A blank screen. James Horner’s Rocketeer main theme, “Takeoff” begins.

Orange titles appear: “WALT DISNEY PICTURES”

More orange titles: “WALT DISNEY PICTURES PRESENTS”

Title: “IN ASSOCIATION WITH SILVER SCREEN PARTNERS IV”

Title: “A GORDON COMPANY PRODUCTION”

Title: “A JOE JOHNSTON FILM”

Main Title, in font: “THE ROCKETEER”

The screen splits, revealing opening hangar doors by the silhouettes of two mechanics: Goose and Skeets.

Two other mechanics are working on a red monoplane, the Brown Aircraft Company’s B-2 Racer “Miss Los Angeles” #33, parked on a gravel taxiway in the foreground. In the background is a dirt runway.

Title: “BILL CAMPBELL”

A close-up of the propeller, front cowling, and “snake eyes” dice nose art of a Gee Bee Model Z roll past the camera. Goose’s face is visible briefly as he pushes the Gee Bee out of the hangar.

Title: “ALAN ARKIN”

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose

The Gee Bee Model Z continues to roll out of the hangar.

Title: “JENNIFER CONNELLY”

The port side of the Gee Bee is framed against the blue sky.

Title: “PAUL SORVINO”

An overhead view of the Gee Bee, displaying the number 4 on the left wing, and the aircraft’s identification, “NR77V” on the right wing. Skeets is pushing the left wing,  Another person is pushing the right wing. Malcolm is behind Skeets, and Goose has the tail. They pivot the Gee Bee to the right.

Title: “TERRY O’QUINN”

The view shifts in front of the port side of the Gee Bee. Behind the plane is the Bigelow Aeronautical Corp hangar, with an aircraft beacon on the roof. On the left side of the Bigelow Aeronautical Corp sign is the log for Curtiss Electric Propellers (“Feathering, Constant Speed, Selective Pitch” is the motto on the logo) and to the right of the sign is the logo of Pratt & Whitney’s “Dependable Engines.”

Parked to the left of the hangar is the 1929 Travel Air Model R “Mystery Ship.” To the right of the Gee Bee is the Brown Aircraft Company’s B-2 Racer “Miss Los Angeles” #33, seen in Minute 001.

Title: “ED LAUTER, JAMES HANDY”

Peevy is talking to pilot Cliff Secord: “Well, it’s your first time up, so don’t do anything interesting.”

“Who, me?” asks Cliff.

“Yeah, you!” replies Peevy, “And remember, she’s stalls out at about a hundred, so keep the airspeed up or else you’re going to be drifting around all over the sky.”

Title: “AND TIMOTHY DALTON”

The scene shifts to the front of Peevy and Secord.

“…and if the aileron starts to shimmy–” begins Peevy.

“Peevy,” says Cliff, “I have flown a plane or two in my life –”

“Not like this one, you haven’t!” replies Peevy. “This one, this one’s a handful! You sneeze in this thing, and you’ll end up upside-down in the bean field.” Cliff begins his pre-flight walk around, pausing at the tail to dig a piece of gum out of his mouth. He puts the chewed gum on the top of his tail rudder.

“That’s fresh paint, dammit!” shouts Peevy.

“Do you want me to crash?” asks Cliff.

“Chewing gum ain’t going to keep your butt up in the air,” replies Peevy. Cliff climbs into the cockpit, while Goose begins to attach the canopy to the Gee Bee. Peevy helps Secord strap himself in.

“You treat her nice, Clifford,” says Peevy, holding the canopy open, “she’s gonna take us all the way to the Nationals.”

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Tom Gire is one of the principals of Brand X Music, a major music composition house for feature and film trailer soundtracks.  He’s composed and arranged music from films as varied as Pirates of the Caribbean 2 to Transformers: Dark of the Moon. If you’ve seen a movie trailer for a major action feature film, Tom probably put the music you’re enjoying in it. Oh, and he’s also the fellow who created our amazing opening / closing themes!

Summary

Peevy is telling Clifford that if he treats the Gee Bee right, she’ll take them all the way to the Nationals.

“Let’s make some history,” says Cliff.

“Okay,” says Peevy, nodding his head as he closes the cockpit canopy.  The mechanics step away from the aircraft.

“Crank her up, Goose!” says Cliff.

Goose turns the propeller one half-revolution, then tells Cliff, “Make ‘er hot!”

“Hot and brakes!” replies Cliff. Goose pushes down hard on the propeller, and the engine engages. Cliff revs the engine and the plane begins to move forward under its own power. Peevy reaches over to the rudder and removes the “lucky gum” Cliff placed there earlier.

Malcolm walks along with the Gee Bee next to the left wing.

Title: “COSTUME DESIGNER MARILYN VANCE-STRAKER”

Skeets, Goose, and a third airfield hand wave from behind the Gee Bee as  Cliff turns the aircraft onto the runway.  Skeets turns his head away as the prop blast catches them.

Title: “MUSIC COMPOSED BY JAMES HORNER”

The scene changes to a view of  structures alongside the main runway of Chaplin Field. Wooden oil derrick stand in the bean field. Hangar No. 1 shelters a biplane with two onlookers. To the right of Hangar 1 is a white high-wing monoplane. At right is Bigelow’s hangar, with onlookers in the control tower. The Gee Bee taxis from the right to the left of the screen.

Title: “CO-PRODUCER DAVE STEVENS”

The scene changes again to the end of the runway, as Cliff  steers his craft to pivot for take-off.

Title: “EDITED BY ARTHUR SCHMIDT”

Title: “PRODUCTION DESIGNER JIM BISSELL”

Scene changes again, as the camera looks down the length of the runway. On the left are the Chaplain Field hangars and a large red and white racing pylon. To the right of the field are the air race viewing stands. The Gee Bee closes toward the camera in the center of the screen.

Title: “DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY HIRO NARITA”

The Gee Bee slows to turn around.

Title: “EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LARRY FRANCO”

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Cliff is ready for the maiden flight of the Gee Bee, now poised at the end of the runway.

Title: “EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LARRY FRANCO”

There is a swirl of dust as Cliff lines up the Gee Bee to take off.

Title: “BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL ‘THE ROCKETEER’ CREATED BY DAVE STEVENS”

In the cockpit of the Gee Bee, Cliff kisses his thumb, then presses his thumb to a picture of Jenny Blake, taped onto his dashboard.  The picture is inscribed “Love from your ‘Lady Luck’ ” with the name “Jenny” written inside a heart.

Skeets, Goose, and Peevy watch from the grandstands side of the runway.

A close-up of Cliff’s eyes as he adjusts his goggles.

Another close-up of Cliff’s hand, grasping the control stick.

A view looking aft on the Gee Bee, with Cliff ensconced inside the plexiglas canopy.

A close-up of Cliff’s left hand, as he eases the throttle forward.

The RPM gauge revs to 1800.

A close-up from starboard as the Gee Bee has first motion down the runway.

A close-up of the Gee Bee’s wheels as the plane moves forward. A wooden oil derrick stands in the distance.

A wide view from the end of the runway as the Gee Bee accelerates.

Another close-up of Cliff, from the viewpoint of the Gee Bee’s engine.

A wide shot of the Gee Bee as it approaches take-off speed.

Title: “STORY BY DANNY BILSON & PAUL DE MEO & WILLIAM DEAR”

As the Gee Bee passes the camera, the tail wheel lifts off the ground.

Another front-on close-up of Cliff, as the plane is about to leave the ground.

The aircraft passes by the three mechanics, as they stare intently at the take off.

A chase plane shot of the Gee Bee, as it rises into the air.

Another view of the mechanics. Peevy smiles, hesitantly.

A wide shot of the Gee Bee, as it rapidly ascends in the distance. The music score has a crescendo.

Close-up of Cliff in the Gee Bee, smiling as he banks the plane left over the beanfield.

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

In the far distance, the Gee Bee circles Chaplin Field.

Title: “PRODUCED BY LAWRENCE GORDON, CHARLES GORDON AND LLOYD LEVIN”

The camera tracks with the Gee Bee as it passes behind the air race pylon. Two monoplanes seen earlier are parked near the hangars, next to Peevy’s brown Model T truck.

Peevy watches the Gee Bee in the distance, as Goose and Skeets laugh and talk to each other behind him.

Cliff lines the Gee Bee up on the runway and begins a low pass.

A close-up of Cliff as he shouts inside his canopy, “Hey, watch this, Peevy!” He gives a thumbs-up to the mechanics as he passes by them over the runway at about a three-foot altitude. The mechanics cheer as he passes.  Peevy returns the thumbs-up enthusiastically.

A close-up of Cliff smiling in the cockpit.

“National air races, next stop, Peevy!” shouts Goose, as he pats Peevy on the back. Skeets also pats Peevy on the back.

The Gee Bee climbs into the sky in the far distance.

Title: “DIRECTED BY JOE JOHNSTON”

Sunlight shines through the canopy as Cliff turns left over the bean field.

A port-side view of the Gee Bee over the rolling California hills

Title: “LOS ANGELES 1938”

The opening theme ends, punctuated by Lenny, shooting a machine gun from the rumble seat of a 1934 Ford V8 convertible. He is being chased by an LAPD black-and-white patrol car (a 1937 Dodge Touring Sedan) and an unmarked FBI vehicle (a 1938 Ford Deluxe).

Wilmer, driving the getaway car, turns to look back at the police car chasing him. In the passenger seat is a large case with the words “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” etched in gold letters on the top side of the case.

Lenny continues to fire at the police car as the three vehicles race down a rutted dirt road.

In the FBI vehicle, Agents Fitch and Wooly try to see past the LAPD sedan in front of them. Fitch, in the passenger seat, fires his revolver at the getaway car.

“Hey, Fitch!” says Wooly, “Are you trying to save on ammo? Nail ’em!”

“I can’t get a clean shot!” shouts Fitch. “I wish that-”

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Tommy J. Huff as Lenny
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly

FBI Agents Wooly and Fitch are chasing a getaway car driven by Wilmer, while Lenny shoots at them with a machine gun from the getaway car’s rumble seat. An LAPD patrol car is between the FBI agents and the getaway car.

“I wish that black-and-white would get out of the way!” shouts Fitch, as he tries to aim at Lenny.  Lenny shoots the tire of the LAPD car, which blows out, putting the car into a ditch.

With no obstructions now, Lenny begins firing directly at the FBI car directly behind. Four huge bullet holes appear in the FBI car’s windshield.

“Be careful what you wish for!” shouts Wooly. Fitch fires two shots at the getaway car.

Wilmer, in the driver’s seat of the getaway car, ducks as he’s driving. His cap gets shot off, and he ducks lower. Looking in the rear-view mirror, the mirror suddenly splinters as one of Fitch’s bullets strikes.

The mysterious case with “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” on it continues to bounce on the passenger seat.

Wilmer turns off the road from Encino, misses the turn for Van Nuys, and winds up driving across a bean field.  The FBI agents follow close behind.

Just then, Cliff in the Gee Bee clears the tree line next to the bean field. He notices the activity of the two cars below him.

Lenny, in the rumble seat, notices the Gee Bee and aims at it with his machine gun.  He fires at the plane as it passes, striking the engine cowling. The engine noise suddenly becomes erratic.

Cliff looks down at the yellow control stick, and tries to fight the erratic motion of the aircraft.  The Gee Bee rolls left and right. A plume of blue smoke trails the aircraft as it loses altitude.

Meanwhile, the getaway car and the FBI vehicle continue their chase on the road to Chaplin Field. Lenny continues to fire wildly at the FBI pursuers.

Back in the sky, the Gee Bee is spewing oil all over the cowling and canopy. Engine noise is down to an idle.

On the ground, the car chase continues. Wooly is having a difficult time driving, as the windshield is almost completely destroyed by bullet holes.

“This is the third car in a month,” says Fitch. “Hoover’s gonna be spitting nails!”

“Ah, the heck with Hoover!” replies Wooly.

Overhead, the situation is deteriorating for the Gee Bee.  Thick blue plumes of smoke are pouring from the engine, and oil is completely obstructing Cliff’s view through the canopy.

In This Minute

Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Tommy J. Huff as Lenny
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly

Cliff punches a hole through his oil coated canopy. He suddenly sees what looks like an oncoming biplane, but it’s only the top of a billboard advertising Neville Chinclair in “Wings of Honor,” produced by Lawrence Franco and directed by Volmar Fidgge.

Secord does his best to wipe the grime off his goggles as he heads for the runway at Chaplin Field.

Meanwhile, Lenny continues to shoot at the FBI agents while Wilmer drives the getaway car. Wilmer turns off the road into a wooded stretch of land. Wooly turns sharply to the right, attempting to drive ahead of them. Fitch leans across Wooly, attempting to shoot through Wooly’s open window.

“There he is!” shouts Fitch. Wooly pushes Fitch away.

“Get out of the way!” yells Wooly. “I can’t see!”

“Keep driving!” shouts Fitch.  The FBI car swerves between trees.

“Get off me!” shouts Wooly.

“You’re ruining my shot!” replies Fitch, as Wooly struggles to steer the car. Wooly drives the car between to trees, trapping the vehicle and its passengers inside.

Meanwhile, Wilmer drives his getaway car through a wooden fence.

Overhead, Cliff struggles with the Gee Bee.

Wilmer, now on the Chaplin Field property, aims his car at one of the empty hangars.

Above, Cliff checks his instruments. The temperature gauge shows his engine is above 105° C. The engine begins to stutter.

Now entering Cliff and Peevy’s hangar, Wilmer drives his car past the JN-1 biplane, the “The Fearless Freep.” Screeching to a halt, Wilmer grabs the case from the passenger side and exits the vehicle.

“Let’s go, Lenny!” says Wilmer, shutting the car door. “We can’t get caught with–” Lenny looks in the rumble seat, only to find Lenny’s inert body.

“Lousy feds,” says Wilmer.  He hears an approaching vehicle, and sees that the FBI car is still pursuing him. Wilmer glances around, and spots an Hoover cannister vacuum cleaner.

Meanwhile, Cliff is desperately trying to line up on final approach to the runway. The engine is throttling wildly.  Malcolm, Goose, Skeets, Peevy, and another mechanic rise from the bleacher stands. All look concerned.

“Something ain’t right,” says Peevy.

Cliff continues to wrestle the plane into a controlled descent.

Meanwhile, Wilmer attempts to cram the Hoover into the case. He removes the hose and closes the case tight.

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Tommy J. Huff as Lenny
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly

Wilmer closes the lid on the Hoover vacuum cleaner that he’s put in the “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” case.

Meanwhile, Cliff continues to struggle with the crippled Gee Bee, as he makes his way back to the runway.

Wilmer puts the case with the vacuum cleaner in the rumble seat, on top of Lenny’s body. “Sorry, Lenny!” says Wilmer.

Outside, police sirens wail. The FBI car draws closer to the hangar. Wilmer jumps back into the getaway car.

Cliff is on final approach.

Wilmer  pulls out of the Bigelow hangar, with the FBI car close behind. The FBI car is belching smoke and slows to a halt.

Cliff, fighting with the controls, his face covered in engine oil, banks the plane sharply to line up with the runway.  Through the broken canopy, he spots the two vehicles right in his path on the runway. He’s sinking too fast to gain lift, and the engine is near idle.

Fitch pulls out his revolver and adopts a shooting stance next to his car. “He’s getting away!” shouts Wooly. Fitch fires at the fleeing Wilmer.

Wilmer takes a bullet in the right shoulder. He winces, then notices the Gee Bee coming straight at him.

Cliff sees the car, but it’s too late to avoid a collision.

Wilmer leaps from the moving car and rolls into the grass next to the runway. The getaway car keeps rolling shearing off the Gee Bee’s right wheel assembly.  Cliff sets the plane down on its left wheel, then lowers the right wing, smashing the propeller into the dirt. There’s a sea of sparks and flame as the Gee Bee skids along the clay surface of the runway.

Meanwhile, the driverless getaway car heads straight for a Ford truck with the word GAS written on a tank.

The Gee Bee, now a smoking wreck, continues its slide along the runway.

The getaway car smashes into the gas truck in a huge fireball.

Flames shoot out of the Gee Bee’s engine cowling as the craft comes to a halt in front of the control tower. Cliff fights to unlock the canopy. “Get off!” he shouts.

Goose, Skeets, Malcolm, and Peevy run toward the Gee Bee. Goose sprays the cockpit with a fire extinguisher.

“Get him out! Hit the latch!” shouts Peevy. The canopy opens, and Cliff struggles to get out.

“Get the hell out of there, Cliff!” shouts Malcolm. Cliff runs away from the Gee Bee, but then turns around to retrieve Jenny’s picture from the dashboard. “Where are you going?” asks Peevy as Cliff runs back. “Cliff!” shouts Peevy.

After saving the picture, Cliff steps away and looks at the ruins of the Gee Bee.

“Are you alright?” asks Peevy.

In This Minute

William Sanderson as Skeets
Don Pugsley as Goose
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Tommy J. Huff as Lenny
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly

Best known for his television roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in Dynasty which was his first prominent role. His most notable films include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Enough. He portrayed Darren Richmond on the AMC television series The Killing, and played Dr. Alan Farragut in the SyFy series Helix.

And he was the title character in a little film called The Rocketeer.

Summary

Cliff and Peevy survey the wrecked Gee Bee. Frustrated, Cliff peels off his aviator cap and hurls it to the ground. Peevy sighs, raises his arms and says, “Well, that’s the end of that.”

Meanwhile, FBI Agent Fitch watches as his wrecked car is about to be towed away. “Alright,” he says, “Get it out of here.” He’s joined by FBI Agent Wooly, who is having an animated discussion with Peevy as Cliff, Goose, and Skeets listen.

“Wait a minute here!” yells Peevy. “You chase a couple of two-bit crooks across our runway, crash into my pilot, and it’s OUR fault?”

“No offense, Pops,” says Wooly, “but we’ve got more important things to do than get all sweaty about whose fault it was.”

“Listen here, buddy, ” says Peevy, “Building that plane took three years of our lives, and every damn cent we had!”

“Go file a claim with Uncle Sam,” says Fitch. “Who knows? You could get lucky.”

Cliff puts his hand on Fitch’s shoulder. “Yeah, and what – – wait six months? A year? We made a living with that plane!”

Fitch looks at Cliff. “Well, maybe it’s time to get a real job!” says Fitch. He turns to walk away. Cliff grabs Fitch by his suit jacket and lays a right hook into Fitch’s nose.  Fitch returns the punch to Cliff.  Goose grabs Cliff as Wooly grabs Fitch to end the fight.

“Whoa, whoa,” says Wooly.

“You got that one free, kid!” says Fitch. “One more like that one, you’ll be eating soft food for a month!”

Fitch turns to Wooly. “That fly]]> Guest: Billy Campbell

Best known for his television roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in Dynasty which was his first prominent role. His most notable films include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Enough. He portrayed Darren Richmond on the AMC television series The Killing, and played Dr. Alan Farragut in the SyFy series Helix.

And he was the title character in a little film called The Rocketeer.

Summary

Cliff and Peevy survey the wrecked Gee Bee. Frustrated, Cliff peels off his aviator cap and hurls it to the ground. Peevy sighs, raises his arms and says, “Well, that’s the end of that.”

Meanwhile, FBI Agent Fitch watches as his wrecked car is about to be towed away. “Alright,” he says, “Get it out of here.” He’s joined by FBI Agent Wooly, who is having an animated discussion with Peevy as Cliff, Goose, and Skeets listen.

“Wait a minute here!” yells Peevy. “You chase a couple of two-bit crooks across our runway, crash into my pilot, and it’s OUR fault?”

“No offense, Pops,” says Wooly, “but we’ve got more important things to do than get all sweaty about whose fault it was.”

“Listen here, buddy, ” says Peevy, “Building that plane took three years of our lives, and every damn cent we had!”

“Go file a claim with Uncle Sam,” says Fitch. “Who knows? You could get lucky.”

Cliff puts his hand on Fitch’s shoulder. “Yeah, and what – – wait six months? A year? We made a living with that plane!”

Fitch looks at Cliff. “Well, maybe it’s time to get a real job!” says Fitch. He turns to walk away. Cliff grabs Fitch by his suit jacket and lays a right hook into Fitch’s nose.  Fitch returns the punch to Cliff.  Goose grabs Cliff as Wooly grabs Fitch to end the fight.

“Whoa, whoa,” says Wooly.

“You got that one free, kid!” says Fitch. “One more like that one, you’ll be eating soft food for a month!”

Fitch turns to Wooly. “That fly]]> 27:58 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-010-blown-to-hell/ Fri, 05 May 2017 02:05:37 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=397 Guest: Billy Campbell

Best known for his television roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in Dynasty which was his first prominent role. His most notable films include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Enough. He portrayed Darren Richmond on the AMC television series The Killing, and played Dr. Alan Farragut in the SyFy series Helix.

And he was the title character in a little film called The Rocketeer.

Summary

Wooly and Fitch walk over to the ambulance, where two orderlies are strapping Wilmer into a gurney.

“We need a word with the patient — in private,” says Wooly. The orderlies move away.  The FBI agents kneel down next to a heavily bandaged Wilmer, who is wincing in pain.

“Your buddy’s getting fitted for a pine overcoat,” says Fitch. “You make it to County General, Alcatraz is your new digs. Spit it out, Wilmer: where’s the package?”

Wilmer winces, then smiles. “Blown to hell,” he says. “Why don’t you go look for it?” Wilmer laughs.

“Get him out of here,” says Fitch, as Wilmer continues to laugh.

One of the other agents calls to Fitch. The agent pulls a steaming, twisted cannister (the now unrecognizable Hoover vacuum cleaner) out of the rumble seat. “Hey Fitch!” says the agent, “Take a look at this!”

Wooly whistles as he stares at the ruined cannister, now placed on a gray blanket. “Hey,” says Wooly, “that must be the gizmo alright.”

“Okay,” says Fitch, “button it up.” Fitch pops a nickel into the air at Wooly. “Call him, Wooly,” says Fitch.

“Aw,” says Wooly, “Why me? I called him last time!”

Fitch makes a face at Wooly. “But he likes you!” says Fitch.  Wooly groans. Fitch smiles. The other agent wraps the cannister in the gray blanket.

The scene shifts to the all-white interior of Hughes Aircraft’s experimental aircraft hangar. The Hughes H-1 monoplane and a Pitcairn autogyro are parked on the hangar floor. Men in white lab coats pore over blueprints at a large drafting table, while another engineer examines a hanging large-scale model of what will someday be the Spruce Goose.

The camera pulls back, revealing that the view is through an large office window overlooking the work area. A man’s voice is heard.

“There’s no mistake about that, Wooly?” asks the man. “I see. Well, it was damned sloppy!”

In This Minute
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly
Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes

Guest: Billy Campbell

Best known for his television roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in Dynasty which was his first prominent role. His most notable films include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Enough. He portrayed Darren Richmond on the AMC television series The Killing, and played Dr. Alan Farragut in the SyFy series Helix.

And he was the title character in a little film called The Rocketeer.

Summary

Wooly and Fitch walk over to the ambulance, where two orderlies are strapping Wilmer into a gurney.

“We need a word with the patient — in private,” says Wooly. The orderlies move away.  The FBI agents kneel down next to a heavily bandaged Wilmer, who is wincing in pain.

“Your buddy’s getting fitted for a pine overcoat,” says Fitch. “You make it to County General, Alcatraz is your new digs. Spit it out, Wilmer: where’s the package?”

Wilmer winces, then smiles. “Blown to hell,” he says. “Why don’t you go look for it?” Wilmer laughs.

“Get him out of here,” says Fitch, as Wilmer continues to laugh.

One of the other agents calls to Fitch. The agent pulls a steaming, twisted cannister (the now unrecognizable Hoover vacuum cleaner) out of the rumble seat. “Hey Fitch!” says the agent, “Take a look at this!”

Wooly whistles as he stares at the ruined cannister, now placed on a gray blanket. “Hey,” says Wooly, “that must be the gizmo alright.”

“Okay,” says Fitch, “button it up.” Fitch pops a nickel into the air at Wooly. “Call him, Wooly,” says Fitch.

“Aw,” says Wooly, “Why me? I called him last time!”

Fitch makes a face at Wooly. “But he likes you!” says Fitch.  Wooly groans. Fitch smiles. The other agent wraps the cannister in the gray blanket.

The scene shifts to the all-white interior of Hughes Aircraft’s experimental aircraft hangar. The Hughes H-1 monoplane and a Pitcairn autogyro are parked on the hangar floor. Men in white lab coats pore over bluepri]]> Guest: Billy Campbell

Best known for his television roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City miniseries. He is also known for his recurring role as Luke Fuller in Dynasty which was his first prominent role. His most notable films include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Enough. He portrayed Darren Richmond on the AMC television series The Killing, and played Dr. Alan Farragut in the SyFy series Helix.

And he was the title character in a little film called The Rocketeer.

Summary

Wooly and Fitch walk over to the ambulance, where two orderlies are strapping Wilmer into a gurney.

“We need a word with the patient — in private,” says Wooly. The orderlies move away.  The FBI agents kneel down next to a heavily bandaged Wilmer, who is wincing in pain.

“Your buddy’s getting fitted for a pine overcoat,” says Fitch. “You make it to County General, Alcatraz is your new digs. Spit it out, Wilmer: where’s the package?”

Wilmer winces, then smiles. “Blown to hell,” he says. “Why don’t you go look for it?” Wilmer laughs.

“Get him out of here,” says Fitch, as Wilmer continues to laugh.

One of the other agents calls to Fitch. The agent pulls a steaming, twisted cannister (the now unrecognizable Hoover vacuum cleaner) out of the rumble seat. “Hey Fitch!” says the agent, “Take a look at this!”

Wooly whistles as he stares at the ruined cannister, now placed on a gray blanket. “Hey,” says Wooly, “that must be the gizmo alright.”

“Okay,” says Fitch, “button it up.” Fitch pops a nickel into the air at Wooly. “Call him, Wooly,” says Fitch.

“Aw,” says Wooly, “Why me? I called him last time!”

Fitch makes a face at Wooly. “But he likes you!” says Fitch.  Wooly groans. Fitch smiles. The other agent wraps the cannister in the gray blanket.

The scene shifts to the all-white interior of Hughes Aircraft’s experimental aircraft hangar. The Hughes H-1 monoplane and a Pitcairn autogyro are parked on the hangar floor. Men in white lab coats pore over bluepri]]> 24:09 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-011-not-a-chance/ Mon, 08 May 2017 02:05:41 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=399 GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Looking through an office window at a the Hughes H-1 racer, a Pitcairn Autogyro, and a hanging model of what would become the Spruce Goose. Three engineers look at blueprints and take measurements. On the wall, a sign says “Heterodynamic Research Laboratory.”

Howard Hughes is talking on a phone in his office. “Well, yes,  it could have been worse. Right,” says Hughes. He hangs up the phone.

“Was that Wollansky?” asks a government agent.

“They chased it to an airstrip in the valley,” replies Hughes. “There was a wreck on the runway.  The X-3 was destroyed.”

“Well, better lost than in the wrong hands,” says an Army Colonel.

“How soon can you rebuild it?” asks the agent.

“Rebuild it?” asks Hughes. “Not a chance.” Hughes looks at a large folder on his desk with a blueprint drawing labeled “HHAC ROCKET HCX CC-3” dated March 14, 1936. There’s also a letter dated August 1, 1938, addressed to Mr. Andrew M Siegel, Chairman, New York World’s Fair, 12843 Propview Street, Manhattan, New York.

Dear Mr. Siegel:

Hughes Industries proudly announces the development of the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Engineered by the finest technicians at Hughes Aircraft Company, the Cirrus X-3 will allow you to rocket into the future.

On display at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Cirrus X-3 will be viewed upon as clearly the most important technological transportation breakthrough in the history of mankind.

 Tested by the world’s greatest pilots and flight analysts, the aerodynamic Cirrus X-3 will enable man to travel anywhere he chooses.

No longer confined by the terrain,  lack of decent waterways, or overcrowded highways, man will now be able to travel with the freedom he was meant to. 

The Cirrus (blocked by a ribbon) traveling device built with the finest materials available. A soft, yet (blocked by ribbon) suitable for any individual’s proportions, allows the Cirrus X-3 to be fitted to a (blocked by ribbon) and safety, no matter their size. It simply straps into place, and freedom is (blocked by ribbon).

Imagine the places you can travel with the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Adventure and practicality combine to make this latest achievement by Hughes Industries their greatest contribution to rocketry yet. 

So join us, please, at The 1939 New York World’s Fair as we rocket into the future and into your life!

Sincerely, 

Howard Hughes

“My people in Washington will have something to say about that,” says the government agent.

“Your people in Washington want to turn anything that flies into a weapon,” replies Hughes. “Apparently someone else had the same idea.”

“Sir, I’m afraid we must insist,” says the Army Colonel.

“I’ll remind you boys that I don’t work for the government,” says Hughes. “I cooperate at my discretion. Two of my best pilots were killed during the test phase. God knows how many more men would have died if it had flown.” Hughes picks up the folder containing the blueprints and documentation. Behind him is a credenza with a model of the as-yet-unbuilt XF-11 reconnaissance aircraft.

“No, gentlemen – –  I’m sorry I ever dreamed –” begins Hughes.

 

In This Minute

Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes
William Boyett as Army Colonel
William Frankfather as Government Liaison

]]> GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Looking through an office window at a the Hughes H-1 racer, a Pitcairn Autogyro, and a hanging model of what would become the Spruce Goose. Three engineers look at blueprints and take measurements. On the wall, a sign says “Heterodynamic Research Laboratory.”

Howard Hughes is talking on a phone in his office. “Well, yes,  it could have been worse. Right,” says Hughes. He hangs up the phone.

“Was that Wollansky?” asks a government agent.

“They chased it to an airstrip in the valley,” replies Hughes. “There was a wreck on the runway.  The X-3 was destroyed.”

“Well, better lost than in the wrong hands,” says an Army Colonel.

“How soon can you rebuild it?” asks the agent.

“Rebuild it?” asks Hughes. “Not a chance.” Hughes looks at a large folder on his desk with a blueprint drawing labeled “HHAC ROCKET HCX CC-3” dated March 14, 1936. There’s also a letter dated August 1, 1938, addressed to Mr. Andrew M Siegel, Chairman, New York World’s Fair, 12843 Propview Street, Manhattan, New York.

Dear Mr. Siegel:

Hughes Industries proudly announces the development of the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Engineered by the finest technicians at Hughes Aircraft Company, the Cirrus X-3 will allow you to rocket into the future.

On display at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Cirrus X-3 will be viewed upon as clearly the most important technological transportation breakthrough in the history of mankind.

 Tested by the world’s greatest pilots and flight analysts, the aerodynamic Cirrus X-3 will enable man to travel anywhere he chooses.

No longer confined by the terrain,  lack of decent waterways, or overcrowded highways, man will now be able to travel with the freedom he was meant to. 

The Cirrus (blocked by a ribbon) traveling device built with the finest materials available. A soft, yet (blocked by ribbon) suitable for any individual’s proportions, allows the Cirrus X-3 to be fitted to a (blocked by ribbon) and safety, no matter their size. It simply straps into place, and freedom is (blocked by ribbon).

Imagine the places you can travel with the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Adventure and practicality combine to make this latest achievement by Hughes Industries their greatest contribution to rocketry yet. 

So join us, please, at The 1939 New York World’s Fair as we rocket into the future and into your life!

Sincerely, 

Howard Hughes

“My people in Washington will have something to say about that,” says the government agent.

“Your people in Washington want to turn anything that flies into a weapon,” replies Hughes. “Apparently someone else had the same idea.”

“Sir, I’m afraid we must insist,” says the Army Colonel.

“I’ll remind you boys that I don’t work for the government,” says Hu]]> GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Looking through an office window at a the Hughes H-1 racer, a Pitcairn Autogyro, and a hanging model of what would become the Spruce Goose. Three engineers look at blueprints and take measurements. On the wall, a sign says “Heterodynamic Research Laboratory.”

Howard Hughes is talking on a phone in his office. “Well, yes,  it could have been worse. Right,” says Hughes. He hangs up the phone.

“Was that Wollansky?” asks a government agent.

“They chased it to an airstrip in the valley,” replies Hughes. “There was a wreck on the runway.  The X-3 was destroyed.”

“Well, better lost than in the wrong hands,” says an Army Colonel.

“How soon can you rebuild it?” asks the agent.

“Rebuild it?” asks Hughes. “Not a chance.” Hughes looks at a large folder on his desk with a blueprint drawing labeled “HHAC ROCKET HCX CC-3” dated March 14, 1936. There’s also a letter dated August 1, 1938, addressed to Mr. Andrew M Siegel, Chairman, New York World’s Fair, 12843 Propview Street, Manhattan, New York.

Dear Mr. Siegel:

Hughes Industries proudly announces the development of the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Engineered by the finest technicians at Hughes Aircraft Company, the Cirrus X-3 will allow you to rocket into the future.

On display at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the Cirrus X-3 will be viewed upon as clearly the most important technological transportation breakthrough in the history of mankind.

 Tested by the world’s greatest pilots and flight analysts, the aerodynamic Cirrus X-3 will enable man to travel anywhere he chooses.

No longer confined by the terrain,  lack of decent waterways, or overcrowded highways, man will now be able to travel with the freedom he was meant to. 

The Cirrus (blocked by a ribbon) traveling device built with the finest materials available. A soft, yet (blocked by ribbon) suitable for any individual’s proportions, allows the Cirrus X-3 to be fitted to a (blocked by ribbon) and safety, no matter their size. It simply straps into place, and freedom is (blocked by ribbon).

Imagine the places you can travel with the Cirrus X-3 Rocket. Adventure and practicality combine to make this latest achievement by Hughes Industries their greatest contribution to rocketry yet. 

So join us, please, at The 1939 New York World’s Fair as we rocket into the future and into your life!

Sincerely, 

Howard Hughes

“My people in Washington will have something to say about that,” says the government agent.

“Your people in Washington want to turn anything that flies into a weapon,” replies Hughes. “Apparently someone else had the same idea.”

“Sir, I’m afraid we must insist,” says the Army Colonel.

“I’ll remind you boys that I don’t work for the government,” says Hu]]> 16:17 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-012-howard-hughes-said-so/ Tue, 09 May 2017 02:05:48 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=401 GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Howard Hughes is telling two government agents why he’s not going to rebuilt the Cirrus X-3 rocket. He’s sorry he ever “dreamed the damn thing up.” He tosses the folder about the X-3 into the fireplace, and it begins to smolder.

One of the government agents says, “Sir, I’d wish you’d reconsider.”

The Army colonel asks, “What’ll we tell the President?” The cover of the folder is engulfed in flames. Artwork on the cover shows three people wearing rocket packs, flying past the World’s Fair’s iconic Trylon and Perisphere.  The Perisphere has “1939” emblazoned on its surface. The phrases “Hughes Industries” and “Rocketing into the Future” are prominent on the artwork.

“Tell him the dream is over,” says Hughes. “Tell him Howard Hughes said so.” Hughes’s face is lit by the light of the burning folder.

Back at Chaplin Field, Cliff and Peevy are meeting with Bigelow, the landlord of the hangar they’re using.

“What’s this ‘three hundred gallons’ here?” asks Peevy, looking at an invoice. “We don’t burn that much fuel in two years, Bigelow!”

“You burned it up in two seconds when my fuel truck went up,” replies Bigelow. “The truck’s on there, too. It’s all itemized.”

“Hey,” says Cliff. “I didn’t blow up your truck! The guy in the car did!”

“After bouncing off you,” says Bigelow. “Pilots are responsible for a safe landing – – you know that. ”

“Where are we going to get this kind of dough, Bigelow?” asks Peevy. “You know we gotta sell the Gee Bee for scrap!”

Bigelow shrugs. “I’m sorry, fellas,” he says. “I hate to kick you when you’re down — but business is business. I’m out of pocket here!” He pauses.  “Of course, I could always use the old clown act. ”

Peevy shakes his head. “We don’t do the clown act no more!”

“Peevy, Peevy – wait,” interrupts Cliff. “It’s worth fifteen bucks a shot–”

“Ten bucks a shot,” says Bigelow. “Five bucks goes towards your bill.”

In This Minute

Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes
William Boyett as Army Colonel
William Frankfather as Government Liaison
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jon Polito as Bigelow

]]> GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Howard Hughes is telling two government agents why he’s not going to rebuilt the Cirrus X-3 rocket. He’s sorry he ever “dreamed the damn thing up.” He tosses the folder about the X-3 into the fireplace, and it begins to smolder.

One of the government agents says, “Sir, I’d wish you’d reconsider.”

The Army colonel asks, “What’ll we tell the President?” The cover of the folder is engulfed in flames. Artwork on the cover shows three people wearing rocket packs, flying past the World’s Fair’s iconic Trylon and Perisphere.  The Perisphere has “1939” emblazoned on its surface. The phrases “Hughes Industries” and “Rocketing into the Future” are prominent on the artwork.

“Tell him the dream is over,” says Hughes. “Tell him Howard Hughes said so.” Hughes’s face is lit by the light of the burning folder.

Back at Chaplin Field, Cliff and Peevy are meeting with Bigelow, the landlord of the hangar they’re using.

“What’s this ‘three hundred gallons’ here?” asks Peevy, looking at an invoice. “We don’t burn that much fuel in two years, Bigelow!”

“You burned it up in two seconds when my fuel truck went up,” replies Bigelow. “The truck’s on there, too. It’s all itemized.”

“Hey,” says Cliff. “I didn’t blow up your truck! The guy in the car did!”

“After bouncing off you,” says Bigelow. “Pilots are responsible for a safe landing – – you know that. ”

“Where are we going to get this kind of dough, Bigelow?” asks Peevy. “You know we gotta sell the Gee Bee for scrap!”

Bigelow shrugs. “I’m sorry, fellas,” he says. “I hate to kick you when you’re down — but business is business. I’m out of pocket here!” He pauses.  “Of course, I could always use the old clown act. ”

Peevy shakes his head. “We don’t do the clown act no more!”

“Peevy, Peevy – wait,” interrupts Cliff. “It’s worth fifteen bucks a shot–”

“Ten bucks a shot,” says Bigelow. “Five bucks goes towards your bill.”

In This Minute

Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes
William Boyett as Army Colonel
William Frankfather as Government Liaison
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jon Polito as Bigelow

]]> GUEST HOST: BRIAN FIES

Brian Fies is a writer and cartoonist who created the award-winning graphic novels Mom’s Cancer and Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow, as well as the Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Last Mechanical Monster. He’s been a newspaper reporter, environmental chemist, science writer, husband, and dad to twin girls.  Just like The Rocketeer, he lives in California.

Summary

Howard Hughes is telling two government agents why he’s not going to rebuilt the Cirrus X-3 rocket. He’s sorry he ever “dreamed the damn thing up.” He tosses the folder about the X-3 into the fireplace, and it begins to smolder.

One of the government agents says, “Sir, I’d wish you’d reconsider.”

The Army colonel asks, “What’ll we tell the President?” The cover of the folder is engulfed in flames. Artwork on the cover shows three people wearing rocket packs, flying past the World’s Fair’s iconic Trylon and Perisphere.  The Perisphere has “1939” emblazoned on its surface. The phrases “Hughes Industries” and “Rocketing into the Future” are prominent on the artwork.

“Tell him the dream is over,” says Hughes. “Tell him Howard Hughes said so.” Hughes’s face is lit by the light of the burning folder.

Back at Chaplin Field, Cliff and Peevy are meeting with Bigelow, the landlord of the hangar they’re using.

“What’s this ‘three hundred gallons’ here?” asks Peevy, looking at an invoice. “We don’t burn that much fuel in two years, Bigelow!”

“You burned it up in two seconds when my fuel truck went up,” replies Bigelow. “The truck’s on there, too. It’s all itemized.”

“Hey,” says Cliff. “I didn’t blow up your truck! The guy in the car did!”

“After bouncing off you,” says Bigelow. “Pilots are responsible for a safe landing – – you know that. ”

“Where are we going to get this kind of dough, Bigelow?” asks Peevy. “You know we gotta sell the Gee Bee for scrap!”

Bigelow shrugs. “I’m sorry, fellas,” he says. “I hate to kick you when you’re down — but business is business. I’m out of pocket here!” He pauses.  “Of course, I could always use the old clown act. ”

Peevy shakes his head. “We don’t do the clown act no more!”

“Peevy, Peevy – wait,” interrupts Cliff. “It’s worth fifteen bucks a shot–”

“Ten bucks a shot,” says Bigelow. “Five bucks goes towards your bill.”

In This Minute

Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes
William Boyett as Army Colonel
William Frankfather as Government Liaison
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jon Polito as Bigelow

]]> 23:12 The Rocketeer

Summary

Bigelow tells Cliff and Peevy  that they owe him for the destroyed gas truck and 300 gallons of fuel.  They can pay it back, for $5 per show, by doing their flying circus clown act.

“Think it over, boys,” says Bigelow as he leaves the hangar. “See it my way, or see me in court. Ah, the clown suit is in the storeroom — first show’s at nine. Don’t be late!” He gets in his car and leaves.

Cliff shakes his head. “Lousy nickel nurser.”  They both turn and look at the dusty old Miss Maple, a shabby JN-1 biplane.

“Clown act — good thinking, Clifford,” says Peevy, sarcastically. “You just set us back about four years. Plus which, Miss Maple is a flying coffin, you said so yourself.”

“Peevy, she never let us down before,” replies Cliff, climbing up to Miss Maple’s open cockpit. “Besides, I’ll go real easy on her.”

“Number Five piston is shot,” says Peevy, shaking his head. “Nothing left of her but spit and baling wire.”

Cliff reaches into his pocket and puts the picture of Jenny he rescued from the Gee Bee onto Miss Maple’s instrument panel. “I could fly a shoebox if it had wings,” says Cliff. He leaps into the cockpit and yells in pain and surprise.

“What?” asks Peevy. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know,” says Cliff, “there’s something under the seat.” Cliff climbs out and reaches under the cane-lined pilot seat. He pulls out a large canvas package.

“That’s my duffel bag!” says Peevy. “What’d you got in there?”

“I don’t know,” says Cliff, “but it’s heavy.” Cliff climbs down with the package in his arms. “Here, Peev — clean that table off,” he says, gesturing to a nearby workbench with his head.

“Alright,” says Peevy, moving equipment off the workbench. Cliff sets the canvas bag with the word “PEABODY” stenciled on the side of it down on the table.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jon Polito as Bigelow

Summary

Cliff and Peevy have discovered a package hidden inside their biplane, the Miss Maple. Cliff sets the large canvas duffel bag down on a workbench in the hangar.

“Open ‘er up,” says Peevy. Cliff unwraps the canvas, revealing a shiny, metallic device cover with what looks like heat sinks and air vents.

“Oh my,” says Peevy, running his hands over one of the devices two nacelles. “What have we got here?” he asks.

Cliff puts his hands on either side of the device. “Here,” says Cliff to Peevy, “take the bag.” Cliff lifts the device off the table while Peevy moves the duffel bag out of the way. The device now stands on the table, with two tubes projecting out of the base of the unit.

“Now, that’s a piece of work, ain’t it?” says Peevy.

“Yeah,” says Cliff. “What do you suppose it is, a bomb or something?”

“No,” says Peevy, “it’s too complex to be a bomb.” Peevy tilts the device to get a better look a the tubes on the bottom of the machine. “I don’t see any moving parts…” he continues.

Cliff discovers a leather strap with a push button attached to it.

“I wouldn’t touch that if I were you,” says Peevy. Cliff presses the button.

Instantly, a fan turns on inside the device. Flames shoot out the two bottom tubes. Cliff and Peevy are thrown clear as the device takes off for the hangar roof. The device ricochets  through the rafters, changing direction with every impact. It bounces off a tool box, barely misses the prone Peevy on the hangar floor, knocks a hole through some office wainscoting, and  embeds itself, still running, in an office shelf.

Cliff grabs a broom handle and approaches the flaming device to press the button again with the tip of the handle. The machine turns off, and its fan idles to a stop. Cliff puts the broom down, and turns back to look at the device.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Summary

Cliff and Peevy move closer to the device, which Cliff turned off moments ago after its wild flight through the hangar.

Cliff touches the outer cowling of the device. “The housing’s still cool!” he says to Peevy.

Peevy sniffs the air. “Runs on alcohol,” he says. “What’s the damn thing for?” Cliff picks the device up off the chair, and gets an idea. “Hold it, Peevy,” says Cliff, handing the metallic side of the device to Peevy. The back of the device is made of leather, with two straps.  “Just hold it,” repeats Cliff.

Cliff slides his arms through the straps, and then pulls the straps tight. The device is now seated on Cliff’s back. Obviously it’s meant to be worn as a backpack. Cliff locks the leather belt  around himself and looks at Peevy. Both men realize this rocket is a personal flying machine.

Later that evening, the scene changes to Hangar Number Two of Chaplin Field, ‘Lucky’ Lindy’s Flight School. Their motto: “Win Your Wings… … With LUCKY” is written over their entrance.

Someone is sawing metal. A statue of Lucky Lindy is shuddering back and forth and then topples. “Tip her over, tip her over — easy!” says Peevy, as he and Cliff load the statue into the back of Peevy’s pickup truck.

“Watch it!” says Cliff as Lindy lands in the back of the truck. Peevy and Cliff jump into the cab of the pickup and drive off into the darkness. The feet of Lindy’s statue stick out the back of the truck.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Cliff and Peevy drive away in Peevy’s pickup truck with the statue of Lucky Lindy in the truck bed.

Meanwhile, meet Eddie Valentine. He’s at the home of actor Neville Sinclair, in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ennis house, just south of Griffith Park in Hollywood. Eddy is accompanied by his two henchmen, Mike and Spanish Johnny.

“What’s going on, Sinclair?” asks Valentine. “Lenny is dead, Wilmer is wrapped up like a mummy at County General — you didn’t play straight with me.”

Meet Neville Sinclair, a moustachioed Errol Flynn-style actor with a theatrical British accent and manner. Sinclair is wearing jodhpurs and carries a fencing epeé.

“Sorry about your boy, Eddie –truly,” says Eddie, as he waves his epeé in a practiced style. “Now, what went wrong?”

“What went wrong?” echoes Eddie, “It’s the Feds that went wrong! This was supposed to be a simple snatch and grab. What the hell is going on?”

“I didn’t say it would be simple, Eddie,” replies Sinclair, “and  ‘snatch and grab’ is what you’re supposed to be good at. It’s what I pay you for. Now — where’s the package?”

“Nothing’s going to happen with me and my boys,” says Valentine, “until you tell me exactly why this merchandise is so important to the Feds.” Neville closes his eyes and says nothing.  With no response from Sinclair, Eddie nods his head, says, “send me a check,” and turns to leave. “Let’s get out of here, boys, ” says Eddie.

“It’s a rocket,” says Sinclair, not looking at Valentine.

Eddie pauses, turns, and says, “A rocket?”

Sinclair smiles. “Yeah,” says Neville.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike

Summary

Neville Sinclair just told Eddie Valentine that the package Wilmer was supposed to deliver was a rocket.

“Like in the comic books,” says Neville.  “Now, what happened to it?”

“I dunno,” says Valentine. “Wilmer knows. He’s in the hospital, surrounded by cops. Maybe in a couple of days we’ll get to talk to him.”

“We don’t have a couple of days, Eddie!” says Neville. “What room is Wilmer in?”

Eddie looks at Sinclair and laughs. “Mister Movie Star!” says Valentine. “He’s going to walk into the hospital with a smile on his face and a handful of poseys. He’s gonna charm the Feds to death!”

Sinclair laughs as well. “That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” says Neville. Sinclair stands up and idly swings his epeé.

“Who cares what you had in mind?” asks Valentine. “You don’t need my services anymore. You can take it from here. I’ll tell you what: you pay me what you owe me because you’re half a lunatic anyhow!” Eddie laughs.

Sinclair suddenly lunges at Valentine, pressing the tip of his epeé to the base of Eddie’s throat. Spanish Johnny and Mike draw their pistols, but Valentine raises his hand to hold them off from shooting.

“Yes, shoot!” yells Sinclair. “I want that rocket, Eddie. Not next week, not tomorrow — now.”

Eddie remains seated, with the tip of Valentine’s sword pressing against his throat.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike

Summary

Eddie Valentine remains seated, with the tip of Valentine’s sword pressing against his throat.

“We have a deal,” says Neville.  With the tip of his sword, he removes the boutonnière from Eddie’s lapel and tosses it to Spanish Johnny. “Now, you bring me that rocket, and I’ll double your price,” says Sinclair.

Eddie stands, and steps forward toward Sinclair. He points a finger at Sinclair’s face. “You’ll triple my price,” says Valentine.

Valentine leaves, taking Mike and Spanish Johnny with him. “What’s a movie star need a rocket for, anyway?” he  wonders aloud.

Sinclair watches them leave, then tosses him sword up in the air, catching it near the pommel.  He prunes the tops off a vase filled with Calla lilies with one stroke of the blade.  “Bloody amateurs!” he says to himself.  Removing his fencing glove, Sinclair picks up the receiver of a Western Electric Model 102 phone and dials a number.

The scene shifts to a darkened apartment. Neon light filters in from a window facing a brick wall. A Zenith tabletop radio plays opera music. Nearby, a hairy hand taps to the rhythm of the song.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike
Tiny Ron as Lothar

Summary

In a darkened apartment, opera music plays from a tabletop radio. A telephone rings.  A large, hairy hand turns down the volume of the radio. An unseen man answers the phone, while a steaming teacup and sandwich quarters with the crusts cut off sit next to the phone.

“Yes?” says the unseen man.

“Lothar,” says Neville Sinclair on the other end of the call, “I’ve got another job for you — a condolence call.”
Meanwhile, in the beanfield behind Hangar Number 2, Cliff is hammering a metal stake into the ground. Tied to the stake by a chain is Lucky Lindy’s statue, now wearing the rocket pack on his back. Peevy adjusts the straps on Lucky Lindy’s statue.

“C’mon, Peevy,” says Cliff. The two of them hop over the rise of a makeshift trench, with wires running to a guillotine switch. The two men hunker down in the trench, and Peevy puts his hand on the guillotine switch for the wire running back to the statue.

“Here goes,” says Peevy as he throws the  switch to the closed position.

The rocket fires up immediately, lifting the Lucky Lindy statue to a height of about thirty feet. Reaching the end of its chain, the statue begins to orbit the stake.

“Well,” says Peevy, “I”m lookin’ at it, but I –”

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Tiny Ron as Lothar

Summary

In a trench in the bean field, Peevy and Cliff are watching Lucky Lindy’s statue with the rocket pack attached as it orbits the metal stake hammered into the ground by Cliff.

“– but I don’t believe it,” says Peevy, smiling. Cliff laughs.

The circle of  Lindy’s flight path is getting wider. Cliff suddenly notices the stake is coming up out of the ground with every orbit of the statue.   “Peevy!” says Cliff, “the stake!” Peevy grabs Cliff as Cliff tries to run for the loosening pipe.

“No, no! Get down!” says Peevy, “that thing will cut you in half!” The stake makes one more turn and then becomes completely loose. The statue and backpack rockets up into the night sky. Cliff and Peevy watch it fade into a tiny dot among the stars.  They stand up in the bean field, still looking at the night sky.

“We’ve lost it,” says Cliff to Peevy. “I’ve told you I should have tested it myself.”

Peevy laughs. “Haha, yeah – – you’d be halfway to Kansas by now, you chowderhead!”

Unnoticed by Cliff and Peevy, the rocket-equipped statue drops behind them  and heads toward where they’re standing. Peevy finally notices, and he and Peevy  start running away from the oncoming rocket. They both lunge through the beanfield, narrowly avoiding the rocket as it plows a new trench across the field. The rocket bounces along a furrow until it buries itself in a dirt mound.

“Turn it off! Turn it off!” yells Peevy.  Cliff runs to to press the power button on the sleeve of the rocket garment.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

In the bean field, Peevy and Cliff edge closer to the half-buried Lucky Lindy statue, with the rocket pack still running. Cliff reaches over and turns off the engine. The flames stop and the fans wind down.

“Boy, that must have woke up the whole valley,” says Peevy. “Pick ‘er up! Come on, let’s get out of here.” Cliff and Peevy grab the statue and start lugging Lindy back to the truck.

“Peevy,” says Cliff, “You’d pay to see a man fly, wouldn’t you?”

“Ha!” replies Peevy. “You’ve got to be out of your mind.”

“Look,” says Cliff, “I’m talking about making some real money here – – not just ten bucks a show, but enough to get us back on our feet and into the Nationals!”

“Are your eyes painted on, Clifford?” replies Peevy. “This thing is like strapping nitroglycerin to your back. Besides, the feds are mixed up in this.”

“I don’t want to keep it,” says Cliff, “I-I just want to borrow it for a while.”

“Clifford,” says Peevy, “when you borrow something and you don’t tell nobody… they call that stealing, you know.”

“Just a couple of weeks,” says Cliff. “As soon as we can afford a new plane, we’ll give it back. I swear!”

“Clifford, ” says Peevy, “did you see what this thing did back there?”

Cliff stops and turns around. “You’re always telling me what a genius you are, Peev —  fix it!” Peevy puts Lindy’s feet back on the ground.

“We’re gonna need one hell of a lawyer,” says Peevy. Cliff stands the statue upright and examines the chunk taken out of Lindy’s head.

“I think we’re gonna need a hel-” begins Clifford.

In This Minute

Alan Arkin as Peevy
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Summary

Cliff is examining the demolished head of the Lindy statue. He says, “I think we’re gonna need a helmet!”

Meanwhile, at Mrs. Pye’s Boarding House, meet Jenny Blake. Jenny is putting on stocking as she gets ready for her date. A record plays on a Victrola: “You’re a Sweet Little Headache,” sung by Helen Forrest.  Outside, a horn honks.

Jenny looks up at her roommate, Irma. “Who’s is it?” asks Jenny.
Irma looks out the window. “Yours,” replies Irma, disappointed. Irma waves out the window at Cliff, who waves back.

Jenny kisses one of her own fingers and then presses it against a photo of Cliff that’s tucked into her vanity mirror.

Cliff walks up to the front door of the boarding house, takes a piece of gum out of his mouth, and sticks it on the lentil of the door. As he opens the front door, he’s blocked by Mrs. Pye.

“Good Evening, Mrs. Pye!” says Cliff, with a trace of sarcasm.

“You know my rules!” replies Mrs. Pye. “No gentle]]>

Summary

Cliff is examining the demolished head of the Lindy statue. He says, “I think we’re gonna need a helmet!”

Meanwhile, at Mrs. Pye’s Boarding House, meet Jenny Blake. Jenny is putting on stocking as she gets ready for her date. A record plays on a Victrola: “You’re a Sweet Little Headache,” sung by Helen Forrest.  Outside, a horn honks.

Jenny looks up at her roommate, Irma. “Who’s is it?” asks Jenny.
Irma looks out the window. “Yours,” replies Irma, disappointed. Irma waves out the window at Cliff, who waves back.

Jenny kisses one of her own fingers and then presses it against a photo of Cliff that’s tucked into her vanity mirror.

Cliff walks up to the front door of the boarding house, takes a piece of gum out of his mouth, and sticks it on the lentil of the door. As he opens the front door, he’s blocked by Mrs. Pye.

“Good Evening, Mrs. Pye!” says Cliff, with a trace of sarcasm.

“You know my rules!” replies Mrs. Pye. “No gentle]]> 29:18 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-023-o-my-prince/ Wed, 24 May 2017 00:05:43 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=447

Summary

Cliff and Jenny are on their way to a movie theater. Jenny is telling Cliff about how the director “said he liked my reading the best.”

“Oh, you mean you have lines this time?” asks Cliff.

“Just one,” replies Jenny, “but it’s to Neville Sinclair.”

“Ohh-kay,” says Cliff, turning around and facing her. “Let’s hear it.”

Jenny looks up to the sky and says, “O, my Prince! Would that you would drink of my lips as deeply.”  She leans forward toward Cliff.

“And then he kisses you,” says Cliff, frowning.

“No,” says Jenny. “He’s too busy killing someone.” They walk down another flight of steps.

“Now you tell me,” says Jenny.

“What?” asks Cliff.

“The maiden voyage!” replies Jenny. “How did she fly?” Cliff pauses.

“She flew great,” says Cliff. “Landing had… a few bumps.” They walk down another flight of steps.

“Hey,” says Cliff, changing the uncomfortable subject. “We’d better scram if we’re going to catch this Cagney movie.”

“Uh-uh-uh,” says Jenny, ” It’s my turn to pick.”

Cliff looks at her. “Uh-oh,” says Cliff.

“There’s a new Neville Sinclair movie…” begins Jenny.

Cliff sighs. “Aw, Jen, ” says Cliff, “you know Cagney’s better!  I mean, come on, you won’t catch Cagney lounging around in his penthouse, in his underwear, or walking poodles in the park, or  doing any of –”

“… or getting shot down behind enemy lines?” asks Jenny.

“What are you talking about?” replies Cliff.

“A movie,” says Jenny. “Wings of Honor?”

“Neville Sinclair?” asks Cliff.
In This Minute

Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake

A heavily-bandaged Wilmer, in a bed, in traction,  in County General’s Room 323, is explaining to Lothar what happened to the rocket pack.

“I pulled a switch, see?” says Wilmer, as Lothar looms over him in the hospital bed. “I got the package stashed real good! It’s at the airfield – – Hangar Three — in some old plane!”

Meanwhile, the nurse and the hospital guard in the hallway listen to a comedy radio show on a table set. The characters on the show are yelling at each other as the show goes to commercial. The nurse takes a sip of her coffee and looks at the guard. Both suddenly realize the yelling isn’t coming from the show, but from Wilmer’s room. They rush to the locked door of Room 323.

Inside the room, the shadow of Lothar grapples with the shadow of Wilmer and his traction pulleys.

The guard and the nurse are yelling “Hey!” as they both struggle to open the door. The guard finally manages to shove the jammed door open, and both he and the nurse stumble into the darkened room.  Wilmer, now twisted into a pretzel shape, hangs limply from the traction belts. The nurse screams. The guard, pistol drawn, runs to the open window, but sees no one outside.

Next to the open window and unseen by the hospital guard, Lothar’s giant feet scrape along the building ledge.

The scene shifts to an English bulldog walking along a dirt road. The dog is headed to the Bull Dog Cafe, as explained by a large neon  road sign with the diner’s name and the word “EATS” below it.  The Bull Dog Cafe is a bulldog-shaped building, that of a large dog with a pipe in its mouth and the words “TAMALE” and “ICE CREAM” written on its front legs. Between the giant legs is a lighted doorway, the entrance to the cafe.

Inside, the proprietress, Millie, carries a bowl of soup and an order of hamburger and french fries to Jenny and Cliff’s booth.  Cliff is explaining the plot of “Wings of Honor” to Goose, Skeets, and Malcolm, who are seated at the lunch counter.

“… and then, get this, fellas,” says Cliff, “At the end of the movie, he flies over the enemy trenches and he drops a bottle of champagne!”

In This Minute

Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Tiny Ron as Lothar
Kim Sebastian as Nurse
David Pressman as Hospital Guard
Margot Martindale as Millie
Don Pugsley as Goose
William Sanderson as Skeets
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake

Summary

Cliff and Jenny are at the Bulldog Cafe. Seated at the counter are Goose, Skeets, and Malcolm. Millie is serving food behind the counter.  Cliff is explaining the plot of the movie “Wings of Honor” that he’s just seen with Jenny. He mentions that Neville Sinclair’s pilot character drops a bottle of champagne into the enemy trenches.

“Let me guess,” says Goose. “It hits a general right on the head and we win the war, right?” The men at the counter laugh.

“It was symbolic,” protests Jenny. “He wa]]>

Summary

Cliff and Jenny are at the Bulldog Cafe. Seated at the counter are Goose, Skeets, and Malcolm. Millie is serving food behind the counter.  Cliff is explaining the plot of the movie “Wings of Honor” that he’s just seen with Jenny. He mentions that Neville Sinclair’s pilot character drops a bottle of champagne into the enemy trenches.

“Let me guess,” says Goose. “It hits a general right on the head and we win the war, right?” The men at the counter laugh.

“It was symbolic,” protests Jenny. “He wa]]> 34:27 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-028/ Wed, 31 May 2017 00:05:06 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=458

Summary

Cliff and Jenny are at the Bulldog Cafe. Seated at the counter are Goose, Skeets, and Malcolm. Millie is serving food behind the counter.  Cliff just pulled a toy airplane wheel out of Jenny’s soup.

“Thanks, Cliff,” says Patsy. Jenny attempts to clean the soup stains off her dress by dabbing a napkin in a water glass.

“You know, Cliff,” says Jenny, “once in a while, it wouldn’t hurt to try some place new, maybe away from the airfield?”

“Like where?” asks Cliff. “The Copa? The Brown Derby? Why not the South Seas Club, while you’re dreaming?”

“Okay,” says Jenny, holding Cliff’s hand. “How about this: we’ll go out and have a real night on the town after you win the Nationals!”

“Yeah, swell,” says Cliff, “After I win the Nationals.” Goose, Skeets, and Malcolm quietly turn to look at Cliff’s reaction.

“You’re going to fly in the Nationals after all?” asks Malcolm. “Well, I’m glad to hear it — after that landing today!”

Millie interrupts. “How about a warm-up, Malcolm?” she asks, waving a coffee pot. “Huh?” says Malcolm.

Jenny realizes something’s been left unsaid. She looks at Cliff. “You said there were a few bumps?” asks Jenny.

“Boy, I’ll say!” interrupts Malcolm. “She folded like a kite when she hit the runway. We thought old Cliffy’s number was up, what with the fire and all!” Millie whacks Malcolm with a fly swatter. Jenny lets go of Cliff’s hand. Malcolm looks at Millie. Millie glares at Malcolm.  Cliff looks guiltily at Jenny.

“I was gonna tell you,” says Cliff. Jenny exhales, exasperated.

“I didn’t want to ruin your evening,” explains Cliff.

In This Minute

Margot Martindale as Millie
Don Pugsley as Goose
William Sanderson as Skeets
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake
America Martin as Patsy

Summary

Cliff picks up the golden helmet Peevy has made, and examines it.

“He has got to be kidding,” says Cliff.

The scene shifts to a medieval castle. A sword fight is in progress.  Swashbuckling music plays. One of the two men fighting is masked, and  is chasing another man up a flight of stairs. The masked man chasing the other man traps him against a wall, with the point of his broadsword.

“What?” says the cornered man, “Kill me as I stand? I thought you were a sporting man!”

“True!” says the masked man. “I’d hate to stain my legend on a villain such as you.” He uses the tip of his sword to pluck a rose from the cornered man’s lapel. The rose flies through the air, and into the hands of a blonde maiden. The masked man blows the woman a kiss, then kicks a sword from the ground into the hands of the cornered man. The sword fight resumes as the two ascend the winding stairway.  The once cornered man gains the high ground and traps the masked man’s sword with his own sword.

“Prepare to die so that we may learn the identity of The Laughing Bandit!” says the once-cornered man.

The masked man shoves him away and smiles. “Why wait?” he asks.  He removes his own mask with one hand, and his opponent gasps.

A man standing next to the blonde maiden also gasps. “Good heavens!” he says. “It’s Sir Reginald!”

“None other!” announces Sir Reginald, and promptly runs his opponent through with his broadsword. The opponent falls off the spiral stair.

Sir Reginald unties a rope from a nearby cleat and uses the rope  to swing to a nearby dining table. He picks up a silver chalice.

In This Minute
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair / Sir Reginald
Julian Barnes as Charlie / Sir Reginald’s Opponent
Lisa Pedersen as Noblewoman
Peter Bromilow as Nobelman

Summary

Neville Sinclair, as Sir Reginald, lifts a silver chalice to toast a young, blonde maiden.

“Oh my Prince!” says the maiden in an overly emotive voice, “Would that you drink of my lips as deeply!”

Sinclair’s face freezes as he hears the awful line reading. The stirring music grinds to a halt. “CUT! CUT!” yells a director. The castle is revealed to be a Hollywood sound stage. “Back to first position!” says Victor, the director.

Sir Reginald’s opponent, an actor named Charlie, walks over to the director. “Oh, good Lord, Victor!” says an exasperated Charlie,   “How many times are we going to have to do this?”

Victor takes the maiden with the bad line reading aside. “Sweetheart,” says Victor, “Acting is acting… like you’re not acting! So, act – – but don’t act like you’re acting! Get it? ”

“Alright,” says the maiden, returning to her original position on stage.

“Why don’t we try that?” says the director, continuing to walk with her. The maiden and the director pass by two background actors, Jenny and her roommate Irma.  They’re also wearing medieval clothes.

“Boy, oh boy – is she a block of wood!” says Irma, shaking her head. “You know, your audition was so much better.”

“Irma,” says Jenny, “everybody’s audition was better. Does it matter when you’re the producer’s niece?”

“So she gets to play a scene with Neville Sinclair, and we get to play scenery!” says Irma. “I love Hollywood!” Jenny smiles.

“Alright everybody!” says the director, “Positions! And please, let’s try to get it right this time!” A bell rings, and someone yells “Quiet on the set!”

A man holds a clapboard with “The Laughing Bandit, Scene 114, Take 28, Sound Sync, Director Berg, Cameraman Carlson, Date Oct 15, INT X” written on it. He says, “Laughing Bandit, Scene One Fourteen, Take Tw]]>

Summary

Neville Sinclair, as Sir Reginald, lifts a silver chalice to toast a young, blonde maiden.

“Oh my Prince!” says the maiden in an overly emotive voice, “Would that you drink of my lips as deeply!”

Sinclair’s face freezes as he hears the awful line reading. The stirring music grinds to a halt. “CUT! CUT!” yells a director. The castle is revealed to be a Hollywood sound stage. “Back to first position!” says Victor, the director.

Sir Reginald’s opponent, an actor named Charlie, walks over to the director. “Oh, good Lord, Victor!” says an exasperated Charlie,   “How many times are we going to have to do this?”

Victor takes the maiden with the bad line reading aside. “Sweetheart,” says Victor, “Acting is acting… like you’re not acting! So, act – – but don’t act like you’re acting! Get it? ”

“Alright,” says the maiden, returning to her original position on stage.

“Why don’t we try that?” says the director, continuing to walk with her. The maiden and the director pass by two background actors, Jenny and her roommate Irma.  They’re also wearing medieval clothes.

“Boy, oh boy – is she a block of wood!” says Irma, shaking her head. “You know, your audition was so much better.”

“Irma,” says Jenny, “everybody’s audition was better. Does it matter when you’re the producer’s niece?”

“So she gets to play a scene with Neville Sinclair, and we get to play scenery!” says Irma. “I love Hollywood!” Jenny smiles.

“Alright everybody!” says the director, “Positions! And please, let’s try to get it right this time!” A bell rings, and someone yells “Quiet on the set!”

A man holds a clapboard with “The Laughing Bandit, Scene 114, Take 28, Sound Sync, Director Berg, Cameraman Carlson, Date Oct 15, INT X” written on it. He says, “Laughing Bandit, Scene One Fourteen, Take Tw]]> 23:08 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-034-looking-for-jenny-blake/ Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:05:01 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=479

Summary

As the cast of The Laughing Bandit gets underway with Take 28 of  Scene 114, Cliff wanders behind the scene’s wall flats. The voices of the actors fill the soundstage, while the playback music continues.

“What?” says the Sir Reginald’s opponent, “Kill me as I stand? I thought you were a sporting man!” Cliff walks past a stagehand, and slides between several flats.

“True!” says the Laughing Bandit. “I’d hate to stain my legend on a villain such as you.”

“Prepare to die so that we may learn the identity of The Laughing Bandit!” says  Charlie, off-screen.

“Why wait?” asks Neville Sinclair.

“Good heavens!” says the nobleman. “It’s Sir Reginald!” Cliff tries to get a look at the action through a space between the many flats.

“None other!” announces Sinclair as Sir Reginald, Cliff finds another space in between the wall flats.

On set, Neville is once again atop of the dining table, hoisting a chalice to the blonde maiden.

“O, my Prince,” says the maiden now with a more nuanced inflection, “Would that you drink of my lips as deeply!”

Victor, the director, has an ear-to-ear smile over this delivery.

Neville, happy with the new line reading, smiles and toasts the maiden. He jumps down from the table to return to the swordplay.

Meanwhile, Cliff has accidentally leaned too heavily on the unsupported flat, which slowly falls toward the actors on the other side of the wall. The flat narrowly avoids hitting Sinclair, who barely escapes by taking refuge under another table. The playback stops, the crew is telling the gaffers to “save the lights!” and the director stands up.

Cliff sheepishly asks, “Excuse me – – I’m – I’m looking for Jenny Blake?”

The director, exasperated, says, “Jenny? Oh — Jenny Blake? Does anyone know a Jenny Blake?”

Jenny, embarrassed, quietly raises her hand to the director as she crosses over to where Cliff is standing.

In This Minute
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair / Sir Reginald
Julian Barnes as Charlie / Sir Reginald’s Opponent
Lisa Pedersen as Noblewoman
Peter Bromilow as Nobelman
Sam Vincent as Director Victor
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny
Nada Despotovich as Irma
Tom Kindle as Clapper Boy

Summary

Neville just asked Jenny to stay on the picture after he had Director Victor fire her.

“But it’s — it’s really my fault, Mister Sinclair,” says Jenny.

“Have you read for the part of the Saxon Princess?” asks Neville.

Jenny smiles and shakes her head, “No,” she says.

“I think you might be rather wonderful in the role,” says Neville. “I’ll see that you do. Perhaps we could discuss it over dinner? I’ve got a regular table at the South Seas Club,  if you’re not too bored with the South Seas Club?”

“I would love to, Mister -” says Jenny, her tears now gone.

“Neville,” corrects Sinclair.

“Neville,” repeats Jenny, smiling.

“Tonight, then,” says Neville. Jenny smiles and nods. Neville walks back to the set.

The assistant director yells, “Hey, ladies in waiting – – we’re waiting! Let’s go!” Jenny’s roommate Irma walks over to Jenny. The two smile at each other, a]]>

Summary

Neville just asked Jenny to stay on the picture after he had Director Victor fire her.

“But it’s — it’s really my fault, Mister Sinclair,” says Jenny.

“Have you read for the part of the Saxon Princess?” asks Neville.

Jenny smiles and shakes her head, “No,” she says.

“I think you might be rather wonderful in the role,” says Neville. “I’ll see that you do. Perhaps we could discuss it over dinner? I’ve got a regular table at the South Seas Club,  if you’re not too bored with the South Seas Club?”

“I would love to, Mister -” says Jenny, her tears now gone.

“Neville,” corrects Sinclair.

“Neville,” repeats Jenny, smiling.

“Tonight, then,” says Neville. Jenny smiles and nods. Neville walks back to the set.

The assistant director yells, “Hey, ladies in waiting – – we’re waiting! Let’s go!” Jenny’s roommate Irma walks over to Jenny. The two smile at each other, a]]> 0:00 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-039-from-hell-to-breakfast/ Thu, 15 Jun 2017 00:05:29 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=493

Summary

The air show is underway at Chaplin Field. Malcolm and Patsy are selling souvenir programs.

“Malcolm!” says Patsy, “I sold seven!” She hands the change over to Malcolm.

“Oh good!” says Malcolm, “Here you are, honey – – some more.” Malcolm hands a sheaf of souvenir programs to her and Patsy runs off.  He returns to his banter, “Programs! Programs!”

Another lap of planes circle the field. “As you can see, folks,” says the announcer, “Miss Los Angeles is trailing badly. She was down this morning with some mechanical problems. And she may be in trouble.”

Bigelow signs off on another truck load of fuel. He looks at the driver and says, “Park it AWAY from the runway!”

Peevy walks by. Bigelow walks with him. “Hey, what’s wrong with that kid?” asks Bigelow, “I told him nine o’clock!”

“He’ll be here,” replies Peevy.

“If he ain’t in the air in five minutes,” says Bigelow, “you guys find a new hangar!” They walk past Malcolm, who overhears the entire conversation. Malcolm pauses.

“Bernie Howard in the red Great Lakes biplane is really pouring it on now,” says the announcer, “running third, but he’s moving!”

Malcolm looks across the field to the empty Miss Mabel.

“This could end up a three-way heat!” says the announcer.

Meanwhile, Eddie Valentine’s boys are searching for the rocket. They all are walking along the base of the viewing stands.

“I know what Wilmer told Sinclair’s goon, but the rocket ain’t in hangar three, ” says Spanish Johnny to Eddie.

“There’s an old plane in there, alright,” sayd Mike, “but the only thing in it was this.” he holds up Jenny’s “Lady Luck” picture.

“Nice,” says Eddie, looking at the picture. “That’s it?”

“We searched this place from hell to breakfast, ” says Spanish Johnny, exasperated. Eddie looks at him.

“I want you to search it again,” says Eddie. “Start over. Turn it inside out and upside down. ” He holds out Jenny’s picture to the other men in his group. “And I want you to keep an eye out for this dame. She might be the one who knows where this guy is who found our package. Alright?”

“Okay, Eddie,” replies Spanish Johnny. He turns to the other men. “You heard Mister Valentine – – let’s go.”

Moments later, Cliff rides up on his motorcycle, and notices someone else is flying Miss Mabel.

In This Minute

(Producer) Larry Franco as Air Show Announcer
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
America Martin as Patsy
Jon Polito as Bigelow
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike
Paul DeSouza as Pauly
Michael Milhoan as Jeff
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Summary

Peevy jumps out of his pickup truck and heads down to the marsh, to the last place where he last saw Cliff headed.

“Cliff!” he yells. He spots Cliff at the edge of the marsh, sitting in the water.

“Peevy?” says Cliff, his voice muffled by the helmet. Peevy sloshes through the marsh toward Cliff, and unfastens Cliff’s helmet.

Cliff exhales sharply when the helmet is removed. “I– like it!” he says, smiling.

“What in the hell is the matter with you?” asks Peevy. “Are you trying to kill yourself? We don’t know how long this thing stays up, or how much fuel is in her!” Peevy helps Cliff to stand up and they head back to the pickup truck.

“If you want to look around, you use your eyeballs,” says Peevy.  “This thing’s got a rudder on it,” as Peevy points to the helmet. “If you turn your head, you change course. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

As they arrive at the pickup truck, Peevy takes a closer look at the rocket pack. “Boy, you ban]]>

Summary

Peevy jumps out of his pickup truck and heads down to the marsh, to the last place where he last saw Cliff headed.

“Cliff!” he yells. He spots Cliff at the edge of the marsh, sitting in the water.

“Peevy?” says Cliff, his voice muffled by the helmet. Peevy sloshes through the marsh toward Cliff, and unfastens Cliff’s helmet.

Cliff exhales sharply when the helmet is removed. “I– like it!” he says, smiling.

“What in the hell is the matter with you?” asks Peevy. “Are you trying to kill yourself? We don’t know how long this thing stays up, or how much fuel is in her!” Peevy helps Cliff to stand up and they head back to the pickup truck.

“If you want to look around, you use your eyeballs,” says Peevy.  “This thing’s got a rudder on it,” as Peevy points to the helmet. “If you turn your head, you change course. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

As they arrive at the pickup truck, Peevy takes a closer look at the rocket pack. “Boy, you ban]]> 28:17 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-047-you-steer-ill-push/ Tue, 27 Jun 2017 00:05:23 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=501

Summary

Peevy puts his foot on the clutch and tries to start the truck. The starter doesn’t work. The news boys are approaching in their cars.

Cliff is unbuckling his rocket pack, but pauses.  “Peevy,” he says, “put it in neutral.”

“What?” asks Peevy.

“Put it in neutral!” shouts Cliff, as he climbs into the bed of the pickup truck.

“You steer, I’ll push!” says Cliff, as he puts his arms on the cab of the pickup. He ignites the rocket pack, and the truck shoots forward at an amazing speed. The truck leaves the oncoming cars far in the distance.

Eddie Valentine and his boys pile out of their car. Spanish Johnny pulls out a pair of binoculars.

Meanwhile, Peevy is trying to control the direction of the truck as it flies away at a ludicrous speed.

Eddie is crestfallen at missing The Rocketeer. He spots his henchman Mike eating a box of popcorn, and slaps it out of Mike’s hand in frustration. “Get in the car!” he yells at Mike.

Later that morning, Bigelow enters his office at the airfield and hangs his hat on the hatstand. A gaggle of newspapermen follow him into the office.

“How about some background on the flying man?” asks one of the newspapermen.

“Sorry boys,” says Bigelow, “it’s a trade secret. It’s all part of the mystery. Why don’t you, uh, call him Rocket Boy?”

“Nah, that’s lousy!” says another newspaperman. “What about Rocket Man?”

“That’s worse!” says another newspaperman. “How about Missile Man?”

“That stinks!” says the second newspaperman. “C’mon, Bigelow, give us a better name!” Bigelow looks out the window and spots a PIONEER PETROLEUM sign by the bleachers.

“How about — Rocketeer?” asks Bigelow.  The newspapermen all agree that’s the best name.

Cut to a stack of newspapers with “MAN FLIES WITHOUT PLANE” and “Rocketeer Thrills Crowd” on the cover of the Los Angeles Examiner’s PM Final. “EXTRA! EXTRA!” yells a paper boy. “Man flies without plane! Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Cliff, at the newsstand, picks up a copy of the paper.

In This Minute
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike
Jon Polito as Bigelow
Thomas Lee Tully as Reporter
Mike Finneran as Reporter
Doug McGrath as Reporter
Dave Adams as Reporter
Chance Michael Corbitt as Newspaper Kid

FBI agents Wooly and Fitch are in the darkened airfield office of Bigelow. The office has been completely overturned, with files and papers scattered everywhere.

Wooly is trying to make out what’s under the desk. “Gimme some light, Fitch,” says Wooly. Fitch turns on the desk lamp. Bigelow’s body is folded in half, his shoed foot resting next to his left ear.

Wooly jumps away with a start. “Mother of mercy!” whispers Wooly.

“He’s been folded in half!” says Fitch, touching his fedora.

“It looks like he was writing something,” says Wooly. Wooly picks up a pad of paper and tries to make out the impression left by the writing.

“Sixteen — Thirty Five…” he begins.

The scene shifts to a paper from the same pad, but with the words written clearly in pencil. “… Palm Terrace” finishes Lothar as he reads the address. Lothar crumples the paper, revealing a mailbox with that address on it.  Lothar walks up to the front porch.

Inside, Peevy is consulting tables and graphs from engineering books as he plots out a schematic of the rocket pack. The Rocketeer helmet is sharing room on the table. “Thrust is 128… inches per second…” Peevy says to himself, and then looks up when he hears a squeak from the front porch steps. “Cliff?” he calls out. A shadow passes on the front porch.

There are more squeaks. Peevy looks around, and grabs a ball peen hammer.

Lothar’s huge hand tightens around the door knob.

Just then, Cliff rides up on his motorcycle.  He comes to a halt in the driveway.

In This Minute
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly
Jon Polito as Bigelow
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Tiny Ron as Lothar
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord

Summary

Cliff just arrived at 1635 Palm Terrace. Peevy is inside the house with the rocket pack and schematics. Lothar just opened the side door.

Peevy, ball peen hammer in hand, glances over at the rocket pack.

Cliff, climbing the front steps, hears breaking glass.

“What do you want?” yells Peevy at an unseen visitor, “What are you doing here? Get out of here!”

Cliff lunges at the side door, but it’s locked. “Peevy!” yells Cliff.

Inside, Peevy throws the hammer at Lothar, but Lothar ducks and it misses him.

“Cliff!” yells Peevy, “Get me out!” Peevy grabs an aircraft trophy from the mantel, and throws it at Lothar, hitting the giant squarely on the nose. Lothar rubs his nose but keeps coming toward Peevy.

“Peevy!” yells Cliff again,  shoving his weight against the door. Inside the house, Lothar glances at the door.

Outside, Cliff makes a running charge at the door, shoulder-first, but Lothar opens the door and Cliff sprawls across the living room floor.  Peevy jumps on Lothar’s back and throws his arms around Lothar’s neck. Lothar grunts, and grabs Peevy by the arms.

Meanwhile, several FBI cars pull up to the house, one of them knocking over the 1635 mailbox.

Inside, Peevy is struggling to maintain a grip on Lothar’s neck. Lothar spins around, throwing Peevy into an armchair that overturns.

Another FBI car arrives outside, knocking over a dark picket fence. Wooly and Fitch, weapons drawn, advance toward the house. Several other FBI agents have also drawn their weapons.

“Murphy!” yells Wooly, “Go with us!” Wooly ascends the steps to the front door. “Murph,” he says to the other agent, “wait here for the high sign.”

Meanwhile, inside the house, Lothar has picked up Cliff and is banging Cliff’s head through the ceiling.

“WHERE IS IT?” asks Lothar.

Fitch and Wooly stand on either side of the front door. Murphy stands between them facing the door.

“Where’s what?” asks Cliff. Lothar shoves Cliff’s head through]]>

Summary

Cliff just arrived at 1635 Palm Terrace. Peevy is inside the house with the rocket pack and schematics. Lothar just opened the side door.

Peevy, ball peen hammer in hand, glances over at the rocket pack.

Cliff, climbing the front steps, hears breaking glass.

“What do you want?” yells Peevy at an unseen visitor, “What are you doing here? Get out of here!”

Cliff lunges at the side door, but it’s locked. “Peevy!” yells Cliff.

Inside, Peevy throws the hammer at Lothar, but Lothar ducks and it misses him.

“Cliff!” yells Peevy, “Get me out!” Peevy grabs an aircraft trophy from the mantel, and throws it at Lothar, hitting the giant squarely on the nose. Lothar rubs his nose but keeps coming toward Peevy.

“Peevy!” yells Cliff again,  shoving his weight against the door. Inside the house, Lothar glances at the door.

Outside, Cliff makes a running charge at the door, shoulder-first, but Lothar opens the door and Cliff sprawls across the living room floor.  Peevy jumps on Lothar’s back and throws his arms around Lothar’s neck. Lothar grunts, and grabs Peevy by the arms.

Meanwhile, several FBI cars pull up to the house, one of them knocking over the 1635 mailbox.

Inside, Peevy is struggling to maintain a grip on Lothar’s neck. Lothar spins around, throwing Peevy into an armchair that overturns.

Another FBI car arrives outside, knocking over a dark picket fence. Wooly and Fitch, weapons drawn, advance toward the house. Several other FBI agents have also drawn their weapons.

“Murphy!” yells Wooly, “Go with us!” Wooly ascends the steps to the front door. “Murph,” he says to the other agent, “wait here for the high sign.”

Meanwhile, inside the house, Lothar has picked up Cliff and is banging Cliff’s head through the ceiling.

“WHERE IS IT?” asks Lothar.

Fitch and Wooly stand on either side of the front door. Murphy stands between them facing the door.

“Where’s what?” asks Cliff. Lothar shoves Cliff’s head through]]> 0:00 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-051-let-him-have-it-boys/ Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:05:42 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=505

Summary

Cliff is literally in the clutches of Lothar inside 1635 Palm Terrace. The lights of the FBI cars parked out front illuminate the living room.

“Peabody!” shouts Fitch, “Open up! FBI!” Cliff and Lothar look at each other. Lothar tosses Cliff onto a coffee table, then pulls out two handguns. Lothar steps to the front door and fires, shooting an agent on the front porch.

“Get down!” yells Fitch, as the agents scramble off the porch.

“Let ’em have it, boys!” shouts Wooly, as the agents reach the line of cars. A half-dozen FBI agents open up with their Thompson machine guns.

A cascade of bullets comes through the front window. Lothar, expressionless, turns toward the gunfire and shoots back with his handguns.

Wooly and another agent pick up machines guns and add to the fusillade.

Inside the house, the air is thick with gunfire. “Cliff!” shouts Peevy.

Fitch joins in the firing with his own machine gun.

“Cliff?” says Peevy, from under a table. Lothar begins moving across the room, continuing to fire at the front window.

“Clifford!” yells Peevy, struggling across the floor in a prone position.

“Peevy!” replies Cliff, trying to move closer.

“Yeah!” says Peevy.

Lothar continues to fire, seemingly oblivious to the idea that he’s in the FBI’s line of fire. A bullet knocks Lothar’s hat off his head. As Lothar bends to retrieve the hat, he spots Peevy’s schematics of the X-3. He wads them up in his giant hand and makes a run for the back door.

Outside, the FBI continues to pump more bullets into the house. Lothar breaks the back door into splinters, then runs off into the night.

Cliff grabs the X-3 from under the tassled lampshade as bullets spray the walls. Cliff heads for the back door, carrying the X-3, while Peevy follows close behind with a jacket and the Rocketeer helmet.

One of the porch pillars is shot out by the FBI.

Peevy follows Cliff into the night of the back yard. The front porch pergola collapses.

Cliff and Peevy flee their house, running up side alleys next to houses, as the opening bars of “Begin the Beguine” play.

The business end of a clarinet comes into focus, as “Begin the Beguine” is playing at the South Seas Club.

In This Minute
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as Wooly
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Tiny Ron as Lothar
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Dick Warlock as FBI Agent Murphy
Bob Sandman as South Seas Bandleader

Summary

Cliff and Peevy are seated next to the Cirrus X-3, listening to the radio, in the attic “head” of the Bulldog Cafe. The announcer is talking about the exploits of the mysterious Rocketeer.

“And now back to our program of dance band favorites,” says the radio announcer. Peevy turns off the radio.

Peevy rocks back and forth as he’s thinking. “Okay,” says Peevy, “here’s the plan: we’ll call the FBI, we’ll get rid of this damn thing.”

“Peevy, the FBI’s gonna lock us up!” says Cliff. “They think we were shooting at them. What do you think was going on at the house?”

“House?” says Peevy, “We don’t got a house, Clifford — we got a gazebo. Between the FBI and that King Kong gentleman, we’re gonna get ourselves killed over this thing.”

There’s a knock at the trap door of the attic. “Peevy!” says Millie, “Peevy, open up!”

Peevy opens the hatch and peers down at Millie and Malcolm.

R]]>

Summary

Cliff and Peevy are seated next to the Cirrus X-3, listening to the radio, in the attic “head” of the Bulldog Cafe. The announcer is talking about the exploits of the mysterious Rocketeer.

“And now back to our program of dance band favorites,” says the radio announcer. Peevy turns off the radio.

Peevy rocks back and forth as he’s thinking. “Okay,” says Peevy, “here’s the plan: we’ll call the FBI, we’ll get rid of this damn thing.”

“Peevy, the FBI’s gonna lock us up!” says Cliff. “They think we were shooting at them. What do you think was going on at the house?”

“House?” says Peevy, “We don’t got a house, Clifford — we got a gazebo. Between the FBI and that King Kong gentleman, we’re gonna get ourselves killed over this thing.”

There’s a knock at the trap door of the attic. “Peevy!” says Millie, “Peevy, open up!”

Peevy opens the hatch and peers down at Millie and Malcolm.

R]]> 24:03 The Rocketeer https://www.rocketeerminute.com/episodes/minute-056-okay-wise-guy/ Mon, 10 Jul 2017 02:05:05 +0000 The Rocketeer http://www.rocketeerminute.com/?post_type=episode&p=510 Summary

Cliff climbs down the ladder from the Bull Dog’s attic, and looks at Millie and Malcolm. Goose and Skeets are seated at the counter. Malcolm leaves as Peevy climbs down the ladder. Cliff digs a nickel out of his pocket and walks toward the pay phone.

As Malcolm walks back toward Chaplin Field, two large black sedans pull up in front of the Bull Dog. Several men step out of the cars and head into the diner.

Cliff is on the phone. Someone on the other end of the line says, “FBI Los Angeles, Agent Morris speaking.” Cliff turns around and sees Spanish Johnny, Jeff, Mike, and Rusty enter the diner. “Hello?” says Agent Morris on the phone.

Cliff looks back at the phone. “Uh yeah,” says Cliff into the phone, “I’ll be home soon, Honey.”

“Who is this?” asks Agent Morris.

“I love you too,” replies Cliff.

“Okay, wise guy…” says Agent Morris, as Cliff hangs up the phone. He walks back to the counter.

“What can I do for you gents?” asks Millie.

Spanish Johnny tips his hat. “Madam,” he says, “We’re looking for a pilot by the name of, uh, Cliff Secord.” Spanish Johnny looks at the men at the counter. “Does anybody here know him?” he asks. The four airmen stare blankly at Eddie’s men. Peevy has a sip of his coffee and looks away.

“Hadn’t seen him around,” says Millie, holding a pot of coffee.

Rusty leans over Spanish Johnny’s shoulder and talks to the men at the counter, “See, –”

In This Minute
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Margot Martindale as Millie
Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord
Alan Arkin as Peevy
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Michael Miloan as Jeff
Daniel O’Shea as Mike
John Lachiavelli as Pauly