Help with Search for lost WW1 Movie

Anybody know Flying Cloud ?? Been trying to contact him !

Flying Cloud, PM sent.

Colin Barron got the information from me, I have 40 cans of film, not 14.

I recall seeing a photo of Cliff Robertson with a Fokker Dr1 replica, and what I believe was a Stampe stood on its nose, taken on location somewhere. Possibly Ireland. The Triplane almost certainly one of the “Darling Lili” aircraft. Confirming what Colin Barron wrote in his most excellent book, “Planes On Film” about 14 cans of aerial footage having actually been filmed for “I Shot down the Red Baron, I think”.

Also, Jim and Maxine Greenwood’s book “Stunt Flying in the Movies” mentions a screenplay for a WW1 epic that was proposed by MGM in April 1965. It was for a film to be tentatively titled “A Time For Glory”, and written by Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame.

One more that got away.

I remember attending a lecture by David Boddington of RC models fame (Your Uncle Blue Max?) in which he talked about some models he made for the film. He also had a significant number of slides about the making of the movie, which I am sure you have seen. It was all very interesting. This was at Croydon Airport in the early 1980s.

Steve

I have Cliff Robertson’s copy of “Who Killed the Red Baron” by Carisella and Ryan. It is a presentation copy from the authors. I also have a copy of a fourteen page “proposal” for “I Shot down the Red Baron, I think”, written by Robertson. Please contact me.

Just an update on this thread, made contact with Cliff Robertson and what a loverly man he is. He is currently writting his autobiography and i was able to supply him with some Pics for this lost Film. He says that the Film was nevr completed, the Producer was killed along with others in the Mid Air between the SE5 and the Helicopter durring the filming of “Zepperlin” made shortly afterwards. He belives that the flying sequences could well have been used elsewhere but doesent know of their excistence, this could explain the “Fanny Hill” conection? Pic of CR on set below.

Could be a delicate question!!!! Best to try the”I Shot Down The Red Baron” title!!:D

Sorry but it is not Ace Eli!! i have a copy of Ace Eli and its a different film. As you say, Ace Eli was made in 1973, my father flew for the missing film, he was killed whilst filming “Von Richtofen and Brown” in 1970. Im sure septic is correct with the”Fanny Hill Meets The Red Baron” just need to try and track a copy down. Anybody got a contact for CR?! i have a picture of him with dad somwhere.

I cannot trace that CR was involved with ‘Fanny’. He is not on the credits of this film. He is a member of the EAA, so they may be able to contact him, but would you risk asking him if he was involved with Fanny? 😀

Thanks JDK, i will check the BFI out. Yes i have a copy of “A Gift of Wings” and his account of Filming VR&B.

Have you talked to the BFI (British Film Institute) on Stephen Street?

They’ll probably have some data.

They also have back issues of Variety etc, so if there was any units shooting, and you’ve got some dates, even rough, that should appear there.

Cheers

Not a lot of help, Blue Max, but I presume you are familiar with Richard Bach’s essay ‘I Shot Down the Red Barron, & so what’ republished in ‘Gift of Wings’ talking of his time in the making of ‘Richtofen & Brown’?

Sorry but it is not Ace Eli!! i have a copy of Ace Eli and its a different film. As you say, Ace Eli was made in 1973, my father flew for the missing film, he was killed whilst filming “Von Richtofen and Brown” in 1970. Im sure septic is correct with the”Fanny Hill Meets The Red Baron” just need to try and track a copy down. Anybody got a contact for CR?! i have a picture of him with dad somwhere.

WLOst ww1 Movie

I have just checked the Intenet Movie Database. That lost movie was indeed “Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies”. It was made in 1973 and written but not directed by Steven Spielberg.

Colin

WW1 Film

I think the film was indeed “Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies”. I remember seeing in on ITV many years ago. I will try and find out more. I think it may also have been directed by Steven Spielberg as one of his earliest films.

re “633 Squadron”. The Internet Movie Database reports that Cliff Robertson bought one of the Mosquitoes used in “633 Squadron”. In fact this is not true but if you read Cliff Robertson’s own website he recounts some of his own memories of working on the film. Apparently he did want to buy one of the Mosquitoes but a certain person (who he refuses to name) blocked the deal and that is how he came to buy his Spitfire Mark IX (which he sold a few years ago.)

I just looked up the 1971 film “Von Richthofen and Brown” on the internet movie data base, I haven’t seen it but the comments spurred my interest.

In it Brown is portrayed as being a long time foe of Richthofen….whereas most of the accounts I’ve read portray him as just an average pilot who got lucky…and survived his encounter with the Baron.

Interestingly…the story also features Tony Fokker, Udet and Goering.

Any mini-reviews out there?

check out previous threads on this one,it was covered recently!

Blue Max,

I believe the 1968 film was called ‘Fanny Hill meets the Red Baron’. As far as I know its not availiable anywhere, although the trailer is availiable on another Fanny Hill title.

At the time the film was considered rather risque, although by todays standards I’m sure its very tame.
Septic.

Thanks septic, i will check that one out, make sense the family friend saw it in conjunction with a “Steptoe and Son” Film!!

I just looked up the 1971 film “Von Richthofen and Brown” on the internet movie data base, I haven’t seen it but the comments spurred my interest.

In it Brown is portrayed as being a long time foe of Richthofen….whereas most of the accounts I’ve read portray him as just an average pilot who got lucky…and survived his encounter with the Baron.

Interestingly…the story also features Tony Fokker, Udet and Goering.

Any mini-reviews out there?

Blue Max,

I believe the 1968 film was called ‘Fanny Hill meets the Red Baron’. As far as I know its not availiable anywhere, although the trailer is availiable on another Fanny Hill title.

At the time the film was considered rather risque, although by todays standards I’m sure its very tame.

Septic.

unless it was also a film about the making of a film

The only film I can think of that fits that description is “The Stuntman”, which came out around 1980, and featured a Fokker Dr1 (replica), Nieuport (replica) of some sort (I think a 28, but probably wrong) and a WW1-attired Tiger Moth.

It is available on DVD R2 (I have it), but the flying content is rather limited 🙁

(I’m not counting The Great Waldo Pepper, as that part of the story was only near the end of the film, and featured some rather more suitable WW1 replicas!)