Men with Wings

I saw this movie as a ten-year old, and it made a profound impression on me regarding the dedication and sacrifices of the men who were involved in the development of aircraft and powerplants in the early days when aviation was in its infancy.

I would like to see it converted to video and made available again.

It seems to me that I heard or read that this was the first color movie ever. It seems improbable that it is the first as The Adventures of Robin Hood with Erroll Flynn came out this same year and the color in it is remarkable! Anybody know whether it is the first color movie that was made? I recorded this movie from a television broadcast years ago. The station showed the original color version which was dreadful. The characters could hardly be recognized. The colors smeared into mostly pastels of pink, yellow, and green. Then the station later broadcast an enhanced version, which I also recorded. I think I still have both copies although today they would be very old VHS tapes.

I guess I'll have to drag them out to see if they are worth watching again.

I saw 'Men With Wings' when I was about 10 years old and it started a life- long interest in aviation. In 1964 I bought myself a 1932 bi-plane (a Spartan Arrow) and I still have it, although my son flies it more than I do these days. I have flown many airplanes in my lifetime including a Vultee Valiant, a DC3 (Dakota) many Tiger Moths and Piper Cubs (on floats) and many more. I have had an article on my airplane published in the February issue of Aeroplane and one on flying the Vultee Valiant in 'Flypast'. I have not seen 'Men With Wings' since that first time, and would love to see it again. If anyone has it on video(pal) or DVD, I would love to buy a copy. Ray Blain

This movie ruined my life! I, too, first saw this movie when I was 9 years old and have never forgotten it. It only hooked me on flying and led to a 30 year career in aviation. I would be love to find a copy of if there is one extant. As I remember it, it was in vivid color and had an outstanding cast. I understand that it has not been copied to video. Too bad, at age 74 I still remember the line by Walter Abel as the fatally burned Nick Ranson (and father of Virginia Weidler's Peggy Ranson) ... "Tell them, when they crash, to turn off the switches!" In 52 years of flying, I have never crashed, but I always turned off the ignition. :-)

I agree with your other viewers--a very well made action film. I saw this when I was 8 years old and loved it--even though some of the crash scenes were scary. I did see it on TV once, perhaps 10 or 15 years ago, so I think the negative still exists. AMC should be encouraged to broadcast it.