Cloud Dancer (1980)
Brad Randolph (David Carradine) is the World Champion aerobatic pilot but now, in his early 40s, he faces many challenges to maintain his position. His physical struggles are heightened by the presence of a youthful competitor, Tom Loomis (Joseph Bottoms). Intertwined with his professional struggles is his relationship with Helen St. Clair (Jennifer O'Neil).
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Reviews
Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Good concept, poorly executed.
Excellent but underrated film
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Brad Randolph (Carradine) has a lot on his life's plate: he flies aerobatics, is mentoring a protégé in aerobatics and trying to keep him away from air drug-smuggling, has a girlfriend who wants a committed relationship but fears an offspring would be afflicted by the same defective gene which affects his brother, who he loves a great deal. To top it off, he's affected by blackouts which put him at risk in the air, but he flies anyway. Brad comes under further pressure when his girlfriend turns up pregnant, and more so when he comes to the rescue of his protégé, pitting himself and a T-tail Piper Lance against a P-51 Mustang flown by a smuggler in a rather spectacular aerial scene. By the time the dust settles, Brad is ready to compete in an airshow and comes to grips with his worries and his life when he's spared in a plane accident and he meets his new child. Of course, at the end, everything's gonna be alright.Not a bad film, really. It's good to see Carradine in a role other than Kwai Chang Caine.
I was an aerobatic instructor in the late 80's and this was my favourite film. That sounds like an inane statement - but when a pilot can tell you they like a film about flying, then you have some idea that the life of flying and the flying itself has been captured with a sympathy which is very rare in flying movies.The drug-running side plot is a shame, as it detracts from the main plot - when it would have been so easy to script enough drama to fill the movie. Filming is without blue screen, many of the pilots are depicted by serious aerobatic flyers of the time, and David Carradine does a very good job.I even like the music.
Not only,no 1 would ever see this film well 4get it,but also well keep watching it over & over maybe till the end of his life & life of his kids & grand kids too...etc. It's truly a highly recommended film 4 all kind of aircraft pilots. Actors r very excellent.The plot's a little thin in this film. It deals with competition aerobatics and the main character's unwillingness to be in a long term relationship for fear of passing on a defective gene to future children. The side plot is teaching a rising aerobatic pilot the tricks of aerobatics while teaching him to live by clean living and giving up trafficking in drugs. Even with the thin plot the aerobatics and filming were good and this was a very entertaining and well done film.
The plot's a little thin in this film. It deals with competition aerobatics and the main character's unwillingness to be in a long term relationship for fear of passing on a defective gene to future children. The side plot is teaching a rising aerobatic pilot the tricks of aerobatics while teaching him to live by clean living and giving up trafficing in drugs. Even with the thin plot the aerobatics and filming were good and this was a very entertaining and well done film.