A Melvin Dale review of:
Directed By: Joe Johnston
Starring: Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino
Running Time: 108 nostalgic, adventure-filled minutes
On June 21st, 1991 The Rocketeer debuted at the historic El Capitan theater in Hollywood, CA. The cast and crew with their loved ones and the select members of the press that were in attendance were not only the first to enjoy the film, but also the first to enjoy the newly renovated El Capitan since Walt Disney Pictures spent $14 Million restoring the theater to it’s original 20′s appearance. The reviews for the film were fantastic (“two thumbs up” from Siskel and Ebert, the film authorities of the day), the marketing campaign was as vast as it was expensive ($14 million in TV promotions alone not to mention toys, restaurant cross-promotions, and TV specials) and the early talk around the studio was the makings of a “trilogy” of Rocketeer films (contracts and all).
So, what happened? The film only made back one fifth of it’s production budget over it’s first week in theaters, a tremendous box-office failure. Even with international box-office revenue the film came in at a loss. Disney dumped all of the merchandise they’d already made through their outlets and canceled all of their future plans for a Rocketeer sequel. But, there was glimmer of hope. The new booming home video market would create a second life for the Rocketeer. New fans, young and old, were finding themselves enthralled with this classic adventure tale. The word was finally out on the Rocketeer, and it was all great.
This is where I was introduced to the Rocketeer. As a nine year old living in a small town in Alabama a family outing to the theater was a costly event reserved only for special occasions but a trip to the local video rental store was a biweekly tradition. My Father was a pioneer of piracy, utilizing our antiquated Betamax (google it, kids) we would rip our rented VHS tapes for the countless repeat screenings that would occur over the various sleepovers and sick-days to come. On one of these pirate-raids through the Movie Gallery I happened upon the Rocketeer and I was hooked from the start. An everyman stumbles upon a top secret rocket-pack, saves the free world from the Nazis, and he’s dating Jennifer Connelly!? What choice did I have but to love it! I wore out that Betamax pirated copy on countless rewatches. To this day even, the Rocketeer is my go to sick-day film. Sitting down with Cliff, Peevy, and Jenny feels like a warm, familiar trip back home.
Twenty years after it’s premier–and nineteen or so after I discovered it–D23 (Disney’s official fan club) hosted an anniversary screening of the film. Once again at the El Capitan theater but this time with an all new digital print of the film, a cast and crew Q&A hosted by Kevin Smith, an exclusive Hollywood Museum tour curated especially for this evening by the Disney Archives, all the pageantry and merchandise exclusives one has come to expect from today’s nerd-friendly Hollywood and 20 years worth of die-hard Rocketeer fans ready to relive the summer of 1991. I had to go. So, $100 in tickets (for me and the Wife) and one cross-country move later (which was planned before I knew about the screening, I promise), I arrived in Hollywood, CA and it was glorious.
For those unfamiliar, the El Capitan is about as beautiful as a theater can be. Rich carvings cover nearly every nook and crevice of the buildings exterior that isn’t already beaming and flickering with stunning light. The line for the event wrapped all the way around the building, complete with homemade rocket-packs and begrudgingly loyal wives and girlfriends. My wife and I were a little late getting to the event, but gladly took our place near the end of the line. We waited for 30 minutes and through two “no cellphones or cameras” warnings and then we were off to race for a seat inside the theater. Both smart and cunning we made for the balcony seats and were rewarded with a nicely centered vantage. Inside the theater a live organist was playing through Disney’s all-time greatest hits. With our seats secured, my wife made a concession stand run for popcorn and soda and we were ready to begin.
Just before the lights dimmed, Joe Johnston, director of the Rocketeer, addressed the audience. “I always knew, someday, someone was going to like this film.” After thanking us all for attending he also added that the evening’s screening would be his first time watching the film since it had debuted in the very same theater 20 years ago. And especially heartwarming, Joe took a moment to introduce the late Dave Stevens’ mother and sister who were both in attendance. Dave Stevens created the character and comic book that inspired the film, and sadly died after a long battle with Hairy Cell Leukemia in 2008. “He would have loved this”, exclaimed Johnston before taking his seat. The lights dimmed, the curtain raised, then it raised again, and again. A light spectacle ensued ending with a night time facade of the Hollywood sign, and then…finally…James Horner’s beautiful score begins and we’re off into adventure! The crowd would applaud as every credit passed across the screen, with certain infuses on my part when Dave’s credit was up. The new digital print was gorgeous. I sat, munching my popcorn, in wide-eyed astonishment as if I was seeing the film for the first time.
After much ovation over the ending credits we’d finally made it to the second part of the night. Kevin Smith was his usual charming self, flattering the celebrities while keeping us all laughing with his patented self-deprecating humor. Most of the Q&A focused on the origins of the film’s production and was surprisingly inclusive of all the panel’s members. One stand out for me was of Bill Campbell (the star of the Rocketeer) recalling the process of obtaining the leading role. When he first read for the part he was admittedly uninterested, so far as to not change his haggard appearance (beard and all) for the audition. After which he happened upon Dave Stevens’ comic book and noticed a striking resemblance between himself and the title character. With his resolve to work renewed and a fresh haircut to match Stevens’ drawings he returned for a second reading. This time, getting a double-take from director Joe Johnston over at the craft service table, “I knew I had the part then” he said. The Q&A ended short, only really opening up to two questions from the audience, but no one seemed to mind. Although, in hindsight I do wish I’d have asked Bill what the inside of the Rocketeer’s helmet smelled like. I imagine a sweaty, leathery musk. I guess I’ll never know for sure.
With the Q&A behind us we were off to the races again, this time up the block to the Hollywood Museum for prop displays and exclusive merchandise. The entire top floor of the museum was curated exclusively for this event. Several of the films costumes were on display, as well as the famous rocket-pack and several of the miniatures used in the film. There were two amply stocked merchandise tables, one for the normals like me, and the other with exclusive D23 member only items. Creature Features assisted Disney in the creation of the events merchandise which was oh-so inciting. There were also several hard to find Dave Stevens’ art prints featuring the Rocketeer available for purchase. My wife, ever patient with my nerdy-interest despite it’s negative effect on our bank account, saw fit for one of Dave’s beautiful prints to go home with us. “But baby, which one?”, I said again and again. 30 minutes, and one brain aneurysm later we made our way home with just the right one (I think?).
The drive from Hollywood to our new home would take us early into the morning. Both of us would have to get up far too early the next day and drag ourselves off to work with less than five hours of sleep between. But it was worth it. The nerd-high of the evenings festivities still lingers now days later. The idea that I, in some small way, am a part of the history of the Rocketeer leaves me more and more elated every day. But, through my ecstasy, I can’t help but think of Dave Stevens. Did he know the depth of joy he gave people like myself with his work? Did he know, despite it’s flounder in the box office, that the adaptation of his work found it’s audience? I have to agree with Joe Johnston. Despite having never met Dave Stevens, I’m certain he would have loved D23′s 20th Anniversary Screening. I know I did.
To see the entire image gallery for D23′s 20th Anniversary Rocketeer Screening, check out the Atomik Flickr Gallery!
Mel Dale is a lover and a dreamer who finds himself set apart in this modern world. He has a tendency to think our best is in the past, but remains open to persuasion. He spends more money on his comic book collection than his wardrobe, and would rather have a cheap beer than the most elegant wine.
