Attendees Give Standing Ovations To WWI Film

by ANN Correspondent Pete Tobin

Film director Tony Bill struggled for the better part of a decade to independently raise the finances needed for his most personal film to date, "Flyboys." 

Starring James Franco, this film is a daring action/adventure about American pilots flying for France in the Lafayette Escadrille at the start of World War I. On July 27, Bill elected to premier his picture not to a film-friendly audience in Hollywood, but to an invitation-only audience of pilots including such aviation luminaries such as Bob Hoover and Sean Tucker at the EAA's Oshkosh AirVenture air show.

The one audience in the whole world that would be populated with men and women uniquely educated in the events surrounding and aircraft flown by the Lafayette Escadrille. They responded to the film with not one, but two standing ovations.

Tony Bill and his production staff would seem to have a hit on their hands.

The fast paced "Flyboys" seamlessly weaves computer generated aircraft and actual human carrying planes into tale that is so well cut that most of the pilots in the theater didn't notice that aircraft they were looking at obviously had brakes in a time when aircraft manufactures weren't concerned with safety issues like brakes on the wheels.

"We tried to be 100% accurate when it comes to what you see on the screen," says Bill.  "All of our Nieuport 17's are perfect reproductions of Nieuport 17's as far as what is visible. Yes, it would be impossible to fly these aircraft with (spinning) rotary engines. Rotary engines are basically dangerous. Our Nieuports have modern engines."

"There are other discrepancies," Bill adds. "The Lafayette Escadrille didn't fly Nieuports against the (German) DR-1 until six months after our story takes place. We went ahead and used them because anyone (in the audience) can tell the difference between a bi-plane and a tri-plane. This move is not a history lesson. It's not a documentary. It's a dramatic movie."

Several aerobatic pilots did comment that computer generated aircraft in the film fly very realistically and move exactly with the visible movements of the aircraft's control surfaces.

Four aircraft had to be built specifically for this production and were featured with eight other previously existing planes, all of which helped to create this gorgeous movie that left highly skilled pilots cheering.

"Outstanding! I thought it (Flyboys) was great!" Proclaimed aeronautical legend Bob Hoover.

Bill introduced "Flyboys" by gratefully acknowledged efforts of and people involved in trying to make his film as historically accurate as possible... then made the generous choice of using his opportunity of being at the podium to focus on the accomplishments of another film-maker, Brian J. Terwilliger and his film "One Six Right.

Bill (above) began his film career as an actor appearing first as Frank Sinatra's younger brother in "Come Blow Your Horn" in 1963.  Later acting performances include roles in "Ice Station Zebra" in 1968 and "Shampoo" in 1975.  Bill began producing in the early 70's his producer credits include "The Sting" in 1973 staring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.  His directorial debut was the 1980 film "My Bodyguard."

Bill's aeronautical credits are equally impressive.  He began flying gliders outside of San Diego roughly 50 years ago and took up powered-aircraft aerobatics some 20 years ago.  Bill competed in several national meets in a Pitts.  He presently owns a Siai-Marchetti.

FMI: www.flyboysthemovie.com