The Rocketeer Minute Podcast

Guest: Screenwriter Danny Bilson Danny Bilson is an American writer, director, and producer of movies, television, video games, and comic books. Together with his frequent collaborator, Paul DeMeo, he is best known as the writer for the film The Rocketeer (1991) and creator, writer, producer and director for the television series Viper (1994, 1996), The […]

Summary Credits continue: “ANY OLD TIME” Written by ARTIE SHAW Performed by ARTIE SHAW & HIS ORCHESTRA Vocal BILLIE HOLIDAY COURTESY OF BLUEBIRD / RCA / BMG RECORD LABELS “IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD” Written by DUKE ELLINGTON “WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE” Written by E.A. SWAN Performed by MELORA HARDIN “NIGHT AND DAY” Written by […]

Summary Credits continue: Neville Sinclair TIMOTHY DALTON Eddie Valentine PAUL SORVINO Howard Hughes TERRY O’QUINN Fitch ED LAUTER Wooly JAMES HANDY Lothar TINY RON Spanish Johnny ROBERT GUY MIRANDA Rusty JOHN LAVACHIELLI Bigelow JON POLITO Malcolm EDDIE JONES Skeets WILLIAM SANDERSON Goose DON PUGSLEY Irma NADA DESPOTOVICH Millie MARGO MARTINDALE Patsy AMERICA MARTIN Wilmer MAX […]

Summary Credits continue: Negative Cutter BUENA VISTA NEGATIVE CUTTING Color Timer BOB KAISER Titles & Opticals PACIFIC TITLE Main Title Graphics by SAXON / ROSS FILM DESIGN, INC. DGA Trainee DAVID SPITZER Production Assistants HENRY H. HAMMOND, KRISTINA H. JONES, DIANA VILKAITIS, DAVID DALE SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS by INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC, a division of […]

Summary Credits continue: Special Effects Supervisor JON G. BELYEU Special Effects Foremen CHRIS BURTON, JIM D. SCHWALM, LARRY L. FUENTES Special Effects Technicians ALAN RIFKIN, RICHARD ZARRO, RON ZARRO, MIKE WEVER, BRUCE Y. KUROYAMA Wire Rigs AERIAL WIRE STUNTS, INC. — BOB HARMAN Aerial Coordinator CRAIG HOSKING Men’s Costume Supervisor DAN LESTER Women’s Costume Supervisor […]

Summary Peevy walks off to talk to Goose while Cliff and Jenny kiss. Bystanders admire the Gee Bee on a sunny Sunday morning in front of the Bull Dog Cafe. Patsy, with a saucepan on her head, chases a boy in a fedora around the front of the Gee Bee. “Rocketeer to the rescue!” she […]

Summary Hughes’s limo backs on to the Encino Road as Cliff watches him leave. Behind Secord, a crowd admires his new GeeBee Model R. Cliff waves to the limo as it drives away, then turns back to his friends gathered around the GeeBee. “Isn’t it pretty?” says Millie. Cliff stands next to Peevy and gestures […]

Summary Howard Hughes is standing next to a GeeBee Model R he’s just taxied to a stop in front of the Bulldog Cafe. A small crowd from the diner has gathered around the aircraft. Hughes is talking to Jenny and Cliff. “Would you excuse us for just a moment?” says Howard to Jenny. “Of course,” […]

Summary   In their usual booth inside the diner, Peevy reads the morning paper to Jenny and Cliff. “Neville Sinclair was killed in the tragedy when flaming debris fell on his touring car, ” says Peevy. “That’s terrible. That was a nice car.” “You look awful blue,” says Jenny to Cliff, “for a guy who […]

Summary Lothar’s  tether, now stretched to its limit, pulls him back to a standstill. Cliff and Jenny run past him. Lothar turns to face the oncoming hydrogen inferno. He holds his  hands up in front of him and yells, just as he’s engulfed by the flames. Meanwhile, in the autogyro, Howard Hughes shouts at Peevy, […]

Summary The explosion of the X-3 has destroyed the last four letters of the famous “HOLLYWOODLAND” sign. D-LZ130’s bridge cabin is ablaze, as the ship sinks toward the Hollywood Hills. Cliff lifts Jenny to the top outer surface of the ship through Hatch #7. He shuts the hatch and looks at her. “Jenny,” says Cliff, […]

Summary On the bridge of the burning dirigible, Cliff struggles to put out the flames. The ship is sinking toward the Hollywood Hills. Neville Sinclair straps the Cirrus X-3 to his back and moves toward the opening on the side of the cabin. “For God’s sake, Sinclair,” says Cliff, “help us get these flames out!” […]

Summary Neville Sinclair  and Cliff are fighting in the zeppelin cabin.  Sinclair just knocked Cliff to the deck with one punch. “I do my own stunts,” says Sinclair. He lunges at the prone Cliff.  Sinclair grabs Cliff by the scalp, and administers a body blow to Secord, followed by a right hook that knocks Cliff […]

Summary Neville Sinclair has a pistol pressed up against Jenny as he squares off with Cliff in the zeppelin cabin. “I’ve had a bellyful of you and your cheap heroics!” says Sinclair to Secord. “Hand over ze rocket, or I’ll blow her brains… all over ze cabin!” Cliff, his head dripping blood,  looks at Sinclair. […]

Summary The zeppelin pilot has just been knocked out of a window by the unconscious Lothar, who is swinging outside, tethered by a safety cable. The unmanned helm controls are swinging randomly. Neville Sinclair stares out into the night, and sees the unconscious, upside-down Lothar swinging from the safety cable. “Lothar!” says Sinclair. The zeppelin […]

Summary The Nazi agent is arguing with Sinclair about how the mission isn’t going as planned. Meanwhile,  The Rocketeer has reached the hatch on top of the zeppelin.  A large “7” is painted on its surface. The Rocketeer pulls out his pistol as he prepares to open the hatch, only he’s surprised by the looming […]

Summary Eddie Valentine watches The Rocketeer head for the zeppelin. “Go get ’em, kid,” says Eddie. The Rocketeer impacts the guy wire connected to the rudder on the zeppelin.  He breaks the guy wire and shuts off his engine, falling to the base of the tail. As he lands on the skin of the zeppelin, […]

Summary Neville Sinclair moves past the Gestapo agent in the control room of the zeppelin. Jenny glares at the agent. Meanwhile, on the hillside below the Griffith Park Observatory, Cliff spots a pistol in the holster of an unconscious storm trooper. Secord removes the pistol and climbs up the hill. Woolly crouches down next to […]

Summary Fitch and Wooly seek cover between parked police cars, while Eddit keeps shooting and retreating back to the FBI’s line. More troopers fall under the hail of bullets. Wooly sweeps his machine gun back and forth, shooting more Nazi troopers. Sinclair pauses, and picks up a German machine gun. “Careful!” yells Wooly, “He’s got […]

Summary With Jenny held hostage, Neville Sinclair, Lothar, Eddie Valentine and his gang face off with The Rocketeer. The thrum  of large motors fills the air.  Everyone turns to look at the sky above the Griffith Observatory. From behind the domes dotting the roof of the observatory, the nose of an airship appears. It’s the Luxembourg, the […]

Summary With Jenny held hostage, Neville Sinclair, Lothar, Eddie Valentine and his gang face off with The Rocketeer  in the plaza of the Griffith Park Observatory. Eddie’s just discovered that Sinclair is a Nazi agent. “I’m paying you well,” says Sinclair, “Does it matter who I work for?” “It matters to me,” replies Eddie. “I may […]

Summary With Jenny held hostage, Neville Sinclair, Lothar, Eddie Valentine and his gang face off with The Rocketeer  in the plaza of the Griffith Park Observatory. Cliff looks at Sinclair, and raises the ignition button on her gloved fist. His thumb hovers over the trigger. Sinclair glances at Secord’s  thumb. “First,” says Secord, “you let her […]

Summary Neville Sinclair, Lothar, Jenny, Eddie Valentine and his gang watch The Rocketeer come in for a landing in the plaza of the Griffith Park Observatory. As Jenny has never seen more than a glimpse of The Rocketeer before, she realizes what Cliff was trying to tell her earlier about just what this rocket pack […]

Summary Howard Hughes’s model of what would become the Hercules “Spruce Goose” sails off into the night. Meanwhile, at the Griffith Park Observatory, three cement figures of Herschel, Newton, and Kepler stare out from the Astronomers’ Monument in the observatory plaza. A Rolls Royce Phantom II LHD Newport Town Car pulls up to the front […]

Summary At Hughes Aircraft, Clifford is explaining that Jenny’s been kidnapped and he needs to use the Cirrus X-3 one more time. “Those guys are playing for keeps!” says Wooly. “I can handle Valentine!” replies Cliff. “The Valentine gang is only hired muscle,” says Hughes. “They’re working for a Nazi agent — someone we think […]

Summary At Hughes Aircraft, Howard Hughes is screening a German animated film for Cliff and Peevy in his office. Cliff watches in shock as the US flag is replaced by a Nazi flag. The The symbolic American Bald Eagle goes up in flames, replaced by the swastika and the German eagle. The camera centers on […]

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 […]

Summary At Hughes Aircraft, Peevy is explaining his reworked design of the X-3 to Howard Hughes. “Just basic aviation,” says Peevy. The office doors swing open. Wooly is berating a handcuffed Cliff Secord. “We’ve got so much on you,” says Wooly, “we’re going to make your life miserable, buddy!” “Good to see you, son,” says […]

Summary Eddie is giving instructions where Cliff should meet them with the rocket, if he ever wants to see Jenny again: 4 AM, Griffith Observatory. “By the statues,” finishes Valentine. “And come alone, or we’re going to have to kill the girl.” Eddie hangs up the phone. Clifford considers his options. Meanwhile, at Neville’s house, […]

Summary Cliff peers through the back door of darkened Bulldog Cafe. He opens the door and steps inside. “Millie?” he whispers. Closing the door, he walks to the ladder that goes to the Bulldog’s attic. “Peevy!” he whispers up the ladder. Cliff climbs the ladder and opens the hatch to the attic. “Hey Peev!” “Hey […]

Summary Jenny is inside the secret alcove of the secret room where she had previously spotted Neville Sinclair. She turns on the radio and attempts to call for help. “Hello?” she says into the microphone. “Can anyone hear me? This is an emergency! Can you hear me?” “Sinclair?” says a voice on the radio. “Sind […]

Summary Jenny is inside the secret room that she had previously spotted Neville Sinclair. She looks at the shelves of books, and tries to remember which one Neville had moved to open the secret panel. Next to “Where Are We Going” by David Lloyd George, Jenny spots a title: “The Conquests of Casanova” and pulls […]

Summary Neville glances at himself in his bedroom mirror. He smiles, then tries to pick something out of his front teeth with his fingernail. “Neville?” calls Jenny from the next room. “Could you come in here, please?” Neville instantly opens the double doors to the room. “Can you help me?” asks Jenny, motioning toward the […]

Summary Neville Sinclair opens a closet in his bedroom. There’s a large selection of women’s clothing on hangers. Jenny gets up from the bed and walks toward him. Neville holds out two negligeés on hangers. “They’re beautiful,” she says. Neville drops one of the negligeés on the floor, and stands behind Jenny in front of […]

Summary Neville Sinclair is sitting on the bed in his mansion with Jenny. “Neville, I’m scared-” says Jenny. Neville puts his arm around Jenny and presses her to his shoulder. “Oh, there, there, there — ” says Neville, “Don’t be frightened.” He kisses her, theatrically. Neville holds Jenny’s head in his hands. “You know,” says […]

Summary Jenny fakes being asleep, while being held captive by Neville Sinclair. Neville turns on a bedside light, and kneels next to Jenny on the bed. He waves a bottle of smelling salts under Jenny’s nose, and Jenny “awakens” with a gasp. “Welcome to my home,” says Neville. He puts the smelling salts on the […]

Summary Jenny finds herself in Neville’s bedroom back at his mansion. A fire burns in the bedroom fireplace. Jenny looks around, then slides to the side of the bed and begins to stand. There’s a bouquet of day lilies in Neville’s bedroom. Jenny continues to survey the room as she walks around quietly in the dark. […]

Summary The Rocketeer  crashes upward through the South Seas Club’s stained-glass ceiling.  Spanish Johnny and Mike fire their machine guns after him, but Cliff is already out of range. Jenny creeps out of her hiding place behind the Big Fish fountain, and heads for the stairway exit from the ballroom. Meanwhile, the Rocketeer streaks across […]

Summary The Rocketeer  is trying to negotiate his way through the smoky interior of the South Seas Club, as patrons scatter.  He tries to steady himself by straddling a large ice sculpture of a snail, but the sculpture slides off the end of the buffet table. The snail continues to slide along the carpeted floor, while […]

Summary Cliff escapes Valentine’s henchmen and Lothar via the laundry chute. His rocket engine still running, Cliff lands on a wheeled towel caddy. He speeds out of the ladies’ room into the ladies’ lounge, and then into the upper level of the main dining room. South Seas patrons are screaming as they dodge out of […]

Summary Neville Sinclair has spotted Secord at the South Seas Club. He grabs Spanish Johnny and Stevie from Valentine’s gang and points out Cliff to them. “Now, go get him!” he snarls, pushing them toward Cliff at the other side of the dance floor. Cliff is trying to escape Lothar across the crowded room. He […]

Summary “Night and Day” continues to play in the South Seas Club, as Neville reads the message from Cliff that was left in Jenny’s soup. Neville scans the crowd for Jenny, but doesn’t see her. Meanwhile, under the Big Fish fountain, Cliff is talking to Jenny. “Now, go on, scram, get out of here,” he […]

Summary “Night and Day” continues to play in the South Seas Club, as Cliff continues to explain to Jenny what’s going on, as they crouch underneath the Big Fish fountain. “They have your picture, the one from the Gee Bee” says Cliff. “Jenny, prepare yourself for a shock: I’m The Rocketeer.” “The Rocke-who?” asks Jenny. […]

Summary Neville Sinclair isn’t too sure about this waiter at the South Seas Club. But Jenny is sure – – it’s Cliff, spying on them. “So,” says Neville to Jenny, “Please go on.” Cliff nervously adjusts the flowers on the table. “Where is he now?” asks Sinclair. “He’s probably hatching – – some hare-brained scheme, […]

Summary Jenny is explaining to Neville Sinclair what Clifford is like, while Neville and Jenny dine at the South Seas Club. “He can be pretty thoughtless sometimes, ” says Jenny, “and then he can turn around, and be the sweetest guy in the world.” Jenny smiles at Neville.  Neville smiles back. “He gave me these little […]