DVD When a young pilot discovers a stolen rocket pack hidden in a plane he is unaware that the Nazi's are desperately trying to get hold of it.
Details
Set in glamorous late-1930s Hollywood, Cliff Secord is a talented young stunt pilot whose dreams of making it big are constantly held back by bad luck and a lack of money. When gangsters fleeing from the FBI hide an experimental rocket pack inside one of his aircraft, Cliff accidentally stumbles across one of the most incredible inventions ever created.
With the help of his loyal mechanic Peevy, Cliff manages to perfect the rocket's controls and soon finds himself soaring across the skies as a mysterious flying hero. His spectacular rescue during a local air show quickly captures the public's imagination, earning him the nickname "The Rocketeer".
Unfortunately, Cliff's newfound fame also attracts some unwanted attention. The rocket pack is being sought by Nazi agents operating in Hollywood, led by the charismatic movie star Neville Sinclair. With Sinclair willing to stop at nothing to obtain the technology, Cliff finds himself caught between the FBI, the mob and an international spy ring.
As the battle for the rocket pack intensifies, Cliff must learn to master his incredible new invention whilst protecting the people closest to him and preventing a dangerous military secret from falling into enemy hands.
Picture & Sound
The transfer is first-rate, with rich colours, excellent shadow detail and a wonderfully film-like appearance. The warm colour palette perfectly complements the film's gorgeous 1930s production design, whilst the transfer remains free from noticeable artefacts throughout. It also has the added benefit of showing Jennifer Connelly looking every bit as stunning as you'd expect.
The Dolby Digital soundtrack is equally impressive. The surround channels are put to excellent use during the aerial sequences, helping to convey the speed and excitement of Cliff's flights, whilst dialogue remains consistently clear throughout. The only real disappointment is the absence of a dedicated LFE channel, which would have added a little more weight to the numerous explosions and rocket-powered set pieces. Even so, it's still an excellent soundtrack.
Menu & Extras
This is where the disc shows its age. The menus are static and silent, whilst extras are almost non-existent, making the package feel rather sparse by today's standards. Thankfully the quality of the film itself goes a long way towards making up for the lack of bonus material.
Overall
The Rocketeer is one of Disney's most underrated adventure films. It captures the spirit of the classic Saturday matinee serials perfectly, blending action, humour, romance and comic-book heroics into a thoroughly entertaining adventure. Timothy Dalton is clearly having enormous fun playing the wonderfully villainous Neville Sinclair, whilst Alan Arkin provides plenty of warmth as Peevy.
Although it never achieved the box office success it deserved, the film has gradually built a loyal following over the years. It's easy to see why. Packed with spectacular flying sequences, memorable characters and beautiful period design, it's a thoroughly enjoyable adventure that still holds up remarkably well.
Whilst the DVD itself is rather light on extras, the superb presentation ensures this remains an easy recommendation. If you've somehow overlooked this forgotten Disney gem, it's well worth adding to your collection.
Special features
- Making of Documentary
