Count Von Krolock as a helicopter-flying Nazi General. This movie sure is fantasy, though compared to such fare today, are we sure it's not another History Channel WW II documentary?
Of course its fantasy - helicopters in ww2 before the prototypes were in the air, ridiculous plot and unbelievable heroes who win world war two on their afternoon off - but who cares, sneering doesnt make it not terrific entertainment - great music, funny dialogue, fabulous setting, eastwood as a killing machine, Ingrid pitt looking amazing, ott germans, its just perfect!!
Of course its fantasy - helicopters in ww2 before the prototypes were in the air, ridiculous plot and unbelievable heroes who win world war two on their afternoon off - but who cares, sneering doesnt make it not terrific entertainment - great music, funny dialogue, fabulous setting, eastwood as a killing machine, Ingrid pitt looking amazing, ott germans, its just perfect!!
Agreed. I never believed a minute of it, but it was great fun.
There were tons of German helicopters in WWII, mostly for mountain, reconnaissance and staff work. Check them out on YouTube or somewhere. The issue with this film is that it was an anachronistic model.
I'm not sure where the notion that they weren't flying yet arose from.
There were tons of German helicopters in WWII, mostly for mountain, reconnaissance and staff work. Check them out on YouTube or somewhere. The issue with this film is that it was an anachronistic model.
I'm not sure where the notion that they weren't flying yet arose from.
I'm sure the design is too modern ... albeit I have not researched the matter.
I think the problem with it - in the film - is that it has little use, plot-wise. Smith [Burton] says they need to disable it ... Schaeffer [Eastwood] kills the pilot ... end of ...
I haven't read MacLean's novel for many years but I'm fairly certain that he makes more of this, finding a way for the two to disable the helicopter (but then he sought to avoid killing every German his heroes met! )
And a quick word for Ron Goodwin's wonderful score, not yet mentioned, which lifts this already entertaining film into - as far as I'm concerned - an iconic status.
I think it is a really terrific movie, a surprising amount of gun fire, but the setting, production design and the score make it a really entertaining movie. Also Eastwood and Burton are very good as well.
I knew the moment i typed it there would be someone telling me that the chinese had rudimentary helicopters in 1807 and that by ww2 the germans had whole squadrons of them!! And its you mcCrum! We know that the germans were advanced in rocket propulsion and introduced the first jets towards the end of the war, but too late to make any difference in the outcome, but helicopters? Seriously? Funny thats the first time ever in 50 years ive heard about the germans having helicopters before 1945. Were they 1 man little nellies, zeppelins with 1 main rotary or like gliders with a blade on top??! Expect a lot of "experimental prototype, blew up, crashed, project cancelled!!"
Of particular note is the US early Bell one that was used routinely to rescue and supply jungle troops:
I recall a similar controversy arose over the helicopter that comes to the aid of the Nadel's victims in 'Eye of the Needle'. The Nazis were always interested in STOL and VTOL, notably of course the famous Fieseler Storch.
I knew the moment i typed it there would be someone telling me that the chinese had rudimentary helicopters in 1807 and that by ww2 the germans had whole squadrons of them!!
In fact, Leonardo Da Caprio-Vinci invented them around 500 years ago. Only he called it an aerial screw. A much better name, and sadly, an omission on my otherwise extensive CV.
It's funny, because it's one of those chicken and egg cases. Everyone's sure they know WWII from the footage and the movies. But cart is before horse. We should never forget we weren't there, and neither really were the movies apart from a few camera units.
P.S. As you can see, some of these machines were huge, and in regular service.
Yeah like an important general is going to go up in one of those German contraptions??!
Ok i concede they had more than failed prototypes but this is like the opening aerial disasters in Magnificent men in their flying machines - You aint selling me on the widespread use here, william. Ha ha.
Your whirlygig General ?? Sod that!! Id rather jump from a cable car with an ice hammer!!
)