Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)

Classic epic comedy.

By Sherry  May 17, 2001

Although not quite the laugh-a-minute gagfest as such movies as The Great Race, Those Magnificent Men...is still a classic in it's own right. The casting is great overall, but the gem has to be Gert Froebe; his portrayal of a pompous German officer ...is wonderful! Other notables are Terry-Thomas playing a role he's so well suited to: a dastardly cad, and Eric Sykes is excellent as his timid sidekick. But the real stars of this film have to the the vintage aircraft and motor vehicles. Many of the aircraft are actual flying replicas of early 1900's flying machines. Some of the back-projection scenes are a little cheesy, but somehow it almost adds to the tongue-in-cheek feel of the movie. Many of the actual flying segments show lovely scenery, especially of the English countryside and south coast. Those Magnificent Men...never really builds to a nail-biting climax, and I thought it seemed to end rather abruptly, but that's just my own feeling on it. Definitely an enjoyable romp, well worth renting, or owning! Read more Less