struggle to meet the demands of flying, preparing for the aerial ]s that dominate missions to the front lines. Pilot Blaine Rawlings meets a young woman named Lucienne after his plane runs out of fuel and crashes during a practice flight. Over time, they develop a relationship despite her hesitations about his risky profession.


On their first mission, escorting bombers to attack a German ammunition depot in ], the rookie pilots are ambushed by Germans. Two are killed in the battle (Toddman and Dewitt), and a third (Nunn) successfully makes an emergency landing, but is killed on the ground by "The Black Falcon", a German pilot flying a black aircraft; the more chivalrous German pilot Franz Wolferd shakes his head in disapproval. During the recruits' first mission{{snd}}escorting bombers to attack a German ammunition depot in ]{{snd}}they are ambushed by German warplanes, and two of the rookies are killed. A third makes an emergency landing but is killed on the ground by "the Black Falcon"{{snd}}a German pilot flying a black aircraft. The chivalrous German pilot Franz Wolferd shakes his head in disapproval.


During a later battle, Rawlings' machine gun jams. Wolferd, the pilot he was chasing, flies beside him and salutes before banking away, sparing his opponent's life as penance for the unfair killing of Nunn on the ground. Higgins is killed during the battle, and Jensen suffers an emotional breakdown during the night, unable to fly anymore due to shock. Beagle is accused of being a spy due to faked personal information but comes clean about a crime he committed in the United States, and is allowed to stay on. In a later battle, Rawlings' machine gun jams while he is chasing Wolferd. Wolferd flies alongside and salutes before banking away. Higgins is killed in the battle, and Jensen suffers an emotional breakdown and is unable to fly again.


The French military learn that Beagle faked his personal information and he is accused of being a spy. He comes clean about a crime he committed in the United States, and is allowed to stay on.
When the Germans attack a column of civilians, the American pilots head off to stop them. Rawlings kills Wolferd during the engagement after sparing him once when the German dives after another American. Beagle's plane is brought down over no man's land, and the plane pins his hand. Rawlings lands his plane and make his way to Beagle, but can't free him. He is forced to chop Beagle's hand off to get him to safety with the help of a few French soldiers that left the trenches to free him.


Germans warplanes attack a column of civilians, and the American pilots intercept them. Rawlings initially spares Wolferd, but later kills him when Wolferd dives after another American pilot. Beagle is brought down in ], and his hand is trapped by the wreckage. Rawlings lands but he and some French soldiers are unable to free him, until Rawlings is forced to amputate Beagle's hand.
⚫ Learning that German forces have advanced into Lucienne's village, Rawlings steals a plane in the middle of the night to rescue them, but Lucienne is wounded and taken to a hospital. Returning to base, he is praised by the commander and awarded the ] medal for bravery.


⚫ Learning that German forces have entered Lucienne's village, Rawlings steals a plane and attempts to rescue them. Lucienne is wounded and taken to a hospital. Rawlings is praised by the commander and awarded the '']'' for bravery.
⚫ Ordered to attack a German ], Porter is killed and Reed Cassidy is mortally wounded by the Black Falcon. Before succumbing to his wounds, Reed purposely crashes into the zeppelin, destroying it. Rawlings reunites with Lucienne before she leaves for Paris. Rawlings’ plane is presented with an eagle, which was Cassidy's insignia, and he is promoted to Squadron Leader.


⚫ During an attack on a German ] Porter is killed and Cassidy is mortally wounded by the Black Falcon. Before succumbing, Cassidy flies into the zeppelin, destroying it. Rawlings reunites with Lucienne before she leaves for Paris. Rawlings’ plane is presented with an eagle, which had been Cassidy's insignia, and he is promoted to Squadron Leader.
⚫ After escorting another bomber run on the ammunition depot in ] in which Lowry is forced to shoot himself when his plane catches fire, Rawlings takes off to exact revenge on the Black Falcon. Rawlings is attacked by multiple enemy planes, but Jensen, who had broken down earlier but decided to keep flying, helps him shoot down all the enemy fighters except the Black Falcon. With the enemy fighters shot down, Rawlings engages in a dogfight with the Falcon. After being bested in combat and wounded, Rawlings comes alongside and fatally shoots the Black Falcon with his pistol. Rawlings and his squadron return to base.


⚫ Escorting another bombing run on the Jametz ammunition depot, Lowry's plane catches fire and he shoots himself. Rawlings is determined to exact revenge on the Black Falcon. He is attacked by multiple enemy planes, but Jensen helps him shoot down all the enemy fighters except the Black Falcon. Rawlings engages in a dogfight with the Black Falcon. Bested in combat and wounded, Rawlings comes alongside and shoots the Black Falcon dead with his pistol.
⚫ The film ends with scenes of the surviving pilots' lives after the battle. Jensen flies for the rest of the war, returning to Nebraska where he receives a hero's welcome. Skinner enlists in the ] but is kept from flying due to his race; he later joins the ]. Beagle marries an Italian woman and starts a ]. Rawlings goes to ] but does not find Lucienne. He builds one of the largest ranches in ], but never flies again.

⚫ Jensen flies for the rest of the war, returning to Nebraska to a hero's welcome. Skinner enlists in the ] but ]; he later joins the ]. Beagle marries an Italian woman and starts a ]. Rawlings goes to Paris but does not find Lucienne. He later owns one of the largest ranches in Texas, but never flies again.


==Cast== ==Cast==
Line 64: Line 66:
The casting of Franco in an action feature at the time was considered a "stepping stone" to his rise as marquee player and movie star.<ref>Farmer 2006, pp. 19–20.</ref> The casting of Franco in an action feature at the time was considered a "stepping stone" to his rise as marquee player and movie star.<ref>Farmer 2006, pp. 19–20.</ref>


The film was shot on location in the ] primarily in Spring 2005, although principal photography continued on into the summer.<ref>Farmer 2006, p. 16.</ref> The trench scenes were shot in ], the same location used for '']'' and '']''. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above ] (near Aylesbury) where hangars, mess rooms, and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert Woods. All scenery and props were removed when filming ended. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, ]. Some interiors and studio green-screen work were filmed at Elstree Film and Television Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.<ref>Farmer 2006. p. 50.</ref> The film was shot on location in the ] primarily in Spring 2005, although principal photography continued on into the summer.<ref>Farmer 2006, p. 16.</ref> The trench scenes were shot in ], the same location used for '']'' and '']''. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above ] (near Aylesbury) where hangars, mess rooms, and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert Woods. All scenery and props were removed when filming ended. Some exterior shots were filmed on location at ]. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, ]. Some interiors and studio green-screen work were filmed at Elstree Film and Television Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.<ref>Farmer 2006. p. 50.</ref>


The film was privately financed outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer ] and pilot David Ellison, son of ] founder ]; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market "Flyboys". The film was privately financed outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer ] and pilot David Ellison, son of ] founder ]; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market "Flyboys".
Line 73: Line 75:


==Historical accuracy== ==Historical accuracy==
''Flyboys'' has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy.<ref>Phillips, Michael. ''Chicago Tribune'', September 22, 2006. Retrieved: February 10, 2012.</ref> The most serious lapse was the blending of the Lafayette Escadrille with the Lafayette Flying Corps, a sub-unit where the real-life ] actually served.<ref>Flammer, Phillip M. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512043524/http://www.neam.org/lafescweb/le_roster.html |date=May 12, 2008 }} ''New England Air Museum'', 2006. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.</ref> ''Flyboys'' has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy.<ref>Phillips, Michael. ''Chicago Tribune'', September 22, 2006. Retrieved: February 10, 2012.</ref> The most serious lapse was the blending of the Lafayette Escadrille with the Lafayette Flying Corps, a sub-unit where the real-life ] actually served.<ref>Flammer, Phillip M. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512043524/http://www.neam.org/lafescweb/le_roster.html |date=May 12, 2008 }} ''New England Air Museum'', 2006. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.</ref>


Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. On the ] used in some early aircraft, the engine case and cylinders rotated, with the crankshaft bolted to the airframe. The spinning of the cylinders improved cooling and allowed for fewer parts, making the engine simpler and lighter. The propeller was attached to the crankcase (the opposite of ]). One operating rotary engine appears in a scene that takes place in the repair hangar. The Nieuport and Fokker aircraft used in the movie are flying replicas built with new radial engines, due to the unavailability of original-type rotary engines. This detail can be briefly seen in the final combat when the black Fokker is taking off after Rawling's ground attack at the German airfield.<ref name="Farmer 2006, p. 20"/> Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. On the ] used in some early aircraft, the engine case and cylinders rotated, with the crankshaft bolted to the airframe. The spinning of the cylinders improved cooling and allowed for fewer parts, making the engine simpler and lighter. The propeller was attached to the crankcase (the opposite of ]). One operating rotary engine appears in a scene that takes place in the repair hangar. The Nieuport and Fokker aircraft used in the movie are flying replicas built with new radial engines, due to the unavailability of original-type rotary engines. This detail can be briefly seen in the final combat when the black Fokker is taking off after Rawling's ground attack at the German airfield.<ref name="Farmer 2006, p. 20"/>
Line 87: Line 89:
The film's only military adviser for the entire project was ], a convicted defrauder who fabricated his résumé and military service to gain employment as an administrative assistant at the ], London. Livesey was charged and convicted with fraudulently claiming £30,000.00 in benefits. Livesey had served three years in the British ]. His claims of service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands conflict and that he was a curator of The Imperial War Museum were not true.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} The film's only military adviser for the entire project was ], a convicted defrauder who fabricated his résumé and military service to gain employment as an administrative assistant at the ], London. Livesey was charged and convicted with fraudulently claiming £30,000.00 in benefits. Livesey had served three years in the British ]. His claims of service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands conflict and that he was a curator of The Imperial War Museum were not true.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}


In the film, the ] is depicted as a luxury liner; however, in early 1914, she was converted to use as an armed merchant cruiser, and by 1915 had been put into use as a troop transport ship, painted with dazzle style ]; however, the film might have used it to demonstrate the style of transport ships during the war.<ref>Mancini, Louis. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510135048/http://www.ocean-liners.com/ships/Aquitania.asp |date=May 10, 2008 }} ''Monsters of the Sea: The Great Ocean Liners of Time'', 2008. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.</ref> In the film, the ] is depicted as a luxury liner; however, in early 1914, she was converted to use as an armed merchant cruiser, and by 1915 had been put into use as a troop transport ship, painted with dazzle style ]; however, the film might have used it to demonstrate the style of transport ships during the war.<ref>Mancini, Louis. {{usurped|1=}} ''Monsters of the Sea: The Great Ocean Liners of Time'', 2008. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.</ref>


==Release== ==Release==
Line 101: Line 103:
* '']'' (1928) * '']'' (1928)
* '']'' (1958) * '']'' (1958)
* '']''


==References== ==References==
Line 149: Line 152:
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
Line 157: Line 161:
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 00:36, 21 December 2024

2006 film by Tony Bill Not to be confused with The Flyboys (film).

Flyboys
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTony Bill
Screenplay byPhil Sears
Blake T. Evans
David S. Ward
Story byBlake T. Evans
Produced byDean Devlin
Marc Frydman
StarringJames Franco
Martin Henderson
David Ellison
Jennifer Decker
Jean Reno
CinematographyHenry Braham
Edited byChris Blunden
Ron Rosen
Music byTrevor Rabin
Production
companies		Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Electric Entertainment
Skydance Productions
Ingenious Media
Distributed byMGM Distribution Co. (United States)
Verve Pictures (United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • September 22, 2006 (2006-09-22) (United States)
  • June 1, 2007 (2007-06-01) (United Kingdom)
Running time138 minutes
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60 million
Box office$17.8 million

Flyboys is a 2006 war drama film starring James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison, Abdul Salis, Philip Winchester, and Tyler Labine. It was directed by Tony Bill, a pilot and aviation enthusiast, and written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, and David S. Ward, with the story by Evans. Set during World War I, the film follows the enlistment, training, and combat experiences of a group of young Americans who volunteered to become fighter pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The film deals with themes of friendship, racial prejudice, revenge, and love.

Flyboys was released on September 22, 2006. It received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office bomb, grossing just $17 million against its $60 million budget.

Plot

In 1916, a group of Americans go to France to serve in the French Air Service, L'Aéronautique militaire, in World War I. They are placed under the command of Captain Georges Thenault, with veteran flying ace Reed Cassidy as their mentor.

Pilot Blaine Rawlings runs out of fuel on a practice flight and crashes. He meets a young woman named Lucienne and the two develop a relationship. She expresses concern about the dangers of his service.

During the recruits' first mission – escorting bombers to attack a German ammunition depot in Jametz – they are ambushed by German warplanes, and two of the rookies are killed. A third makes an emergency landing but is killed on the ground by "the Black Falcon" – a German pilot flying a black aircraft. The chivalrous German pilot Franz Wolferd shakes his head in disapproval.

In a later battle, Rawlings' machine gun jams while he is chasing Wolferd. Wolferd flies alongside and salutes before banking away. Higgins is killed in the battle, and Jensen suffers an emotional breakdown and is unable to fly again.

The French military learn that Beagle faked his personal information and he is accused of being a spy. He comes clean about a crime he committed in the United States, and is allowed to stay on.

Germans warplanes attack a column of civilians, and the American pilots intercept them. Rawlings initially spares Wolferd, but later kills him when Wolferd dives after another American pilot. Beagle is brought down in no man's land, and his hand is trapped by the wreckage. Rawlings lands but he and some French soldiers are unable to free him, until Rawlings is forced to amputate Beagle's hand.

Learning that German forces have entered Lucienne's village, Rawlings steals a plane and attempts to rescue them. Lucienne is wounded and taken to a hospital. Rawlings is praised by the commander and awarded the Croix de Guerre for bravery.

During an attack on a German Zeppelin Porter is killed and Cassidy is mortally wounded by the Black Falcon. Before succumbing, Cassidy flies into the zeppelin, destroying it. Rawlings reunites with Lucienne before she leaves for Paris. Rawlings’ plane is presented with an eagle, which had been Cassidy's insignia, and he is promoted to Squadron Leader.

Escorting another bombing run on the Jametz ammunition depot, Lowry's plane catches fire and he shoots himself. Rawlings is determined to exact revenge on the Black Falcon. He is attacked by multiple enemy planes, but Jensen helps him shoot down all the enemy fighters except the Black Falcon. Rawlings engages in a dogfight with the Black Falcon. Bested in combat and wounded, Rawlings comes alongside and shoots the Black Falcon dead with his pistol.

Jensen flies for the rest of the war, returning to Nebraska to a hero's welcome. Skinner enlists in the US Army but is kept from flying due to his race; he later joins the Airmail Service. Beagle marries an Italian woman and starts a flying circus. Rawlings goes to Paris but does not find Lucienne. He later owns one of the largest ranches in Texas, but never flies again.

Cast

  • James Franco as Blaine Rawlings: A Texan faced with the foreclosure of his family ranch in Texas, who decides to enlist after seeing a newsreel of aerial combat in France.
  • Martin Henderson as Reed Cassidy: A character based upon the real Raoul Lufbery, evident in the references to the squadron mascot, Whiskey the lion. A fellow American, womanizer, traumatized ace pilot, and the pilots' mentor.
  • Jean Reno as Georges Thenault: The commander of the Lafayette Escadrille
  • Jennifer Decker as Lucienne: A French girl who lives with her orphan nephews and niece. Rawlings' love interest.
  • Abdul Salis as Eugene Skinner: An African-American boxer, who has been accepted as an athlete in France, and is motivated to "pay back" his adopted country. Skinner is based on Eugene Bullard, the first African-American military pilot.
  • Philip Winchester as William Jensen: An American man from Lincoln, Nebraska. Coming from a military family, he tries his best to make his family proud.
  • Tyler Labine as Briggs Lowry: A dilettante who joins the army because of his overbearing father.
  • David Ellison as Eddie Beagle: A petty thief who joined up in hopes of evading repercussions.
  • Tim Pigott-Smith as Mr. Lowry: Briggs' overbearing father.
  • Gunnar Winbergh as "The Black Falcon": A ruthless German Captain Ace pilot, Cassidy's nemesis. Likely inspired by the Red Baron.

Production

In writing the original drafts that formed the basis of the final screenplay, Tony Bill made an effort to incorporate the real-life adventures of a number of American World War I expatriates who served in both the Lafayette Escadrille and the Lafayette Flying Corps, although pseudonyms were used throughout.

The casting of Franco in an action feature at the time was considered a "stepping stone" to his rise as marquee player and movie star.

The film was shot on location in the United Kingdom primarily in Spring 2005, although principal photography continued on into the summer. The trench scenes were shot in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, the same location used for Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. The airfield and aerial shots were filmed on and above RAF Halton (near Aylesbury) where hangars, mess rooms, and officers quarters were built adjacent to Splash Covert Woods. All scenery and props were removed when filming ended. Some exterior shots were filmed on location at Copped Hall. The interior shots of the chateau were filmed at RAF Halton's officers' mess, Halton House. Some interiors and studio green-screen work were filmed at Elstree Film and Television Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

The film was privately financed outside the standard Hollywood studio circuit by a group of filmmakers and investors, including producer Dean Devlin and pilot David Ellison, son of Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison; both spent more than $60 million of their own money to make and market "Flyboys".

The Nieuport 17s featured in the film included four replicas built by Airdrome Aeroplanes, an aircraft company based outside of Kansas City, Missouri. The other aircraft used were a mix of authentic aircraft (the Nieuport 17 that Franco used throughout filming was an original combat aircraft from Kermit Weeks' collection in Florida, specially brought over for the film) and replicas including Nieuport 17s, a sole Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter and a number of Fokker Dr.I replicas.

In preparing for the starring role, Franco took flying lessons. All the other main actors, except Jean Reno, were filmed in actual aircraft in anticipation of using the aerial footage in final scenes. (Reno pointedly refused the offer, with a "No thanks, I'm afraid of flying." admission). Very little other than Franco's closeups in a cockpit ultimately made it to the screen.

Historical accuracy

Flyboys has been widely criticized for its lack of historical accuracy. The most serious lapse was the blending of the Lafayette Escadrille with the Lafayette Flying Corps, a sub-unit where the real-life Eugene Bullard actually served.

Various details of World War I fighter aircraft technology shown in the film were inaccurate. For example, the aircraft engines in the CGI scenes are pictured as not moving. On the rotary engines used in some early aircraft, the engine case and cylinders rotated, with the crankshaft bolted to the airframe. The spinning of the cylinders improved cooling and allowed for fewer parts, making the engine simpler and lighter. The propeller was attached to the crankcase (the opposite of radial engines). One operating rotary engine appears in a scene that takes place in the repair hangar. The Nieuport and Fokker aircraft used in the movie are flying replicas built with new radial engines, due to the unavailability of original-type rotary engines. This detail can be briefly seen in the final combat when the black Fokker is taking off after Rawling's ground attack at the German airfield.

In the scene where Beagle is rescued, some of the German soldiers in the trench were shown wearing the Pickelhaube. By 1916, the helmet was no longer in use by frontline soldiers. It had been replaced with the Stahlhelm, which significantly reduced the number of head injuries suffered by German soldiers.

In many scenes with Lucienne, Rawling's aircraft has a British roundel rather than a French one, which have red at the outer border.

Another error is that the American pilots are operating the Nieuport 17, while the Germans are operating the Fokker Dr.I, which entered front line service some time after the Nieuport 17 was no longer operational.

The singular use of Fokker Triplanes, which were not in widespread operational use, is contentious and almost every Triplane was also painted red in the film, indicating that the Triplane was in Jasta 11, the "all-red" unit. Despite this the remaining pre-production aircraft, designated Dr.I, were delivered to Jasta 11 and Idflieg issued a production order for 100 triplanes in September, followed by an order for 200 in November 1917. On the director/producer commentary track for the DVD release, Producer Dean Devlin noted that they were aware the predominant use of red triplanes was historically inaccurate, but wanted to give clear visual signals to the audience to enable them to easily distinguish friend from foe in the aerial sequences.

The film's only military adviser for the entire project was Jack Livesey, a convicted defrauder who fabricated his résumé and military service to gain employment as an administrative assistant at the Imperial War Museum, London. Livesey was charged and convicted with fraudulently claiming £30,000.00 in benefits. Livesey had served three years in the British Army Catering Corps. His claims of service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands conflict and that he was a curator of The Imperial War Museum were not true.

In the film, the RMS Aquitania is depicted as a luxury liner; however, in early 1914, she was converted to use as an armed merchant cruiser, and by 1915 had been put into use as a troop transport ship, painted with dazzle style camouflage; however, the film might have used it to demonstrate the style of transport ships during the war.

Release

Critical reception

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2019)

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 33% based on 130 reviews, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "A poorly scripted history-rewriting exercise with mediocre acting and unconvincing CGI battle scenes." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 47 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Box office

The film opened at #4 at the domestic box office, grossing $6 million from 2,033 theaters, an average of $2,953 per auditorium. The film then dropped 61% in its second weekend. Flyboys ended up with a total domestic gross of $13.1 million, as well as $4.7 million internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $17.8 million. Variety named it one of the 10 biggest box office flops of the year.

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ "Flyboys (2006)." Box Office Mojo, August 15, 2011.
  2. ^ "FLYBOYS (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. February 27, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "LUMIERE : Film #26146 : Flyboys". lumiere.obs.coe.int. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  4. Farmer 2006, p. 18.
  5. Sherman, Steven. "Lafayette Escadrille: American Volunteer Pilots in WWI." acepilots.com, 2007. Retrieved: April 27, 2008.
  6. Gunnar Winbergh's IMDb page – Internet Movie Database
  7. Farmer 2006, pp. 18–19.
  8. Farmer 2006, pp. 19–20.
  9. Farmer 2006, p. 16.
  10. Farmer 2006. p. 50.
  11. ^ Farmer 2006, p. 20.
  12. Farmer 2006. pp. 21–22, 50.
  13. Farmer 2006, p. 53.
  14. Phillips, Michael. strafes story of historic WW I squadron: Flyboys". Chicago Tribune, September 22, 2006. Retrieved: February 10, 2012.
  15. Flammer, Phillip M. "Roster of the Lafayette Flying Corps." Archived May 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine New England Air Museum, 2006. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.
  16. "Early Aircraft Engines." Archived September 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine U.S. Centennial of Flight, 2003. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.
  17. Bill, Tony and Dean Devlin. "Special Features: Audio Commentary." Flyboys (DVD: Full Screen). MGM, 2006.
  18. Mancini, Louis. "RMS Aquitania." Monsters of the Sea: The Great Ocean Liners of Time, 2008. Retrieved: August 24, 2008.
  19. "Flyboys (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  20. "Flyboys Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  21. Laporte, Nicole. "2006: Hollywood diagnosis." Variety, December 24, 2006. Retrieved: 15 August 15, 2011.
Bibliography
  • Farmer, Jim. "The Making of Flyboys." Air Classics, Vol. 42, No. 11, November 2006.
  • Winchester, Jim, ed. "Fokker DR.1: JG 1". Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes (Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-641-3.

External links

Films directed by Tony Bill
Skydance Media
Skydance Animation
Films
Live-action
Released
Upcoming
Animation
Released
Short films
Upcoming
Television
Live-action
Ongoing
Ended
Animation
Games
Interactive
The Walking Dead
New Media
Upcoming
Franchises
People
See alsoProposed merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global
Categories: