Comic Book Movies 101: The Rocketeer

• 7th Feb 2011

Like some of the most interesting Comic Book Adaptations, The Rocketeer has a wealth of period design going for it in this 30’s set adventure.

True, the hero doesn’t become The Rocketeer way beyond the midpoint, and doesn’t aim to become a crime fighter literally until the end of the film – but there are so many diversions going on here that you simply don’t notice. There is an actual plot that takes us from the initial misplacement of the top secret rocket pack to its destruction by the end of the film. We have our hero’s discovery of the pack, which leads us to the development of his character and his life and the characters involved. The FBI are also introduced and the investigation they are on to find the pack – and then there is the Mob who loses it and their attempts at recovering the stolen goods. All of these worlds come together a scene at a time and slowly start to overlap one and other until they all join neatly together by the climax.  The film is helped not least by the beautiful Jennifer Connolly (before she went on the Audrey Hepburn diet), the scene stealing Alan Arkin and Timothy Dalton.

For me this film is all about tone and it balances drama, tension, character and comedy to perfection. When I think of this film it is of the pure enjoyable feeling the film has along with the darker moments of dread. The period details – but very rarely the action – are the films strong points. The set design and detail to the period the film is set in bode well for the fact that Joe Johnson is returning there this summer with his Captain America film.

There is of course some action – but it is mainly conducted by other people before our hero Cliff Secord gets involved. With that in mind we are treated to quite a bit of gang murder before we get the wistful airborne antics of Secord as he tests out the rocket pack. Beyond that there are only action a couple of scenes featuring The Rocketeer as crime fighter (and in the first of those his objective is to escape as opposed to fight).

It should also be noted how well the costume came together as well. The two stand outs are the pilot’s Jacket and obviously the helmet which is shown to be crafted by Arkin’s character. The jet-pack itself is also vert Art-Deco looking which is all reflected very well by the amazing Art Deco poster used for the film.

The lead actor Bill Campbell (Yes, he is related to Bruce!) it is interesting to note was second choice for the role of William Riker in Star Trek: The Next generation (on which he played one cameo spot in an earlier series). It is almost a shame that his career didn’t take flight as it showed promise (Although he did get to play the Texan suitor, Quincey Morris, in Bram Stokers Dracula – who is actually responsible for impaling the beast at the end). But then in 2000 he was voted as one of the world’s most beautiful people by people magazine – which is quite a feat considering his career had hardly taken off. After this he appeared as the bad husband to J-Lo in Enough and has since disappeared again.

The rest of the cast are exemplary. Timothy Dalton, just after his second stint as Bond took on the Errol Flynn based role of Neville Sinclair (a Nazi spy placed in Hollywood). It’s a wonderfully showy role for a villain and Dalton does not disappoint bringing true menace; whether he is sleazing over Jennifer Connolly or pushing Paul Sorvino’s mob boss around with the tip of an Epee.

There is also the intimidating figure presence of Lothar – Dalton’s personal henchman with the height and presence of a giant and a face like something you have not quite seen before.

Jennifer Connolly may have a bit of a stilted role in the first half – but by the time she is heavily mixed up in the plot she is hardly a damn in distress. And with the curvy figure she had back then she fits the period and the dresses with class and style. And they can’t resist having a pervy character checking out her mammoth rack in a latter scene in the film. I can’t deny it – at 14 or 15 at the time, so was I.

Alan Arkin stands in for comic relief but also acting as the conscience of our hero. It may be easy to forget his role in the film with so much to see, but he is what grounds the drama and makes the experience all the more sweet.

The mid-section of the film may get caught up in child-pleasing action stunts and effects that are played more of the spirit of fun than for actual thrills. This is also where the humour is at its most dumb. But this is quickly shifted once the real threat in the third act takes over – climaxing with a big set piece that moves from the ground and then to the sky onboard a zeppelin for a showdown that pays off with a wonderful line of dialogue that backfires (no pun intended) on Dalton quite badly with the destruction of part of the HOLLYWOOD LAND sign (you can probably guess which part get’s destroyed).

If you are a fan of 30’s and enjoy a bit of period fashion and detail then this film delivers. If you are also a fan of a bit of adventure (ala Indiana Jones) then The Rocketeer is a film that comes closer than most to nailing that spirit. How this film has become so overlooked over time is a mystery. And it’s high time people rediscovered it again. Go! Now!

Steven Hurst