MovieChat Forums > Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes (1965) Discussion > Just how rude is this film?

Just how rude is this film?

posted 20 years ago by FilmFlaneur
14 replies | jump to latest

I've just posted a review of this film which points out, as I see it, an nudge nudge, wink wink adult subtext to proceedings, barely mentioned if at all in discussions. Its after all a family favourite, and one can make too much of minor details, or invent things which aren't really there. But there are certainly some surprising aspects upon which I'd be interested to get some feedback.

An age in which machine-gun editing has replaced the cinematic equivalent of perfect pitch

[–] Col_Hessler 19 years ago

No, it wasn't rude. It was cute, of course when I first saw this I was a little kid. But lately, I found it's pretty clean, especially when compared to some of today's things, which are so vulgar. Hope this helps.

well I'm drinking wine and eating cheese and catching some rays, y'know

[–] PhillyMobster 19 years ago

I'm not entirely sure what 'adult subtext' you're talking about. I dont remember anything like that in this film, I only remember that I was unable to stop laughing when I saw it for the first time. It had perfectly clean humor, especially compared to movies today. I just saw 'Meet the Fockers', and this movie was just one string of revolting sexual jokes. People making comedies today need understand that sex isnt the only thing out there that you can get a good laugh out of, and I think that TMMITFM is an excellent example of this.

[–] FilmFlaneur 19 years ago

Check out my review for another view..

An age in which machine-gun editing has replaced the cinematic equivalent of perfect pitch

[–] richard.fuller1 18 years ago

I just watched "Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines" for the first time (I am 40) and the only . . . . . 'off-color' joke I noticed upon watching it was between Robert Morley and Terry-Thomas when T-T first appeared during Morley's croquet match.

T-T spoke about how Morley was holding his mallet or club, can't recall the word he used. It actually wasn't off-color as it was a wee bit open to an interpretation.

And as has been noted, rather innocent.

I would say T-T's comment to his aide about Stuart Whitman might get killed if he tries to land on one wheel, "well, there are plenty more Americans where he came from" to be far more eyebrow-raising than anything else I saw or heard here.

And I thought T-T's line about there being more Americans was utterly hilarious.

[–] MattyGit 16 years ago

There is a reference to the Japanese flyer as being a "Nip" this was about as off colour as it gets... the same flyer don a kamikaze headband later. However all the elder actors - especially with the plot device to have together the pre-allies and pre-axes powers together in 1910 yet play on the gathering froma 60's bent in inspiring.

[–] andiemevans 19 years ago

I seem to recall a skirt falling off a few times and the Frenchman had a variety of girlfriends, all played by the same actress, which explains why he never remembers any of their names.

Nothing that won't go right over the heads of people who aren't paying attention, particularly children.

[–] Harlesden_P_Ruffkins 18 years ago

The strongest this film gets is extremely mild sauce that you could say anywhere any time even then without anyone batting an eyelid. It's just not about vulgarity (unless you count the brashness of the film being vulgar).

[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

I seem to recall a skirt falling off a few times and the Frenchman had a variety of girlfriends, all played by the same actress, which explains why he never remembers any of their names.

Wonderful lady Her first scene was very sexy a bit much for 1965 but after all Bond films were already showing more.

See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/

[–] DeepFriedJello 13 years ago

Right after the intermission, Sir Percy and Courtney are outside planning to sabbotage the planes. Percy tells Courtney that some woman is keeping one of the pilots busy and Courtney says, "I bet she's a bit of an whore alright governor", but whore sir is run together in one word like "oralright". I played it several times to make sure, and it can't be anything else.
There are many sexual inferences, but nothing that shouldn't keep a child from watching.

[–] DeepFriedJello 13 years ago

FilmFlaneur, just read your review, you pervert.
Just watch the damn movie. You don't need to go searching for every joystick and undercarriage reference.

[–] LouisRenault 13 years ago

mr-peckerwood, what Courtney says, quite definitely, is "I bet she's a bit of all right."

[–] Princerd 9 years ago

TT "Sir Percy" remarked it was Courtney's daughter right after he made the comment: "I bet she's a bit of all right." That was the joke.

Edit: Of course, this is a very old thread, but it is still worth remembering the true sense of the joke, because it makes it so much racier for the time.

[–] scotpens 11 years ago

As far as I can remember, the rudest thing about this film is the doo-doo humor of pilots repeatedly crashing their planes in the sewage farm, which is more gross than funny.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]