4 Years of Thunder (3 DVD Set)

[catch22]

The Codster spurred me on to track this little baby down on a previous thread ..... can't seem to find it now. Odd ? ... but I recall something about the title being cheap.

So I sprang into action and got myself a copy. For anyone who loves lots of archival film footage of the WW1 air war (and earlier pioneer aviators)this has got it along with well done CGI and flying replicas. 4 hours worth of heaven and highly recommended.

[spooky74]

great series, got it on VHS, yes VIDEO, quiet a few years ago. Awsome doco. Look at WW1 in Colour as well. It has a specific section on the Air War. http://www.amazon.com/World-War-Color-Kenneth-Branagh/dp/B0007N4AW4 Another great doco to watch if your as obsessed with WW1 as much as I am. :ernae:

[catch22]

Couldn't agree more spooky. I'm lucky enough to have the "Blood in the Air" episode :ernae: No self respecting WW1 nut would be without it ;)

[Murray Cod]

glad you like it, and it is certainly worth much more than what they are selling it for

[spooky74]

another good watch is the 1977 film "Aces High" with Malcom Mcdowel. If you can get past a few historical stuff ups its not a bad view on the short life span and stress that these knights of the air went through.

http://www.mininova.org/com/1611118

[Stickshaker]

I couldn’t find the thread on the ‘Dogfights’ series, but here is something that may be new to some of you. I live in the Netherlands and ordered the series although it had the U.S. area DVD code. But it works perfectly on my DVD recorder. Now my machine can read both NTSC and PAL formats but still I was surprised. I had counted on having to convert the DVD’s to another area code but that was not necessary. It may not work like this for everyone, but if you want to buy ‘Dogfights’ and live in Europe it may be worth finding out the specifics of your DVD machine.

[gimpyguy]

I tried tracking down the Four Years of Thunder DVD set, I found it, but unless you live in OZ, you're out of luck

I'm thinking of starting a thread to go STICKY, with the available DVD's of an aviation theme. Hmmmmmm

One problem, being prohibatively high $$$ cost, as some of the films have over the years developed a cult following, or originaly had a very low production run

Don't know how your tastes run, but anything over $14 for a used DVD, is expensive in my book. But for those born with a silver spoon clenched in their teeth, I'll list the more expensive titles.

[Parky]

9 of 'em available at the link. Brand new, sealed in the box. $17 Aussie for shipping to the US.


http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Years-of-Thunder-Boxset-3-DVD-NEW_W0QQitemZ270276267937QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3 286.m20.l1116

[gimpyguy]

Before you go running off in that direction, there's the little matter of Zones to contend with, can the player IN your computer play all zones.

Is your external machine in the living room a Universal Machine, all things that Must be considered, prior to letting Master Card talk :kilroy:

[RNAS_Flyer]

I struck lucky about 2 weeks ago on ebay there were 8 of these box sets going for 8 GBP and 6 GBP postage.Wanted to post on the site to let you guys know but it was the day when the site crashed. Anyway as long as you have a multi region dvd player then it will work ok,I think these box sets are region 4 issues,regards Paul

[Parky]

Before you go running off in that direction, there's the little matter of Zones to contend with, can the player IN your computer play all zones.

Is your external machine in the living room a Universal Machine, all things that Must be considered, prior to letting Master Card talk :kilroy:


Gimpy,

Before you go off...most 12 yr olds I know are capable of getting around zone restrictions on a DVD. Mind you, most of 'em know more about computers than the average adult does.

Cheers,

Parky

[gimpyguy]

Well, I guess that's proof positive that I'm older than 12. Because when I get no picture, I think of it as broken. :ernae:

[Parky]

LOL.....Happy Thanksgiving!

[Legion]

The Codster spurred me on to track this little baby down on a previous thread ..... can't seem to find it now. Odd ? ... but I recall something about the title being cheap.

So I sprang into action and got myself a copy. For anyone who loves lots of archival film footage of the WW1 air war (and earlier pioneer aviators)this has got it along with well done CGI and flying replicas. 4 hours worth of heaven and highly recommended.


I first heard of it on this forum, & bought my copy on E-bay Had to wait a bit, as it had to come from australia,

but boy, WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT!

Excellent footage, even showing: immellmann, Boelke, pergaud etc. etc.. I didnt know that the Wright brothers were so anti Curtis with all those law suits, Plus those pioneering days in aviation in france pre-war. AND all the footage showing the albatros construction in the factory.

Even the replicas are good, with all the pilots & ground crews in period costumes & vehicles.

My advice is - GET IT you'll be glad that you did:applause:


DVD's from Australia are usually Region 4 - check that your dvd player is multi region, & can run them before buying otherwise you'll be stuck!!

[Legion]

Couldn't agree more spooky. I'm lucky enough to have the "Blood in the Air" episode :ernae: No self respecting WW1 nut would be without it ;)


Very true, Another excellent Dvd - in the uk a while ago, a national newspaper (I cant remember which one,) gave the whole series away free - one each day - I couldnt get a copy of the newspaper at the time, as when i got to the newsagents they'd sold out!

Had to get mine on e-bay instead :jump:

[catch22]

I watched The Great Waldo Pepper last night on free-to-air for the very FIRST time:costumes: Strange but true lol. It's corny and cliched but who cares ..... there's some great aerial scenes. And the planes of course are the real stars.

[gimpyguy]

All's you need now it to catch "Hell's Angels" free over the air, and you'll have the package

For those who can't get ahold of '4 Years of Thunder'

You'll just need to substatute, it's more work for you, and the screen is awfully small

But the price is right

http://www.raindesert.com/great_war/great_war_index.htm :kilroy:

Well it used to work Free, now at www.raindesert.com (http://www.raindesert.com) the guy is selling it as 2 DVD's for $12
Sooo who knew ?

And he has vanished into thin air . . these things happen

[gimpyguy]

While the link no longer works, the films still exist on U-tube,.........All of them, but not in order, the numbers of the film- correspond to the list, there's 7 pages of'em

Just type in . . . Great War in the Air. . . and Search :applause::applause::applause:

[Legion]

What about the other good old classic:- The Dawn Patrol, with David Niven, Errol Flynn & Basil Rathbone... you cant forget that one!

[catch22]

And there was also a 1930 version of Dawn Patrol (aka as Flight Commander) with Dougie Fairbanks Jnr and Richard Barthelmess. I remember seeing it as a kid and it had far more impact on me than the Flynn version (which is still good, I have it on dvd but is somehow not as gritty as the original). I believe they also used flying scenes from the original in the re-make.

But it's a lost treasure. I've not been able to secure a copy. DAMNATION ! So many WW1 related films/shorts/serials/doco's made in the golden age of aviation in the 20's/30's (and/or actual footage from WW1) are gone forever :banghead:

IT'S A TRAGEDY :crybaby:

[gimpyguy]

Those old Films, shot right after WWI, and into the 1930's are gone forever, as the celluliod the film is made of itself, decomposes over time.

The same reason why you want your wedding pictures on DVD. Because Forty years in the future ( if you remain married ) that VCR tape WILL be unplayable, while it won't decompose, it WILL become too brittle to be streched across the heads in your VCR Machine

The older films, could be saved once. Depending on the conditions of storage, some could last 40 years. The film itself was photographed, frame, by frame. Put on new movie film, then made into a DVD.
A very expensive process. So expensive, that only a few were saved.

One example is the movie "Hell's Angels" filmed in 1930, Produced by Howard Hughes, the eccentric Billionaire, who died in the 1980's.
He payed from his pocket, to have the movie restored.
And we're lucky he did !!!

http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Hughes-Hells-Angels-Lyon/dp/B0002MHE1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1223909290&sr=1-1
Filmed prior to CGI, or dazzeling special effects, the real thing is used.
When nine German Fighters abreast take off, that's what you see.
Very Corny Acting . . afterall it is 1930