MovieChat Forums > China Clipper (1936) Discussion > Odd disclaimer at the start of the film?

Odd disclaimer at the start of the film?

posted 12 years ago by Eric-1226
2 replies | jump to latest

The film includes the following disclaimer at the start:

This photoplay is not historical in any sense. The story -- all incidents and institutions -- portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with any actual person or organization is intended or should be inferred.

And yet, the film concerns itself with events that actually happened (albeit theatrically embellished and artistically rearranged), and even includes stock footage of China Clipper aircraft with the Pan American Airways Systems logo painted on the side of the fuselage. This was the actual airline that actually flew those planes, so you could hardly call that fictitious!

http://www.west.net/~ke6jqp/clipper/clipper.htm

[–] dannieboy20906 8 years ago

Ain't that ironical. The first title card is the title, "China Clipper." The next card describes that they want to honor Glenn L. Martin and his company for building the great flying boats. This honor overlooks the terrific contributions of Igor Sikorsky and his flying boats, but I'll let that go. Then we get the card you describe.

Juan Trippe was young, had just succeeded at making Pan Am into America's flag carrier overseas, and did not like people that went against him. Think of what Hearst did to "Citizen Kane," and you'll understand why they wanted to convince Mr. Trippe that his likeness was nowhere in the film. He certainly was not the half crazed OCD hero displayed by Pat O'Brien.

The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.

[–] tugboatphil 8 years ago

It certainly does read as a lawsuit preventative measure.