Mad Pilot... die Wahnsinnsflieger

I remember seeing parts of this movie back in the 80's on Showtime or HBO or The Movie Channel or something like that, and being somewhat taken aback that they were showing aerobatics in prop-driven airplanes in a movie that wasn't a period piece!

I had a very difficult time tracking this down to rent, and had to pay a $150.00 deposit when I finally did.

The first 10 minutes alone were worth the price of the rental: excellent shots from inside and outside of the cockpit, fairly well edited. Anyone who is remotely interested in aerobatic flying will love this film.

As for the rest, the acting was poor and the plot was worse. But the flying made it all worthwhile!

PS They did an excellent job of making it look like David Carradine was actually flying the airplane. I assume that they used a two-place Pitts for the inside-cockpit shots, and Mr. Carradine really made it look like he was flying, rather than just being along for the ride! Fung-Ku pilot! It would have been better if they'd had him pack all his belongings in a tiny bedroll and head for the next airport on foot or something else more in the spirit of his old TV show.

Spectacular story about barnstorming aerial stunt pilots including notable interpretations. As a world champion aerobatics pilot called Brad Randolph (David Carradine) is accustomed to pushing his plane to the limit to achieve masterful aeronautics. The self-absorted acrobat has difficult choices to make, but at times he uses and abuses those around him, including his girlfriend (Jennifer O'Neill). Now in his early 40s, life throws a set of new challenges, Brad's way that test his mettle. And a young flier contender (Joseph Bottoms) has appeared. Aerial Ecstasy !. Life Or Death In The Sky !. Dying is one hell of a way to make a living!

This attractive drama about flying results to be an elegiac homage to acrobatic fliers. It features overwhelming aircraft flying sequences made by expert stunts and professional pilots. However, there are no studio takes in airplanes , all close-ups of actors being airborne were done for real. Starring David Carradine and Jennifer O'Neill have a decent sucess to distinguish themselves in this acceptable but obscure film. Along with them, there's a good plethora of actors , such as: Joseph Bottoms, Colleen Camp, Albert Salmi, Norman Alden, Nina van Pallandt, James T. Callahan and Hoyt Axton.

Breathtaking as well as brilliant flying sequences, intelligent plot and wonderful outdoor scenes are major assets in this bright flick . The movie is pretty well but had a commercial flop. ¨Cloud Dancer¨ belongs to ¨barnstorming aerial stunt pilots sub-genre¨. Barnstorming was a form of entertainment in which stunt pilots performed tricks individually or in groups that were called flying circuses, devised to impress people with the skill of pilots and the sturdiness of planes. The movies of this genre are as follows: ¨The Tarnished Angels¨ (1957) - melodrama by Douglas Sirk based on the Faulkner novel about barnstorming. ¨Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines¨ (1965) - comedy about the "pioneer era" (1903-1914) of air racing and barnstorming in Europe.¨Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies¨ (1973) based on a story by Steven Spielberg starring Cliff Robertson as a Jenny pilot who barnstorms with his young son. ¨The Great Waldo Pepper¨ (1975) starring big name cast as Robert Redford and Susan Sarandon. ¨Nothing by Chance¨ (1975) documentary by Hugh Downs about the biplanes that barnstormed across America in the 1920s. ¨Days of Heaven¨ (1978) movie by Terrence Mallick in which a barnstorming troupe visits a farm and performs . ¨The Gypsy Moths¨ (1969) - American drama film directed by John Frankenheimer starring Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, based on the novel of the same name by James William Drought. And a TV series: The Fall Guy (1981-1986).

It contains a colorful as well as evocative cinematography by cameraman Trevor Hills , a photographer expert on aerial takes. Lively and enjoyable musical score by Fred Karlin, adding catching songs. The motion picture was competently written/produced/directed by Barry Brown. This filmmaker of short career made another film: ¨The Way We Live Now¨ (1970) Nicholas Pryor, Joanna Miles, Lois Smith. Unfortunately, due to boxoffice failure of ¨Cloud Dancer¨, his career stopped, nowadays, he's a disappeared director. Rating: 6.5/10.

I like the way David Carradine portrayed Brad, always smiling even when in pain. The funeral speech is especially heartfelt to me. He talked about reincarnation, that their passion for flying came from past life time, when they could fly without wings or planes...What a wonderful film that shouldn't be forgotten.

it is rare, that a film that shows the life of a extreme sport competitor, also has a side story and some side action. In cloud dancer you will see how the aerobatic circus is run and you will also see the best maneuvers in 1980, before the monoplane revolution, when performing an uncoordinated maneuver with a 180HP biplane was a real RISK. Many of todays top pilots started by dreaming with Carradine and his Pitts. Most tech aspects of the film are accurate and the filming is fairly good for a series B production, much better that many top dollar Hollywood products. An entertaining film that is a MUST HAVE for every aviation enthusiast. ED

This time, Carradine's not racing cars, he's flying planes in a breathtaking show of aerobatics. It's a darn Pity there wasn't more of a story or a plot. But all the aerobatic, especially at the start makes up for it. Carradine, turns in a good performance as a man driven by what he does best, if that means subjecting himself to a couple of nose bleeds. He falls in love too, his older retarted brother not wanting him to fly, fearing for him. This is a movie for the whole family, drama, and a bit of action off the airstrip. Wannabe younger pilot Bottoms forms a friendship with Carradine, who takes him under his wing so to speak. Bottoms, brings a bit of trouble down on him, getting into a bit of mischief from some bad guys. We too have a somewhat dramatic end, where may'be Carradine has pushed himself way too far. Cloud Dancer is a must of entertainment, if only watching for all the different sort of air stunts, where there's no denying it's an impressive display. Your eyes will be be absolutely riveted to the screen. Being a Disney film, back in the eighties, they charged me a dollar more for this, but it was worth it, let me tell you.