THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES
Вставка
- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- The Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines begins with some very rare original footage from 1909 where the Wright Brothers are flying their latest machine.
Then we move on to the iconic 1965 film The Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.
In 1910, newspaper mogul Lord Rawnsley (Robert Morley) decides to offer a large cash sum to the first pilot to successfully fly over the English Channel. Aviation experts from near and far enter the race, including the underhanded Sir Percy Ware-Armitage (Terry-Thomas), wild American flyer Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman) and British ace Richard Mays (James Fox). Orvil and Richard come out as the front-runners, but both men are distracted by Rawnsley's lovely daughter, Patricia (Sarah Miles).
This extraordinary comic version of the historic 1910 London-to-Paris air race features the greatest aviators from around the world. They all come together when a stuffy, but very rich, newspaper publisher decides to sponsor an airplane race across the English Channel. Convinced it will give his newspaper worldwide publicity, the publisher offers 10,000 pounds to the winner. The escapades between the American, British, French, German, Italian and Japanese teams result in the most daring and hilarious in-flight acrobatic stunts ever caught on film. But the film's greatest triumph is the amazing re-creation of the vintage airplanes which did the actual flying.
/ @gullperchflyer
This has been one of my very favourite films since I first saw it in the cinema as a young lad in the 60's. Thank you.
Me too.
I'm now 8o yrs.
Many thanks Colin new subscribers very welcome. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Still one of my favorite films since I was a kid, 58 now LoL
Terry Thomas AWAYS was the perfect actor to play the Victorian era villain. Just the right mustache, the right villainous leer, the right evil smile. I loved the characters that he played so well.
I am lucky enough to be a volunteer at the Shuttleworth collection. The eagle-eyed will notice 2 other OW machines as well as the Avro triplane and the Boxkite, namely the 1910 Deperdussin, with the lovely Irina Demick posing on the wheel, plus the Blackburn monoplane. These are the oldest flying aircraft in the world, along with a 1909 Bleriot. The Blackburn is the oldest British machine in airworthy condition. As an aside the railway scene with Terry-Thomas was filmed on a now-defunct line very close to Old Warden.
Many thanks for your interesting feedback. Chris.
Thank you for this extra information. Old Warden is by far my favourite airfield to fly to... such a special place with that wonderful feeling of nostalgia. If I lived nearby (Kent is a little too far) I'd volunteer also 👌🏻❤
This brings to mind that I've read a couple places the Avro triplane replica flies nicely. 🛩 Also, being an American, my flavor of English grammar says to write the acronym as AVRO instead of Avro; similar to the difference I see between American and British English with NASA for us and Nasa for them.
I'm lucky enough to be related to Glenn Curtiss, the archrival of the Wright brothers. 😁
Wow how very interesting. Chris.
My great great grandfat hy er was Charles Hazer Smith, a prolific inventor. He is known for his work at Aladdin Lamp. His 1st cousin was Glenn Curtiss's mom. I have been collecting a lot of Curtiss memorabilia like original postcards and newspapers from 1908 thru 1918 all about Curtiss.
I love that film. Thanks
One of my favourites along with The Great Race. Chris.
Back in the day before CGI existed. Stunning film.
How true. Cheers Chris.
Fantastic Chris. This was always a favorite of mine and the info you gave made it even better all these years later
Glad you enjoyed the film Stuart. Chris.
I saw this film in the theatre back when I was a kid. I still love it. One of my favorite 60’s movies.
Loved that World Class Film.
It was one of the best, light hearted and full of fun. Chris.
One of the replica Bristol Boxkites has been on display for many years, suspended from the ceiling at the City of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
I remember having a talk from the chap involved in the Old Warden tunnel sequence. Watch the loco firebox door as it enters the tunnel and compare it to when it comes out. Great film
It was a very funny film. Chris.
My avatar approves of this video. 😀 I enjoyed this film immensely at the cinema when it came out and it set me on a path to getting my private pilot's licence. Santos-Dumont's pioneering Demoiselle in particular was a favourite of mine and led me to read about him...what a guy!
Glad you enjoyed it Sean do please have a subscribe. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
@ Subscribed. 🙂
A great revisiting of a very funny film! Thank you very much!
Glad you enjoyed it Pierre. Chris.
I saw the motion picture when I was stationed at the USCG AIR STATION in Corpus Christy Texas. We all got a real kick out of this comedy. The song was great and I play it often on the PC.
I promised myself that if ever I need to fight a Duel, it will be "Baloons and Blunderbusses over the Cesspool" !!!!
Thank you Tex good to hear from you, please be sure and subscribe closing in on 13,000 and would rather like to move on to 14,000 slightly more lucky number. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
This was my favorite movie, following "The Spirit of St. Louis".
James Stewart a fabulous film. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Another great 'feel-good' vlog, Chris. I love this film, and any further information about it is always wonderful to watch, thank you! 👌🏻
Brilliant Kevin glad you enjoyed the film. Chris.
Vive Sir Percy!
Thanks Nick Terry Thomas among my all time favourite actors, " absolute shower" Chris.
In those Days they had Big Brains Big Hearts and Nothing Wrong with the Old World.
I always enjoyed this film Chris. Happy New Year
Me too Tim it was a real jolly classic of the 1960's. Chris.
What a great film
Please do subscribe your support is appreciated. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
It was magnificent
I remember seeing this film the year it came out at the Fox Theatre in Stoney Creek Ontario. I worked there every Saturday afternoon as an usher and following the show sweeping the floors. I was paid a silver dollar and the right to see any movie any time for free. I saw a lot of movies! This one is a favourite. Those aircraft flight scenes were awesome. That’s real flying!
PS Very much 👍ed and Subbed. Happy to be a 5%er.
John thanks for subscribing, hopefully you find some films of interest. Chris.
Chris - as an aside, aviation in the UK started on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. It was at ‘Shellness’ where the Short Brothers purchased a couple of Kittyhawk Flyers in kit form, assembled and sold them.
Soon they started designing their own, but the ‘great and good’ Lord Brabazon descended on Sheppey to fly at weekends.
Short Bros, soon out grew Sheppey and moved to Rochester where they continued with war production until the Luftwaffe intervened. They dispersed production around the country and eventually settled in Northern Ireland and morphed into Bombardier.
At Rochester they also built boats, with the Lady Daphne surviving and currently moored in Falmouth.
Sheppey was also the home of Sir Stanley Hooker who went on to design the Rolls Royce Nene jet engine.
It was a fascinating revelation for a 13 year old in 2316 Sdn, to find out that where you’d moved to, had all this aviation history on your doorstep!
How amazing so much interesting history there, thank you very much for posting it up very much appreciated. Chris.
That made me sing the song. Love Red Skelton part.
Great video.
And I agree It was a Great movie.
Oh and I am subscribed.
Cheers
Thanks for the subscription very much appreciated. Chris.
Terry Thomas was one of the stars, it also shows A.V.Roe an Co which later became Avro. Another goodie with one of 2 of the Magnificent Men was the Jaunty Jalopoys sequel. Nice 1 m8, hope you had a good Christmas/New Year.
Thanks Greg too much eaten. Chris.
One of my favourite films. It was such a shame Terry Thomas died in such awful circumstances
Very sad indeed, he was such a shining star and very very funny. Chris.
@@GULLPERCHFLYER He was a person you loved to hate. That is the sign of a great actor. It's akin to Margaret Hamilton who played the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. She hated the fact children were frightened of her. I'm sure Terry thought the same.
I'm watching this Beautiful Movie Again / Still Captivating as Ever.
Fabulous film I agree. Chris.
Hello Chris . Brilliant tribute and packed with facts too ! I'm sure it will on film 4 or similar and iog my memory .😂😂😂Thanks Chris . Happy New Year !
Glad it was of interest John. Many thanks Chris.
Thank you for a very informative video. I guess if The Great Race was the inspiration for Wacky Races then The Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines inspired Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines . Those stunt pilots were very brave.
I was looking at the Great Race for a possible future film, please subscribe. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Oh Chris, thanks for the memory of a pre-teen at Marlow cinema with my Brother who was embarassed by my laughing so much. Our parents had seem the film the night before. wishing you a Happy New Year!
Thanks Jeremy. Chris.
If that's Marlow in Bucks, then along with Aces High, most of the film was filmed at Wycombe Air Park less and 3 miles away from Marlow. the track and hangars were built there for the film. It used to be a wonderful little airfield.
Another superb post Chris, I’m subscribed and love your posts, please keep up your excellent work matey. 🇬🇧🇪🇺
Thank you kindly Jack very much appreciated. Chris.
Ha. Subscribed a LOONGgggh time ago. Thanks for the videos.
Brilliant really appreciate your support. Chris.
I recently watched that wonderful movie on UA-cam free. Happy New Year
Many thanks. Chris.
I loved that movie! I have visited Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York! It has many flying example of these planes!
Thank you for your feedback. Chris.
Great film , enjoyed the background infomation on the aircraft and their pilots, also love Terry Tohmas and Beney Hill at there best.
Glad you enjoyed it Russell many thanks for watching along. Chris.
I haven't seen this classic film for years. It used to be on every Christmas when i was a child and i loved it! During this clip i spotted one of the aircraft being powered by the Volkswagen single port flat4 aircooled engine. These definitely weren't around in 1910😂
You are spot on there Simon, The Demoiselle was built by Doug Bianchi at White Waltham and he was too heavy to fly it. It had a Volkswagen engine which was very under powered, the film makers then got Joan Hughes, the WW2 ferry pilot and she flew it for the film because she was small and light. Chris.
Be great if you can subscribe Simon I need to pass 13,000 subscribers and reach a more lucky number 14 ,000 would be great. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
G'day,
Yay Team !
Thanks for posting this..., I really did enjoy it.
Regards the Santos-Dumont Demoiselle..., and it's influence on the Ultralights of today...
Strange as it is to tell, the particular machine of the 1970s which most resembles the Demoiselle is
"The 8-Hp, 1975, Red Baron Skycraft Scout ; World's 1st Legal Minimum Aircraft...!"
Search for that title on YT to see it - captured on a Nokia 2160 classic Potato, but the old Photos & Magazine Articles nail down the Timeline.
A later video, made on a better grade of Potato, during a Pilgrimage in 2022, is also in my
"Personal Aeroplanology" Playlist, titled,
"National Transportation Museum ; Visiting My First Aeroplane...!"
But, although the Scout finished up greatly resembling a Demoiselle - in the beginning there was the
"Tweetie" - a Foot-Launched Hang-Glider featuring a "Fuselage-Boom" made from an extruded aluminium Sailboat-Mast, with the Sail-Track on the lower side...
Two more Masts served as Wing Leading-Edge Spars - with their Sail-Tracks facing Aft, their Roots opposing each other near the front of the "Fuselage" ; a King-Post projected above & a
Triangular A-Frame attached below - like a "conventional" Rogallo-Winged Kite...
Up at the rear end there was a Finless Rudder & pair of all-flying Stabilators - both actuated by a Sidestick, on the right-side of the A-Frame.
The whole was Wire-Braced, with Cables single-swaged (Sailboat Style), and the Wings & Tail-Surfaces were Dacron in Tension - drum-tight.
When 90° Nose-Angle Rogallos were gliding at 4 : 1, the Tweeties were around 6 : 1
And in '76 there was an article in Scientific American magazine about a Tweetie with a Double-Surface Dacron-in-Tension Aerofoil which was
Self-Cambering, according to the
Angle-Of Attack pertaining
Momentarily....
But that was in California.
Here in Oz, the Agent for Tweeties was Ron Wheeler, and he added a Victa 120cc Lawnmower motor onto his Tweetie, with plastic Scooter-Wheels on Spring-Steel Leaves & Stub-Axles at each end of the A-Frame, and a Plastic "Nally" Kitchen Chair/Backrest placing the Pilot sitting upright with a Lap-Belt right where they would previously have dangled in a Parachute-Harness in the Tweetie....; and in the Scout one's feet rested in the bottom Bar if the A-Frame, where they did nothing but sit there.
Lots of Dihedral on the Wings above, and theRudder & Stabilator both operated by the Stick....; and a steerable Tailwheel mounted on the Rudder-Post, right at the bottom of the Tweetie's Tailskid...
The 1st attempt failed to rise off the ground..., being crippled by a direct-drive Propeller ; the second Prototype had a Bicycle-Chain reduction-drive, and it flew..., while the 3rd Pre-Production Prototype of ghe Mark-1, was built to be inspected by the Dep't of Transport's Aviation Safety Beaureau in January 1976, and then in August '76
Air Navigation Order 95.10 was Gazetted, in Canberra.
Written around a Hang-Glider with a retrofitted Lawnmower-Motor, seat & Wheels...; which fortuitously
"Just
Happened"...,
To greatly resemble a
Demoiselle....
And on 8-Hp, it, too, had problems climbing over Barbed- Wire fences, in Spring, at 2,000 ft AMSL...; whereas in midsummer and at 3,650 ft, it overheated the Aluminium Bushes on the Steel Axles, & thus
Melted the Nylon Wheelhubs, while failing to climb up, and into
Ground-Effect, on an
8,550 ft Runway....!
Such is life,
Have a good one...
Stay safe.
;-p
Ciao !
Thank you for your interesting feedback Warbles. Chris.
I saw that movie at the drive-in when it came out! I loved it and the Great Race!
Yes I agree the Great Race was another classic. Chris.
Please be sure and subscribe. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Fantastic film and great song. I was lucky enough to visit Kitty Hawk and stand on the actual place where the Wright brothers first flew. Thanks Chris for another very enjoyable look back at the history of flying 🪽
Many thanks Ray glad you watched along. Chris.
Even as a 6 year old I knew most of these planes were real but Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was not a real flyer. Loved this movie.
Hope you can subscribe. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
I saw this movie and instantly fell in love with Sarah Miles Still am.
She sure was a looker Dave.
Do please have a subscribe to my channel its cost free. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Made me chuckle seeing Drax Power station cooling towers in the distance when TT is hovering over the train. If you loved this film you'll love The Great Race" also.
I have been looking at the Great Race and Jack Lemon plays the part Terry Thomas had in the Magnificent Men film, another great fun film. Chris.
Tony Curtis’ gleaming teeth in the custard pie fight - damn I remember that so well 👍🏻👍🏻
I was learning to fly gliders at Booker aerodrome,becoming Wycombe Airpark, when Personal Plane Services made these planes.
It was somewhat disruptive as a lot of the air field was taken up with sets and shooting scenes. I wasn't able to fly very often as my after school and Saturday morning job was necessary to pay for flights. That and the inevitable British weather. There were interesting planes maintained there. Stampes of the Rothmans aerobatic team. A Yak,a Spitfire or two. The Thames Valley Gliding Club had a Citabria for a tow plane.
Visited Booker many years ago very busy. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Great vid!
I almost forgot about how good this "Sunday afternoon special!" film was.
Gonna look it up and watch it.
Havent seen it in years!
Thanks and subbed!🛩
Brilliant very much appreciated. Chris.
Brilliant film!!
Right with you on that one. Chris.
Oh! that brought back such a memorable memory of a time in my life! My parents had moved us all down to Cornwall and brought a lovely place that they turned into a hotel! It had one huge room which was the studio to the original builder of this place! sir Stanhope Forbes a famous Artist in the early 1900! There was one room that we used to put a screen up and have this very film shown to our guests who were of an international collection! when it came to there nationality they did not laugh! I was about Nine coming up to Ten years of age and have found memories of this wonderful film! May all those actors not with us now R.I.P and thank you for the laughter you gave that then small boy who is now just 66 years of age!
Very enjoyable post! Like many others, I have enjoyed this movie many times in my life and this has added some very interesting aviation history to it, so I shall now enjoy future viewings even more!
If I might add that I found the background music to be a little too much now and again as it seemed to overwhelm your excellent narration.
Thank you for sharing this, and of course, very happy to subscribe!
Thank you for subscribing Philip its very much appreciated . I understand your views on the background music and in recent films I have generally not loaded background music, this film I felt was partly famous for Ron Goodwin's music so I attempted to add a little more, I find in editing its quite challenging to set the volume levels, it is something I am always working to improve. Chris.
@GULLPERCHFLYER I'll certainly look forward to future uploads from you.
I agree with you about the music in this movie, IMO it helps to keep the film light and enjoyable.
I am from Bristol and hanging from the ceiling in the Bristol Museum main gallery is what I believe to be a Bristol Box Kite. I'd upload a pic but I don't think I can do it here. Still, probably on their website if interested.
It has been there as long as I can remember... so we are talking a generous number of decades there! 😁
great film
Thank you please have a subscribe. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Gert Frobe made that film …there was a lot of great actors in it but his part when he played the German marching music with his mouth was hilarious ..
Its a fabulous film. Chris.
The film is a comedy but for me it is also a historic documentation. It features a copy of the Brooklands aerodrome and race circuit that actually just had opened at that time (called Brookley in the movie). After Bleriot made his flight over the channel in 1909, he started to mass produce his plane (about 1000 where build) and opened a flight school so hundreds, may be thousands of people learned to fly in those years.
In 1910 there where already real air races. One from London to Manchester and others on large fields around pylons. In 1911 a lot of races across Europe where made including the "Circuit of Europe air race" that went from Paris over several stages to London and back with up to 43 starters.
The Paris-Madrid race attracted about 300.000 spectators and there was a lot of competition between a large number of companies. The film shows more or less exactly what went on with flying in Europe between 1910 and the begin of WWI in 1914.
Very interesting many thanks. Chris.
It is longer since the film was made than the times of the real planes to the film...
How very true. Chris.
Some classic plastic model kits in 1/48 scale were released at time of film. Initially produced by Inpac, the rereleased by Pyro, then by Life-Like, then Lindberg. I've right now got 4 of them from a 2014 reissue by Lindberg sloooowly, on account of messy health, coming together. They have nicely done pilot figures. Initial release by Inpac included stands and rigging thread. This release had small puzzles of the box art included but neither stands nor thread. They all have spinning propellors & the Deperdussin was designed to allow rotary engine to spin. 🛩 The planes are: a Martin-Handasyde monoplane; Bleriot monoplane; Deperdussin monoplane; AVRO Biplane. There was initially the AVRO Triplane but it seems to not have been reproduced, which is a bit of a shame. 🛩🥰 I would love to have a greater selection of similar kits of other aircraft, with equally noce or better pilot and passenger figures, to build, even if my health now disallows doing all the rigging.
Fort Sam Houston. It's still there.
It's time for a remake, this time perhaps with fifty year old aircraft from the 1970s ;-)
That would be fun David. Chris.
40 east of me is Selfridge. Air force base that base is named after Mr. Selfridge, first man to die an airplane crash
Thanks for your feedback. Chris.
$30,000.00 in 1910 is worth over $950,000.00 today.
How true. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Second ever film I saw, age 3
It was a lovely film David with great flying. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
My 3 year old grandson thinks Professor Fate is hilarious.
No mention of Cole Palen of Rhinebeck Aerodrome fame? His role in help and promotion of this film. He also was promised one of the flying replicas and was cheated out of this promise.
That's interesting I wonder if he had been married to Rita at the time if things would have been better and she would have sorted them out. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
This is one of the best movies EVER made. I suggested to Peter Jackson to do a remake. (Note - Gustave Whitehead flew 2 years before the Wright brothers, Richard Pearse 6 months before 31 March 1903)
ua-cam.com/video/TGom0uiW130/v-deo.html
Many thanks hopefully you can find a few subscribers over there please would rather like to get past 13 and on to 14,000. Cheers Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
This could not be made to day. too much making fun of national stereotypes and no DEI factor! It would be considered hate speech, WS and much more
Thank you for your feedback Tom. Chris.
You're not wrong IMO. It's those stereotypes that we love about about our cousins, we've lost the ability to laugh at ourselves but it will come back.
💰Wonder what that 1909 price of $30,000 equals in 2024 dollars? US Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, has a Consumer Price Index, CPI, inflation calculator web page, so let's go see. Aw, it only goes back to 1913, not 1909. Oh well, close enough. Okay, so, $30,000 in November 1913 adjusted to November 2024 prices = $937,107.92.
Sounds about right Scott. Chris.
Well, the 1st manned flights were in the UK by a few rich lords before the US bothers and the plane design the Bothers used was in fact a stolen design from the UK. as these were only bicycle repairman Not airplane builders or designers. They just copied one of our designs and then did the flight. It was in fact a very short one even with the catapult they had to use to launch it.
Most of our lords flew before them and remember the UK had the 1st air force in the world, the royal flying core. we did the 1st aircraft carrier and all the tech for the carriers was British not American. if they did the 1st manned flight then the USA would have done all those things 1st not the UK. But they did not do them we did. The trouble with the Americans is, they always wish to be seen as the ones whom did every invention every history making thing!
But the UK did all the modern worlds inventions and even folded the US. the difference between the UK and the USA is we don't boast about the inventions we do?
They do boast they did it all. Ego for you.
Thank you Colin very interesting, much as the development of the jet engine. Chris.
So, you're saying the first *_powered_* sustained, controlled heavier-than-air flight was in the UK. Then their PR was abysmal.