Hollywood rumours….

Maskelyne TV Documentary

If anyone’s interested, the TV documentary about Maskelyne I mentioned in an earlier post is being repeated tomorrow, 15/9, on C4 at 20.00.

Steve Hinton did a lot of the work on Pearl Harbor out in Hawaii, and flew the Planes of Fame Buchon for the British sequences, so it’s possible he could be involved – hope they’ll bring the Buchon out again! 🙂 If I remember, I’ll e-mail Steve and ask him, he’s usually pretty prompt with a reply.

Maybe the Breighton Buchon (if it doesn’t go Stateside) could be used, too?

My bets are on TFC working on this one, but I’m not gonna hold my breath!

Originally posted by Tony C
So you’re saying then, that the Scots had no a*ses.

Of course the Scots have a*ses. Who do you think are our southern next-door neighbours? 😀

That’s sure to prompt a torrent of abuse from all you Sassenachs. 😉

My money is on Hinton. Why do you need anybody English?

>>Who do you think will be doing all the stunt flying?<<

Just check which UK Warbird operators go to Hollywood for tea and buns over the next few weeks! 😉

Who do you think will be doing all the stunt flying?;) 😀 😀

Originally posted by RadarArchive
Then they shows the Scots winning by showing their a*ses and charging across a field.:confused:

So you’re saying then, that the Scots had no a*ses.

(now sitting behind a large rock waiting for the flak to start flying:D )

Originally posted by kev35
Tony C.

I agree to an extent with what you’re saying, but distorted or not, it might just sow the seeds of a lifetime’s passion. We all need to start somewhere, if a distorted version of events encourages someone to dig that bit deeper, then that can only be a positive thing, can’t it?

Regards,

kev35

If it plants a seed, then yes I agree!

Its just a shame that the actual events aren’t always portrayed correctly when fact can be as exciting as fiction.

Also to even the score, I suppose that the British film industry isn’t adverse to bending the truth, Dambusters being a prime example. If the film is to be believed, Gibson, hand picked and was well liked by the crews and also discovered the light method for keeping the aircraft at 60ft!

And to further shoot myself in the foot, I suppose that the truth often depends on ones memory of the events which maybe being recalled many years after the event.

Originally posted by Ren Frew
Hollywood and “accurate portrayal” aren’t words you often hear used together. Look at the a*se they made of Braveheart for example.

I know it’s well off topics, but I’d have to say that my favourite bit in Braveheart has to be the ‘representation’ of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The crucial element to this victory was that Wallace and Murray were smart enough to wait until the English cavalry was halved either side of the narrow bridge. Tactically, they played it spot on. What happens in the film? For a start, there’s no bridge!!:mad: Then they shows the Scots winning by showing their a*ses and charging across a field.:confused:

Tony C.

I agree to an extent with what you’re saying, but distorted or not, it might just sow the seeds of a lifetime’s passion. We all need to start somewhere, if a distorted version of events encourages someone to dig that bit deeper, then that can only be a positive thing, can’t it?

Regards,

kev35

Originally posted by kev35
If this film happens I think it could be a bit of a win-win situation. If it’s an accurate portrayal of Fiske’s involvement in the Battle of Britain, that will be great. Hopefully the warbird community will benefit from their aircraft being used in the film. If it turns out to be a U571 type drama with much twisting of the truth that’ll be great too. Either way, a lot of kids are going to learn a little bit about the Battle of Britain, unlike a good number who thought it was something to do with an England v Scotland football match. Ok, it takes the U571 route, Cruise will bring a lot of people to see it, and they will at least pick up something from the film. After all, films are often all about suspending our belief.

Regards,

kev35

I agree that its good for the warbird industry but whats worse, the child who knows nothing or the child that knows only a distorted version of events?

In cases such as U571, the historical truth was pushed to the back and only mentioned in the credits, when most poeple would be leaving the cinema or rewinding the tape.

Either way, those that took part, don’t always get the credit thats deserved.

If this film happens I think it could be a bit of a win-win situation. If it’s an accurate portrayal of Fiske’s involvement in the Battle of Britain, that will be great. Hopefully the warbird community will benefit from their aircraft being used in the film. If it turns out to be a U571 type drama with much twisting of the truth that’ll be great too. Either way, a lot of kids are going to learn a little bit about the Battle of Britain, unlike a good number who thought it was something to do with an England v Scotland football match. Ok, it takes the U571 route, Cruise will bring a lot of people to see it, and they will at least pick up something from the film. After all, films are often all about suspending our belief.

Regards,

kev35

Originally posted by macky42
If it’s a BoB film, let’s hope for an accurate portrayal, just so those watching it don’t get a wrong view of history.

Without being disrespecting to those American pilots that did fly with the RAF during the Battle, what’s the chances of the Hollywood version having America winning the BoB, in a similar way that America recovered Engima (sans U571).

There was a TV documentary about Maskelyne a few months ago, maybe it will be repeated sometime.

If it’s a BoB film, let’s hope for an accurate portrayal, just so those watching it don’t get a wrong view of history.

Like the dummy Me109s I’ve seen in a couple of books (Me109 at War), and very likely a Spitfire and Hurricane elsewhere.

Built up of wood and canvas, if I remember rightly, and rigged to sit on the airfield as though waiting at dispersal.

Hardly think this would be the kind of storyline to interest Tom Cruise!

Originally posted by Tony C
If I remember the name correctly, wasn’t Maskelyne tasked with how to camoflauge hardware during WW2?

Don’t remember his first name as Jasper though!

Yep, I read about Maskelyne recently – he was an illusionist who came up with some clever ideas on disguising tanks and trucks. The scheme was used in the desert war, and was very effective. Stuff that is second nature nowadays, like covering the windscreen glass, eliminating shadows, etc. but also really clever things like inflatable imitation tanks, trucks modified to look like armour, and tanks modified to look like trucks. Crude when close up, but remarkably effective when viewed from an aircraft, for instance.

Originally posted by Graeme C
they could also maybe bring that Me109 E over from the states, if the film is going to be filmed in the UK?

Don’t think David Price (or whoever owns it now) would want to risk it, somehow.

Nope, it’ll be a Buchon season for sure – not that I mind using Buchons at all! 🙂

Originally posted by DazDaMan

How many Hurricanes could they field for the movie (IF they used Hurris at all). Four? Five?

If they bring aircraft from the US then I guess we get around 9 which could make life interesting. Give it a year and we may get a couple more.

Originally posted by DazDaMan
Another chap at my work read a similar story to mine, although I have heard of Jasper Maskelyne (I think).

If I remember the name correctly, wasn’t Maskelyne tasked with how to camoflauge hardware during WW2?

Don’t remember his first name as Jasper though!

they could also maybe bring that Me109 E over from the states, if the film is going to be filmed in the UK?