Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines is a 1965 British epic period comedy film that satirizes the early years of aviation. The film is about a London publisher who, hoping to push Britain to the forefront of aviation, organizes an international air race across the English Channel, but must contend with two entrants vying for his daughter, as well as national rivalries and cheating. Directed by Ken Annakin. Written by Ken Annakin and Jack Davies. or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes  taglines Richard Mays Uh, Newton, may I have a word with you? I think I should mention... that if you continue to make advances to my fiancée, I shall knock your block off. Champagne? Lord Rawnsley The trouble with these international affairs is that they attract foreigners. Count Emilio Ponticelli Like-a Caesar, we go to England! Count Manfred Von Holstein [reading from flight instruction manual] Number one: Sit down. There is nothing a German officer cannot do. Captain Rumpelstoss [reading letter] "His Imperial Majesty the Kaiser commands... that a German officer wins the London-Paris air race. You will make arrangements accordingly." Sir Percy Ware-Armitage [to Orvil] You caused me to crash my flying machine. I therefore intend giving you a jolly good thrashing. Ready? Tremayne Gascoyne The fabulous Sir Percy took off for Paris two hours ago. He's so far in the lead, nothing can stop him. Nothing at all. Ha! Vive Sir Percy! What am I saying? He's a most ghastly person. Dialogue [Neanderthal Man watches a gull flying over a beach] Narrator: Ever since man started to think, he's wanted to fly. But flying was strictly for the birds. [Neanderthal Man flaps his arms enthusiastically and leaps from a sandy bluff and falls onto the beach below] Narrator: And continued to be so for thousands of years. [in ancient Greece, a man wearing makeshift wings is forced at sword point off a temple roof] Narrator: Man, eternally optimistic, kept trying. [a man in medieval times, also in man-made wings, jumps from a cliff, after which a variety of failed experimental flying machines from the late 1800s are depicted] Narrator: Encouraged by his many successes, man kept trying. Through his genius and his inventiveness, he managed to get his machines off the ground - and sometimes, he brought them down again. [Count Emilio Ponticelli is seen starting his flying machine] Narrator: All over the world, early pioneers were making flying history. And in Italy, Count Emilio Ponticelli made what many people claim was the first long-distance flight. [the screen widens, as Ponticelli is seen crashing about 100 feet after taking off] Narrator: There was no doubt about it; by nineteen hundred and ten, flying had become the rage - man had conquered the air, and people everywhere were all agog about those magnificent men in their flying machines. Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: I've given the Frenchman the address of a very lovely young lady. Courtney: Oh, ho, ho - I'll bet she's a bit of all right, guv'nor. Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: You should know - she's your daughter. Courtney: But guv'nor - she's an innocent young girl! Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: Not is, Courtney - was! Captain Rumpelstoss: But... how will I learn to fly? Count Manfred Von Holstein: Same way as we learn everything else in the German army: From the book of instructions! Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: I'm not only going to join it, dear boy. I'm going to win it. Patricia Rawnsley: Do you really think you have a chance, Sir Percy? Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: Miss Rawnsley, I never leave anything to chance. Lord Rawnsley: I believe if the Lord had intended me to fly, he would have given me wings. Patricia Rawnsley: You travel by train, father, but you haven't any wheels. Count Emilio Ponticelli: It is a pity that the race will now be won by a Protestant. Mother Superior: Protestant?... Sisters, don't stand around gaping - this good Catholic needs our help! Colonel: [watching Mays take off after having helped him return to the race] I think I'll get one of those, Muriel. Colonel's Wife: I shouldn't, Willie - you're near enough to your wings as it is. Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: You dirty rotter! I had hoped that I should be dealing with a gentleman. Trawler Skipper: So had I. Orvil Newton: Say, do you know that you are very beautiful? Patricia Rawnsley: Oh, yes, I know I am. I also have a very good figure, I'm rich... and I'm in love with an extremely handsome man. Orvil Newton: Mmm. Is he in love with you? Patricia Rawnsley: Well, I think so. Orvil Newton: Well, hasn't he told you? Patricia Rawnsley: Well, no. No, not exactly. I mean, yes. Yes, he has. Courtney: You're not going... You're not going to sabotage it, governor? Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: I certainly am not. [pause] You are. Taglines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes 20th Century-Fox Presents The Motion Picture That Sets Comedy Ahead 100 Years! Cast Stuart Whitman - Orvil Newton Sarah Miles - Patricia Rawnsley James Fox - Richard Mays Alberto Sordi - Count Emilio Ponticelli Robert Morley - Lord Rawnsley Gert Fröbe - Colonel Manfred von Holstein Jean-Pierre Cassel - Pierre Dubois Irina Demick - Brigitte, Ingrid, Marlene, Françoise, Yvette, Betty Red Skelton - Neanderthal Man, Roman Birdman, Middle Ages Inventor, Victorian-era Pilot, Rocket Pack Inventor, Modern Airline Passenger Terry-Thomas - Sir Percy Ware-Armitage Eric Sykes - Courtney Benny Hill - Fire Chief Perkins Yūjirō Ishihara - Yamamoto (voice dubbed by James Villiers) Flora Robson - Mother Superior Karl Michael Vogler - Captain Rumpelstrosse Sam Wanamaker - George Gruber Tony Hancock - Harry Popperwell Eric Barker - French Postman Maurice Denham - Trawler Skipper Fred Emney - Colonel Cicely Courtneidge - Muriel the Colonel's wife Gordon Jackson - MacDougal Davy Kaye - Jean John Le Mesurier - French Painter Jeremy Lloyd - Lieutenant Parsons Zena Marshall - Countess Sophia Ponticelli Millicent Martin - Air Hostess Eric Pohlmann - Italian Mayor Marjorie Rhodes - Waitress Norman Rossington - Assistant Fire Chief Willie Rushton - Tremayne Gascoyne Graham Stark - Fireman Jimmy Thompson - Photographer Michael Trubshawe - Niven Ronnie Stevens - Reporter Ferdy Mayne - French Official Vernon Dobtcheff - French Team Member James Robertson Justice - Narrator External links 0059797 those_magnificent_men_in_their_flying_machines Category:1965 films Category:British comedy films Category:Adventure films Category:Epic films Category:Films set on airplanes Category:Period films