Comments on: The Ten Best American Aviation Genre Films of All Time: A Highly Personal and Idiosyncratic List

By: Bob Silva

Bob Silva — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:09:15 +0000

Above and Beyond. 1952. The story of Paul Tibbets (Robert Taylor) FYI: Jim Backus plays General Curtis LeMay. Jim is also the pilot in a classic scene from “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World with Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett.

By: Arnold

Arnold — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:52:16 +0000

Although already mentioned, I would add “The Spirit of St. Louis” with James Stewart. Charles Lindbergh was the ultimate aviation hero in his time and, arguably, of any time. I was just a young tyke when I first saw this film, and the images of Lindbergh’s flight have stuck with me over the years.

By: Garry

Garry — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:03:13 +0000

The Spirit of St. Louis is my favorite all time aviation film. Although I haven’t seen it on tv for a while, any time I surf the tv and it is on, the tv remote is not operatable until the end of the film. Someday I would like to get a Lindbergh autograph.

By: Wil B

Wil B — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:25:29 +0000

I will have to watch more films on the list. For recent developments and Mira Nair’s beautiful visual style I recommend Amelia. To depict the isolation, claustrophobia, and stress of a high alert SAC mission I appreciate both the original “Fail Safe” and the made for TV “By Dawn’s Early Light.” For its prediction of XO9981 I like the HBO “Tuskeegee Airmen.” And if nothing else the Dolittle Raid portrayal makes “Pearl Harbor” worth viewing.

By: Kristin Harley

Kristin Harley — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:53:40 +0000

I would include Hell’s Angels by Howard Hughes! The flight sequences (including the dirigible) are amazing, and I was fortunate to see this on the big screen. Also, the Red Tent starring Sean Connery and Peter Finch.

By: Steven Dortch

Steven Dortch — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:24:00 +0000

What about “the Great Waldo Pepper!”

By: Larry Lowenkron

Larry Lowenkron — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:37:28 +0000

…and The Great Waldo Pepper!

By: Pat Byrne

Pat Byrne — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:36:58 +0000

I’ll put Twelve O’Clock High at the top I’m WWII era age!!
Bridges of Toki Ri second!! (I’m ex Navy)
Most of the others after–all good!!

By: Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:23:35 +0000

While I agree with all of the above movies, I think Allied Artist’s 1968 film, Battle of Britain, should be included as one of the top 10. I think I would delete Only Angels Have Wings as more of a character play rather than aviation based. The airplane could have just as easily been replaced by a horse or race car. Battle of Britain had all the elements of character, flying action, and stayed reasonably true to historical events all within the confines of the movie.

By: Richard Stalter

Richard Stalter — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:58:55 +0000

This is an interesting article and a nice list. However, when it comes to aviation films – for me anyway, what type of person the pilots are or who they’re in love with is not that important. Yes, patriotism is important to me but the real stars of the film – and why I would watch a certain aviation film over and over – are the airplanes. From Mr. Pisano’s list I do like Bridges Over Toko-Ri, Test Pilot and The Right Stuff. My own personal list would include Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, Strategic Air Command, Toward the Unknown, Bombers B-52, Top Gun, Spirit of St Louis, Dive Bomber, Keep Em Flying – Abbott and Costello comedy that has lots of neat footage of pre-war USAAF aircraft, The Aviator – I realize most of the footage is computer generated, but it’s still fun, and some people may laugh at this – The Rocketeer – a Disney film but I love the aircraft and theme of this fun movie. Finally, my 11th pick – Midway. I know this movie stole a lot of footage from Tora and other films and critics lambasted it, but it does have a lot of neat aircraft footage and I was 5 years old when my parents took me to see it. I was in my formative years and this was my first airplane movie (it was very loud) and I’ve been in love with PBY Catalinas ever since.