Rocketeer

Adventure, Family, Science Fiction, Action

Bill Campbell	Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly	Jenny Blake
Alan Arkin	A. 'Peevy' Peabody
Timothy Dalton	Neville Sinclair
Paul Sorvino	Eddie Valentine
Terry O'Quinn	Howard Hughes
Ed Lauter	FBI Agent Fitch
James Handy	FBI Agent 'Wooly' Wolinski
Tiny Ron	Lothar
Robert Miranda	Spanish Johnny, Valentine Hood

Director	Joe Johnston
Producer	Charles Gordon; Lawrence Gordon
Writer	Dave Stevens; Danny Bilson

Based on a retro-styled comic book hit of the 80s, this Disney film was meant to launch a whole line of Rocketeer films--but the series began and ended with this one. That's too bad because this underrated Joe Johnston film has a certain loopy charm. The story centres on a pre-World War II stunt pilot (Bill Campbell) who accidentally comes into possession of a rocket-propelled backpack much coveted by the Nazis. With the aid of his mechanic pal (Alan Arkin), he gets it up and running, then uses it to foil a plot by a gang of vicious Nazi spies (is there any other kind?) led by Timothy Dalton. Jennifer Connelly is on hand as the love interest but the real fun here is when the Rocketeer takes off. There's also a nifty battle atop an airborne blimp. --Marshall Fine