I have a very old VHS tape of this film. Very entertaining. Also included some other fine actors from the era, including Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton and Charles McGraw.
So glad this film was finally released on DVD. I had a copy of a copy on VHS which was taped from KCOP 13 back in the 80's. This is one of my favorite William Holden films and it is the most difficult movie he ever made because he was also the producer and his responsibilities far exceeded just acting. His Toluca Production Company only produced this one film. Thanks for mentioning James Garner in "Space Cowboys". I remember watching it in the theater and being blown away by him being reunited with the X-2. I was probably the only one there who got the connection. Any idea why the black car speeds by so close to the X-2? From the camera's angle, it appears to miss the X-2 by just a few feet.
I believe one of the XB-51 aircraft they were using in the film crashed on takeoff from El Paso after refueling to return to do more shooting for the film " Toward the Unknown ". The pilot survived but the engineer was killed. I just watched the film from a live streaming site today. I am surprised there was not a tribute at the end of the film to the engineer who died during the making of the film. Initially there was some confusion identifying the crashed aircraft because it had the Identification painted on it's nose for the film.
According to the book, "The Martin XB-51" (Air Force Legends Number 201) by Scott Libis, the #1 XB-51 was lost on March 25, 1956 indeed at El Paso, TX (El Paso Municipal Airport). The book describes the crash, "The airplane appeared to accelerate slowly to approximately 7,000 or 7,500 feet down the runway. The airplane then lifted off the runway in a slight nose-high position. The gear was retracted immediately, but the airplane failed to climb. Takeoff was continued, and the aircraft passed over the right side of the runway about 500 feet from the end. Shortly after passing the end of the runway, the airplane started to settle. This continued for about 1,000 feet, at which time the airplane struck the boundary fence. The airplane continued to slide through the terrain for about 750 feet from the boundary fence, disintegrating piece-by-piece until it stopped and burned. The airplane's crew chief was killed and the pilot, Major James Rudolph, was severely burned. He died from his injuries a few days later." This last XB-51 (two built) was on a ferry flight from Edwards AFB to Eglin AFB (Florida). Cause of the crash was attributed to premature take-off rotation leading to a stall.
This was James Garner's (The Rockford Files) first movie. from his book:
...."I only had seven lines in it, and was killed off early."
Bought mine DVD of this movie 3 years ago.
I have a very old VHS tape of this film. Very entertaining. Also included some other fine actors from the era, including Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton and Charles McGraw.
The great cast also included Malcolm Atterbury, Paul Fix, L.Q. Jones, Ralph Moody, Karen Steele, and a pre-Lassie Jon Provost.
Can now be purchased on DVD-R. Just ordered mine through Amazon but other sources offer it. Its possible the estate is producing on demand on DVD-R.
Someone please upload it to UA-cam.
So glad this film was finally released on DVD. I had a copy of a copy on VHS which was taped from KCOP 13 back in the 80's. This is one of my favorite William Holden films and it is the most difficult movie he ever made because he was also the producer and his responsibilities far exceeded just acting. His Toluca Production Company only produced this one film.
Thanks for mentioning James Garner in "Space Cowboys". I remember watching it in the theater and being blown away by him being reunited with the X-2. I was probably the only one there who got the connection.
Any idea why the black car speeds by so close to the X-2? From the camera's angle, it appears to miss the X-2 by just a few feet.
Fantastic, thanks!
I believe one of the XB-51 aircraft they were using in the film crashed on takeoff from El Paso after refueling to return to do more shooting for the film " Toward the Unknown ".
The pilot survived but the engineer was killed.
I just watched the film from a live streaming site today. I am surprised there was not a tribute at the end of the film to the engineer who died during the making of the film. Initially there was some confusion identifying the crashed aircraft because it had the Identification painted on it's nose for the film.
According to the book, "The Martin XB-51" (Air Force Legends Number 201) by Scott Libis, the #1 XB-51 was lost on March 25, 1956 indeed at El Paso, TX (El Paso Municipal Airport). The book describes the crash, "The airplane appeared to accelerate slowly to approximately 7,000 or 7,500 feet down the runway. The airplane then lifted off the runway in a slight nose-high position. The gear was retracted immediately, but the airplane failed to climb. Takeoff was continued, and the aircraft passed over the right side of the runway about 500 feet from the end. Shortly after passing the end of the runway, the airplane started to settle. This continued for about 1,000 feet, at which time the airplane struck the boundary fence. The airplane continued to slide through the terrain for about 750 feet from the boundary fence, disintegrating piece-by-piece until it stopped and burned. The airplane's crew chief was killed and the pilot, Major James Rudolph, was severely burned. He died from his injuries a few days later." This last XB-51 (two built) was on a ferry flight from Edwards AFB to Eglin AFB (Florida). Cause of the crash was attributed to premature take-off rotation leading to a stall.
I have a link to the streaming of the film " Toward The Unknown "
if the caster does not object I will post it in a comment here.
Just saw this on TCM
10:17 Virginia Leith
She is quite stunning in her and Stanley Kubrick's first film "Fear and Desire".
Excellent movie and great views of Edwards AFB from the old days, that's the way it used to be, before the era of "political correctness", Ciao, L
@cinnamongirl3121 he's a troll. In other words: an idiot.