Biggles ** (1986, Neil Dickson, Alex Hyde-White, Peter Cushing, Fiona Hutchison, Marcus Gilbert, William Hootkins) – Classic Movie Review 12,431

The energetic 1986 British science fiction adventure film Biggles is based on the character from the series of novels by W E Johns, and stars Neil Dickson, Alex Hyde-White, Peter Cushing. Why go sci-fi? The idea flopped.

Director John Hough’s energetic 1986 British science fiction adventure film Biggles is based on the character from the series of novels by W E Johns, and stars Neil Dickson, Alex Hyde-White, Peter Cushing, Fiona Hutchison, Marcus Gilbert, and William Hootkins.

The US title Biggles: Adventure in Time says it better, for this is an sci-fi version of Captain W E Johns’s old-time hero, with Manhattan entrepreneur Jim Ferguson (Alex Hyde-White) time-warping from today’s America to World War One Britain to help daring aviator Biggles (Neil Dickson) stop the Germans, especially arch foe Hauptmann Erich von Stalhein (Marcus Gilbert), with their new secret weapon.

It was an odd idea in 1986 to spoof an out-of-date hero in this way, but this fast-paced, handsomely produced film is sometimes good fun, especially for youngsters, particularly in its aerial sequences. Dickson is fine, an asset to the picture, but Hyde-White and Fiona Hutchison as his girlfriend drag the whole thing down. The screenplay is by John Groves and Kent Walwin. It feels like they didn’t trust Captain W E Johns’s material, and mistakenly put their faith in a rather daft new sci-fi concept instead.

Peter Cushing appears in his final feature film role as Biggles’s former commanding officer, William Raymond, now an Air Commodore living in Tower Bridge in London.

The film was mostly shot in London and on location in the Home Counties. Tower Bridge and the surrounding area was extensively used, including the Tower Hotel, which was also the film crew’s base.

Stuntman Gerry Crampton co-ordinated the action sequences and arranged the stunts, and second unit director Terry Coles, a veteran from the 1969 film Battle of Britain, controlled the aerial sequences.

It cost £7 million, and took only £1.45 million (UK) and $112,132 (US) at the box office.

It flopped at the box office, but John Hough said it went into profit later through TV and video sales.

The cast are Neil Dickson as Lieutenant James ‘Biggles’ Bigglesworth, Alex Hyde-White as Jim Ferguson, Fiona Hutchison as Debbie, Peter Cushing as Air Commodore William Raymond, Marcus Gilbert as Hauptmann Erich von Stalhein, William Hootkins as Chuck, Alan Polonsky as Bill, Francesca Gonshaw as Marie, Michael Siberry as Second Lieutenant The Honourable Algernon ‘Algy’ Montgomery Lacey, James Saxon as Second Lieutenant Lord Bertie Lissie, Daniel Flynn as Ginger Hebblethwaite.

The soundtrack is composed by Stanislas Syrewicz and was released by MCA Records. Jon Anderson, frontman of Yes, wrote the lyrics for the songs ‘Do You Want to Be a Hero?’ and ‘Chocks Away’, with music by Stanislas.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,431

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