Best Air Combat Movies?

With the release of Flyboys causing some disagreement within this board, I was wondering, In your educated opinions, which air combat movie (or movies) from ANY combat era is the best?..

I have a few of my own favorites, but I'll keep them to myself until I see a few replies (I don't wish to contaminate the answers)

[John_P]

From any particular slant? i.e., storyline, flying sequences, script, cinematrography etc?

There really aren't that many. From a pure graphics standpoint and conveyng a comprehensive analysis of air tactics and the drama of air combat, the "Dogfight" series on the History Channel is the best of all IMHO. In any event, here are a few favorites, in no particular order, each for its own strengths:

"Hell's Angels" - Hughes' classic
"12 O'clock High" - Gregory Peck, best script, leadership theme
"The War Lover" - Steve McQueen, the rebel in a B-17
"Above the Purple Plain" - Gregory Peck, great Mosquito shots, love triumphs
"Battle of Britain" - forgettable screenplay, great inflight color footage
"Bridges at Toko Ri" - William Holden - Did they really pancake an F-9?
"Flyboys" - Best overall effort at capturing sense of WWI combat

I'm sure one or two others will come to mind later.

[stephenl]

"Dark Blue World" great Script, Story and Flying Sequences!

[retread]

1. Piece of Cake (O.K., its a miniseries)
2. Blue Max (still waiting for something better to come along and it hasn't
happened yet).
3. Twelve O'Clock High
4. Dark Blue World
5. Memphis Belle

Yes, in that order.

[TomVrille]

Although there is very little air combat as such in the film, the collection of flying scenes in Tora! Tora! Tora! is unusually well done, from the carrier takeoff footage through the actual attack scenes. I had occasion to catch a rerun of this film on TV recently, and was reminded of the quality of the effort.

[John_P]

YES! Funny how the obvious ones slip by. Some of the best cinematography of all, espcially the scene of the dawn takeoff with flames visible from the exhaust stacks. Piece of Cake also excellent. Don't forget the original 30 Seconds over Tokyo with spencer Tracey. Excellent scenes of B-25s, especially when they are learning short take off techniques on land.

[Colin A Owers]

For WWI you can't go past "Hells Angles". They were biplane pilots and really dogfighting and trying to keep in the frame of the camera. Apart from the air scenes, "Hels Angles" is a real dud!

I liked the feel of the dogfights in "Flyboys". The scene where you are above and see the pilot look down and detect his buddy in trouble and then fly to the rescue was great. The aircraft speed was overdone, but all in all, I liked it.

Colin A Owers

[Paddy]

Since getting the DVD and watching the combat sequences several times, I have to say that I like Flyboys best of all WW1 flying movies (with the exception of the crushing the Triplane's top wing with the undercarriage scene). I really like Nieuports. I like Pfalz DIII's also, so Blue Max is a close second on the WW1 list. I did not care much for von R vs. Brown and have not seen Aces High. Then there is also Zeppelin, in which you get to see some SE5a's

Piece of Cake was truly great! Horrifying when Miller and Flip Moran bought it. I also like The Battle of Britain. Nice variety of planes in Midway, and Memphis Belle is good also. And of course Flying Tigers with The Duke.

[buzz1941]

"Iron Eagle III"

Originally Posted by buzz1941

"Iron Eagle III"

Ok Buzz..now here's a question for you..Why do you like this specific movie?