Just finished watching this, a rather superb war movie by the director of the acclaimed “Black Book“, as well as mainstream Hollywood movies such as RoboCop, Total Recall and Basic Instinct.
Not a huge amount of aviation content in the film, except near the start where two Luftwaffe-painted Harvards drop bombs on a Dutch town. However, rather surprisingly, some of the film seems to have been shot at Duxford – there is a Mustang in the background as the main character (played by Rutger Hauer) walks out to his plane: the much-lamented BAe Mosquito, RR299! The Shackleton also makes an appearance as the Mosquito taxis out!
As well as the Dakota featured at the beginning and end, there’s another appearance by the good ol’ Harvard, this time two of them painted in RAF markings towards the end (probably the same two from earlier in the movie), along with what appears to be an Auster.
Anyway, cracking little war film if you’ve not seen it.
However, most disappointed to not see the two Harvards mocked up as Fokker D.XXIs – unless I blinked and missed them? :confused:
By: bazv - 30th September 2007 at 21:29
Although the film Soldier of Orange was pretty good it didnt really do justice to this Gallant Gentlemans RAF service,he flew Mossies with139 sqdn,72 ops and awarded DFC.He was shortsighted and as portrayed in the film he did cheat with a piece of lens at his medical although I cant remember if it was suggested by a naked young lady a la movie!!
His book is a great read… www.erikhazelhoff.com
Salute
BV
By: Wessex Fan - 30th September 2007 at 19:52
Last week one of Netherlands best know aviator, Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. ore best know as Soldier of Orange, died aged 90.
He flew with the RAF in the patffinder force flying mossie’s, he flew several missions to Berlin.
Sadly another of a generation called upon to do heroic things has gone, may he rest in peace, we must remember him and all his conrades!
To the Hero’s
By: DazDaMan - 28th July 2007 at 10:21
I always tell my friends to watch for the ‘Beaver Shot’ and they seem disappointed when it turns out to be a floatplane !!
😀
By: bazv - 27th July 2007 at 21:53
This film is based on the Autobiography by Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema.
He was a member of the Dutch resistance but then joined the RAFas a pilot.
He did use a small piece of lens to ‘pass’ the aircrew medical but am not sure if it was suggested by a naked young lady as in the film(years since I read the book!!).Erik flew with 139 sqdn,72 op sorties and was awarded the DFC.
I always tell my friends to watch for the ‘Beaver Shot’ and they seem disappointed when it turns out to be a floatplane !!
His website is www.erikhazelhoff.com
By: DazDaMan - 27th July 2007 at 11:39
Thanks for that Roger. Pity they didn’t end up on the big screen in the end. Seems a pity that they went to all that trouble to modify the Harvards and not use them.
By: EHVB - 27th July 2007 at 10:05
Although 2 Harvards were converted into D21’s, they never were used in this movie. However they were used in a (TV)movie on the …. ? anniversary of the Dutch AF. Most of the (non aviation) scenes of the student times (in Leiden) were shot within 300 meters of my home. BW Roger
By: Cees Broere - 27th July 2007 at 09:35
Hi Daz,
I have the movie on video and also never saw the “D-21’s”. There is no footage of the airwar of the Dutch against the evil Luftwaffe. Probably left on the cutting floor.
Cheers
Cees
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July 26, 2007 at 8:45 pm