Flyboys (2006)

Director:

Tony Bill

Writers (WGA):

Phil Sears (screenplay) &
Blake T. Evans (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

Inspired by a true story

Plot:

The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.

Plot Keywords:

American | France | Pilot | Training | Military

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 29

8:00 PM

CW

Cast

James Franco	...	Blaine Rawlings
Scott Hazell	...	Cinema Usher
Mac McDonald	...	Sheriff Detweiller
Philip Winchester	...	William Jensen
Todd Boyce	...	Mr. Jensen
Karen Ford	...	Mrs. Jensen
Ruth Bradley	...	Laura
Abdul Salis	...	Eugene Skinner
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Skinner's trainer
Tim Pigott-Smith	...	Mr. Lowry
Tyler Labine	...	Briggs Lowry
Gail Downey	...	Mrs. Lowry
David Ellison	...	Eddie Beagle
Jean Reno	...	Capt. Thenault
Augustin Legrand	...	L.T. Giroux

Also Known As:

Fly Boys (International: English title) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for war action violence and some sexual content.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #42281) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Ireland:12A | New Zealand:M | Germany:12 | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

RAF Halton, Halton, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Electric Entertainment

Trivia:

James Franco earned his pilot's license in preparation for this film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The German airship has the tactical sign "L 32". L 32 had been produced by "Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH" with the internal number "LZ 74" (LZ for "Luftschiff Zeppelin" = Airship Zeppelin). The tactical sign beginning with "L" tells us, that it had been an airship from the German marine and not from the army. "L 32" was built on 4th of August 1916 and carried out one reconnaissance mission for a naval attack against Sunderland and three bombing missions against England. Only one and a half month later - on 24th of September, British fighters shot it down. So there was never a mission performed against Paris or even France!

Quotes:

Eugene Skinner: So how many planes do you have to shoot down to get back in father's good books?
Briggs Lowry: Just mine.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Worst of 2006" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty

A bunch of Ariel Tactics pushed by a romantic storyline.

I really enjoyed the movie. You didn't have to think much about it, it was what it was. Apparently there are some close ties to the true story but it never seemed an issue of trying to portray something too realistic. I am not a huge Franco fan, in fact his poutiness wears on you in most films but he seems to do a really good job of mixing it up, meaning he smiles in this one. I saw a pre-release screening and everyone that I spoke to agreed that it was a good movie. The special effects were really good, the airplanes seemed very realistic for the most part. The close ups seemed a little fake but the tactics seemed really good. I found a bit of cheesiness in the dialog at times but managed to not pay too much attention too it. It wasn't deep but kept you interested the whole time. Don't get me wrong, it was no Saving Private Ryan but it had enough action and drama to keep you interested. They even threw a bit of humor in to keep you loose in your seat. I would recommend it to anyone, just don't expect to walk away a changed person for having seen it. It was a fun movie with some good historical point.