I saw this film a long time ago, when it came out, when I was 13 or so. Does anyone with kids (pre- and early-teen kids) have any thoughts on this movie? I remember it pretty well--particularly the final scenes of the dogfight (GREAT!!!) and the Susan Sarandon dropping to her death scene (ummm...not so great). Can't rent it anywhere and don't want to buy it unless it's worth it. Input, anyone?
shareThe movie is worth buying if you're an airplane nut, but a couple of death scenes are a little tough. There's the one you mentioned, then there's the worst one, where Ezra crashes, and is stuck in the wreck. While Redford tries to free him, some idiot bystander throws his cigarette down, which results in a grass fire. The fire quickly spreads toward the plane as the poor pilot begins screaming in a panic. Redford has to beat him unconcious so he won't feel the pain of the fire. It's a pretty tough scene.
shareThe fire quickly spreads toward the plane as the poor pilot begins screaming in a panic. Redford has to beat him unconcious so he won't feel the pain of the fire. It's a pretty tough scene.
Watch the film again. Waldo doesn't beat him <i>unconscious</i>...
How do you figure that? Looked to me like he took the beam and hit Ezra over the head with it.
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I think Krasnegar meant he beats Ezra *dead*.
I haven't seen the movie in over 30 years, but that's the only scene that's stuck in my memory.
Yeah I definitely would not show this to kids for that scene alone.. The worst part about it is the bystanders who do nothing, when just one of them helping Waldo would have meant that Ezra could have been pulled out alive. It still upsets me and as a grown adult I was still going- WHY? WHY won't they help him?! That's far too much for a kid to handle..
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In all fairness to the bystanders, and as I recall, the plane was overturned and Ezra was well and truly trapped. Also, if I recall correctly, the airplanes fuel had spilled all over the dry grass and the wood and canvas airplane itself was being quickly engulfed in flames.
Oh, for a widescreen dvd!
No, I'm pretty sure the flames were still quite small when he starts trying to get him out. And considering Waldo on his own half drags Ezra out it seemed obvious to me that just one possibly two helpers could have easily pulled the plane up a little bit and pulled Ezra to safety. Those planes aren't that heavy for big grown men. And it's not like they were distancing themselves out of pure fear- they were less then a meter away!
I just.. urgh that scene. Those people. Maybe cause it hits kinda close to home for me.. my dad was in the airforce and on a training "search and find" mission a plane went down near where him and another guy were "hiding".. he had to drag his friend who was alight with flames out of the plane down to the river bank and try to put him out and cool him down. His friend died. But at least he had someone else to help him you know? Imagine the horror of watching your friend die like that because NOONE would help you? I can hardly imagine anything worse.
The fire started because one of the locals threw a cigar or cigarette into the hay and dry grass, which would've been soaked in fuel from the crash. Both Ezra and Waldo were both yelling at everyone to get away, especially those with cigarettes & cigars. The fire didn't start due to the crash itself - but from someone's carelessness.
shareI first saw this film in the theater when I was 8 and yes, the man trapped in a crashed plane was unsettling. The encroaching flames and Waldo's response, however, were less disturbing than the gawking and lack of help from the masses surrounding them. Although at that age I wasn't able to grasp all the references to World War I, the last scene's message of honor and respect was not lost on me. My answer is that I'm glad I saw it then and every time since. Watching the film as a child left me with a sense of heroism, not nightmares.
Before anyone sends emails or posts for my neglecting to mention the death of Susan Sarandon's character- I'm certain that at even 8 years old I comprehended and I'd feel comfortable showing my daughters, where getting caught up in a moment, thoughtlessly can lead you.
Seriously, if you love film...share early and continue within your own gauge of appropriate boundaries.
Once they hit puberty you might find, as I have, that it's easier to get them to eat their vegetables than to get them to watch a well written, character driven film.
I saw it when it came out... I was a child (about 9) and I loved it... it was my favorite film. I do remember the scene where Ezra was burned did disturb me a little, but it was nothing I had nightmares about. My son is now 2 and I let him watch the barnstorming scenes (not the death scenes) and he loves it!
shareI just watched the movie and that scene left me extremely pissed off. What kind of people would take pleasure from watching a man burn to death. Robert Redford's character asks someone to help him several times, before and after the fire starts, but noone moves to help. And when he starts burning, the entire crowd, women and men, stand there and watch him burn!!!! Why would you want to see that?!?!
shareI was four when this movie came out and I vividly remember the girl falling off the wing of the plane. It was much too intense for me. I would say that 4 is too young for the movie....but you are a better judge of what your child/children can tolerate.
shareWith regards to the fire,
Isn't there a small spark of flame that ignites the plane before the idiot's cigarette hits the ground?
I agree, a heartwrenching scene to watch!
Joe
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I saw this in the theatre when it was released at age 10 and loved it. The burning death did stay with me for years, however, I'll still let my kid see it when he's a little older (5 now). They don't make them like that anymore - back when Goldman was writing good scripts... Of course this is the problem. Kids today probably can't sit still for this type of movie. Already my kid rolls his eyes at the notion of a B&W film. So, by the time he's 10 and seen Transformers 12 and GI Joe 9, he won't be the slightest interested in this gem.
shareI watched it as 12/13 year old as well. Kids can enjoy the aerial shots but the adults will get the subtext more.
Its that man again!!
> I just watched the movie and that scene left me extremely pissed off. What kind of people would take pleasure from watching a man burn to death.
What kind of people go to see an execution or a lynching? Plenty of people. They'd lay out picnic tables in the South to watch a lynching.
The film's thematic material includes: failure, missed or squandered opportunity, disappointment, disillusionment, displacement, violent death, euthanasia, depression, alcoholism, and suicide. Ask yourselves: do kids REALLY need a head start dealing with any of this? I say let them enjoy a little childhood, before the roof comes down on their heads.
shareI saw this film at age 12 or 13, and loved it. It stuck with me all my life in fact and while there is death, there is also great heroism and personal honor depicted, and discussed. The idea that there is no tragedy in dying while doing what you love most in life is a good message, I feel and one that a young teen can carry away from this film.
shareNo doubt. And then dressing up like Puck, before shooting himself in the head with his daddy's six-gun, a scenario we are actually seeing these days, in depressingly increasing numbers. The flame of youth is a pretty thing, but it's also like a barbeque: too much juice, and you're going to have a real bad time.
shareNO! It IS for OLD people AKA things we do not like in the year 2016!
..if OLD flying IS a thing.
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines(1965)
WWI:
The Blue Max(1966)
Aces High(1976)
Maybe Red Baron(2008) They got thé Albatros D.s SEMI-right. The rest..:-(
1936: Ace of Aces(1982)
WWII: Red tails?:-P Well, The Tuskegee Airmen(1995)from HBO is WAY better!