ALL SCI-FI

[Custer]

Well, July of that year. I must say the report on movieweb.com then does seem quite reasonable:

[orzel-w]

[Bud Brewster]

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" . . . that's movies for you," is exactly right.

Disney somehow thought The Rocketeer would be confused with Iron Man, so they made the new version of the character young and African-American. But part of Custer's excerpt says this:

[orzel-w]

Yeah, I think I mentioned that.

But fortunately we'll be able to tell Iron Man apart from the Rocketeer because one will be played by a young female African-American, while the other will be played by a young male African-American. In either case it will probably spare us from being bombarded by scenes of heavy petting.
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...or not...

WayneO
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[Custer]

Marvel does seem to like their writers to bring in new younger people to take over as their "big name" heroes... which they imagine makes an "ideal jumping on point" for new younger readers. The writers are in favour, as it means they can make their mark on the comics and get creative, instead of just pitting Peter or Bruce or Tony against a different villain. And then a year or so down the line they can announce "the return of the Bruce Banner Hulk" or whatever. And of course as most of the main heroes have been white, middle-aged males, there's always the temptation to bring in more "diversity." But that's comics for you...

[orzel-w]

When I was a kid many of the comic books, Saturday matinees, and TV shows had adult heroes with juvenile sidekicks (e.g., Batman and Robin). As I recall, when we played at being these characters, the kids who were quick on their feet claimed the adult character ("Dibs on Batman!"). The consolation prize was always the juvenile sidekick. I don't recall one of us ever yelling out "Dibs on Robin!" as first choice. I guess times have changed.
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...or not...

WayneO
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[Bud Brewster]

[scotpens]

[Custer]

"Roy the Superboy" seems a bit obscure... apparently he was the sidekick to a hero called The Wizard back in the forties. A sixties revival, probably brief, had to make him "the Mighty Boy" apparently, to avoid upsetting DC...

[scotpens]

Looks like a blatant Superman knockoff, complete with a Lois Lane-type female reporter.

"Swami Rivers" -- Well, at least the writer had a sense of humor.

[Custer]

Sadly, Dave Stevens died in 2008, aged only 52. Of his comics work, Rocketeer certainly stands as his greatest achievement. Making Cliff's girlfriend the spitting image of Bettie Page was a great idea. To quote Wikipedia, "Stevens was a longtime admirer of 1950s glamour and pin-up model Bettie Page; he modelled the look of the Rocketeer's girlfriend after her and featured her image in other illustrations too, which helped contribute to the renewed public interest in Page and her modelling career. After discovering that the retired Page was still alive and lived near by, Stevens became friends with her, providing both personal assistance and helping to arrange financial compensation to her from various publishers for the use of her image and reprints of her many glamour and pin-up photos."

Let us hope that one day a proper reboot of the character will be seen on the silver screen, and that this time they handle its promotion rather better! "A television series for Disney Junior is being developed for 2019. The series focuses on a young girl named Kit who receives a rocket powered jet pack for her birthday," Wikipedia reports, which may be a spin-off from that abandoned second movie idea. I can't say that that will have anything to do with the original hero, other than the name.

[Gord Green]

A short animated adventure of THE ROCKETEER can be found here.

Looks good!

____________ The Rocketeer 20th anniversary


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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[Bud Brewster]

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I was so impressed with that video that I just had to give you a free upgrade to encourage the other members to watch it!

And by way, IMDB has 53 trivia items for this movie. Here’s a few of the ones I found the most interesting, in the blue text.
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The character of Neville Sinclair was loosely modeled after Errol Flynn, who was suspected of being a Nazi spy.

Note from me: The fact that stupid rumors like this get started and persist makes me doubt the intelligence of the average person! (Thank God I'm well above average. )

A scene where Neville Sinclair sends a message to Berlin (coded first on an authentic Enigma machine found for the production) was filmed, but cut, due to running time constraints.

Note from me: I would like to have seen what "an authentic Enigma machine" looks like. The name is so appropriate!

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.

Note from me: And yet these unique planes have an esthetic appeal that grabbed me even when I was a kid! They look like "toy planes" that are real!





That's why I acquired some of the McDonald's "Happy Meal" toys from Disney's Tailspin animated series back in 1990 and still have them as decorations around my desktop computer in my studio!







In the original graphic novel, Cliff Secord's girlfriend is called Betty Page, not Jenny Blake. Dave Stevens (the creator of the comic novel) based the character "Betty Page" upon his real-life friend, 1950's pin-up girl Bettie Page. She would not allow her name to be used in the film.

Note from me: However, Dave Stevens helped Miss Page recover some the lost revenue she suffered from the publication of her photographs over the years, and they enjoyed a long and warm relationship.


Billy Campbell, who once studied commercial art, made sure to read the Dave Stevens graphic novel, on which this film was based. He got the part after getting a haircut to make himself look identical to the character in the graphic novel.

Note from me: And if this doesn't prove that Bill Campbell was the right man for that part, I'll vote for Donald Trump in the next election!

The original inventor of the rocket pack was thirties pulp novel hero Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze, in the original graphic comic book by Dave Stevens. However, because of licensing considerations, Disney did not seek permission from Conde Nast, the copyright holder of Doc Savage, and opted to substitute Doc Savage with the flamboyant billionaire Howard Hughes.

Note from me: The inclusion of Howard Hughes in this story was brilliant! I loved the way they integrated the famous millionaire aircraft designer into the fabric of the Rocketeer's universe.

Lothar (Tiny Ron) was made-up to look like Rondo Hatton, who played similar characters in "B" movies, which inspired this movie. Ron can be seen out of make-up in a cameo, as one of two good old boys. He gapes as his companion marvels at the "Big gopher!"

Note from me: And if THAT doesn't give me a good reason to watch my Blu-ray of this movie in the next few months and freeze-frame that scene, my name isn't Bud Brewster!

Casting the lead role of Cliff Secord was a struggle for the filmmakers. Jeffrey Katzenberg even had one of the studio's then-staff writers, Karey Kirkpatrick, audition for the part. Kevin Costner and Matthew Modine were the first actors considered for the role. When they both proved to be unavailable, Emilio Estevez, Bill Paxton, Dennis Quaid, and Kurt Russell auditioned for the part. Johnny Depp was Disney's favorite choice, while Paxton commented he came "really close" to getting the lead. Vincent D'Onofrio turned down the role.

Note from me: As much as I may love Costner, Estevez, Paxton, Quaid, and Russell . . . I can't imagine a single one of those guys in the role of Cliff Secord!

Joe Pesci turned down the role of Eddie Valentine.

Note from me: Wow, I LOVE Joe Pesci! However, he would not have been right for the role of the gangster.

Lloyd Bridges turned down the role of Peevy Peabody.

Note from me: Wow, I LOVE Lloyd Bridges! However, he would not have been right for the role of Peevy.

The scene in which the Rocketeer flies around inside the ballroom was to be much more elaborate, but was cut back due to budget issues.

Note from me: That scene bothers me because it shows the rocket pack igniting fires on the tables it flies over. That's perfectly understandable . . . but how come the backsides of Cliff's legs don't get toasted by the rocket's exhaust every time he ignites it? Hmmm?

While Jenny's character may be based on Bettie Page, she had an uncanny resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor, circa 1946.

Note from me: I never noticed any resemblance, but this photo of Jennifer does sort of suggest it.



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Gord Green]

A few points here :

You really think Jennifer Conlley didn't just exude the Taylor look?









And that a female Rocketeer is a bit far out?









Really????

I met Dave Stevens around 1984 and I own a piece of his original art that I display on my office wall. He was a really nice guy too!



I think we need to watch this in the All Sci-Fi chat room and revisit this wonderful movie!

By the way . . . If there's a shot in this movie that always gives me goosebumps . . . It's this one . . .





It represents the true spirit of America . . . that of us old farts' mothers and fathers . . . the greatest generation!

To this day, my father, who was in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, will ALWAYS be my greatest hero.
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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[Bud Brewster]