[46][dead link], Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens acknowledged he was "satisfied with 70% of the film"[7] and highly praised Joe Johnston's direction. ", Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, "Comic Book Artist Magazine #15 - Dave Stevens Interview - TwoMorrows Publishing", "Cinefantastique - The Authorized Dave Stevens Web Site", "Ryan Phillippe tries to shake his heartthrob image", "Rocketeer, The | Reelviews Movie Reviews", "Iconic roadside relic "Bulldog Cafe" saved from destruction", http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.10318/.f, "Summer movie toys and product spin-offs", "Deb's Digest: D23 The Official Community for Disney Fans Archives", "At Age 65, the El Capitan Gets a Major Face Lift". I also thought Joe's casting choices were excellent. [25] An extensive product line followed of computer games,[Note 8][Note 9] toys, posters, trading cards, pins, patches, buttons, T-shirts, and children's clothing, licensed to coincide with the film's opening. The new advertising campaign was being designed while the British promotional campaign for the film was already under way and some theaters still had the stylized United States film poster. In pre-release publicity, Campbell had been touted as the perfect Cliff Secord lookalike with allusions to stepping out of a comic book page. [52], Although the calls for a sequel remain unrequited, as with many films of this genre, the film has built up a cult following [52] in both the United States and Japan, where until 2008, Medicom, a major toy manufacturer, issued two versions of 12" poseable action figures and replica helmets based on the film. Stevens liked that "their ideas for The Rocketeer were heartfelt and affectionate tributes to the 1930s movie serials with all the right dialogue and atmosphere. Johnny Depp was Disney's favorite choice,[8] while Paxton commented he came "really close" to getting the lead. Development for The Rocketeer started as far back as 1983, when Stevens sold the film rights. He was an actor, known for Last Man Standing (1996), Road House (1989) and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). But those scripts were thrown out and we were always brought back on. To his credit, Joe did not fill out the cast with a bunch of Beverly Hills, 90210 Barbie and Ken-type kids". Their plan was to make the film a complete homage to Republic's Commando Cody serials, and use a cast largely associated with character actors. His heroic deeds soon attract the attention of Howard Hughes and the FBI, who are hunting for the missing jet pack, as well as the Nazi operatives that stole it from Hughes. Steve Miner and William Dear considered directing The Rocketeer before Johnston signed on. He died on November 28, 2019 in Santa Clarita, California. Sinclair then sends his monstrous assistant, Lothar, to search the airfield for Cliff. The film's plot sees the lead take on the mantle of The Rocketeer after Cliff Secord has gone missing while fighting the Nazis. [13] Vincent D'Onofrio turned down the role[14] and the filmmakers were forced to continue their search. However, Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg switched the film to a Walt Disney Pictures release. [30], The Rocketeer had its premiere at the 1,100 seat El Capitan Theatre on June 19, 1991. "In those days, no studio was interested at all in an expensive comic book movie. The music for The Rocketeer was composed and conducted by James Horner. The newsreel press and Valentine's gangsters all see him from the airshow audience, whereupon "The Rocketeer" becomes a media sensation, but also sets Sinclair and the FBI on Cliff's tail. But those scripts were thrown out and we were always brought back on". At night, while enjoying a nice chicken dinner and listening to an opera, Lothar receives a call from his boss, Neville Sinclair for a special job. [8] The sequence where Cliff rescues Malcolm was adapted shot-for-shot from Stevens' comic book. "I was on the set day and night," Stevens reflected, "from pre-production till post-production! Music by Sinclair dons the rocket pack and flies off, but the leaked fuel causes the rocket pack to catch on fire, causing Sinclair to plummet to his death on fire behind the HOLLYWOODLAND sign; the resulting explosion destroys the "LAND" part of the sign. Rocketeer eventually grossed only $46.6 million in US box office, making it a commercial disappointment. The Rocketeer is a 1991 film period superhero adventure film distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in the USA, and by Touchstone Pictures internationally and based on the character of the same name created by comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens, who also served as a co-producer. Tiny Ron Biography, Bio, Profile, pictures, photos from Netglimse.com Stevens asked Johnston for one week to produce a good helmet design. However, Bilson and DeMeo argued that the success of the Indiana Jones trilogy proved that ticketgoers would enjoy an adventure film set in the 1930s, and the studio finally agreed. [8] Both Campbell and Connelly were contracted for sequels, Campbell for two more and Connelly for only one. "The overall spirit and sweetness of the series is still there, intact", Stevens remembers. Noting the passing of Tiny Ron Taylor - - Lothar / Farmhand from The Rocketeer, age 71. Disney finally greenlighted The Rocketeer after Bilson and De Meo’s third major rewrite. This article is about the film. [N 1] Cliff proceeds to and infiltrates the South Seas Club but is nearly trapped by Valentine's gang, and in the ensuing melée, Jenny is kidnapped by Sinclair. Comic book writer/artist Dave Stevens created the Rocketeer in 1982 and immediately viewed the character as an ideal protagonist for a film adaptation. Johnston eventually convinced Disney otherwise. [49] The Rocketeer Minute began in April 2017 and completed its run in September 2017. The film was released on June 21, 1991, and received positive reviews from critics. [7], The original production budget was set at $25 million, but rose to $35 million. The part of Neville Sinclair was offered to Jeremy Irons and Charles Dance before Timothy Dalton accepted the role. [8] DeMeo said. They really tried to shoehorn it into a kiddie property so they could sell toys. Director Joe Johnston and creator Dave Stevens believed Campbell was perfect for the role, but Disney wanted an A-list actor. Screenwriters Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo had creative differences with Disney, causing the film to languish in development hell. [7] In 1985 Stevens gave writers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo a free option on The Rocketeer rights. June 21, 1991 Additional scenes were shot at Bakersfield. [6] Remaining visual effects footage took place at ILM's headquarters in San Rafael and Air Force Base. The part was his". The FBI agents mention that they are tracking a Nazi spy in Hollywood, whom Cliff realizes to be Sinclair. [33] The film's musical score, compiled and produced by James Horner, was released in both audio cassette and CD variants. The infuriated Valentine and his gang turn their weapons on the seemingly off-guard Sinclair and Lothar, but Sinclair summons a troop of heavily armed Nazi S.A. hidden at the observatory. 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