Cloud Dancer

''Cloud Dancer'' is a 1980 aviation drama film directed by Barry Brown. The film stars David Carradine, Jennifer O'Neill and Joseph Bottoms. ''Cloud Dancer'' follows a competition aerobatics pilot throughout his show season.

Plot

Brad Randolph is the world champion aerobatics pilot but now, in his early 40s, he faces many challenges to maintain his position. He begins to have nosebleeds during his competitions, is diagnosed with hypertension, and the doctor recommends he not expose himself to strong G-forces anymore.

Intertwined with Brad's professional struggles is his relationship with photojournalist Helen St. Clair, who suddenly reappears after a year. He makes clear to her his intention of not getting married due to his dangerous profession and above all, of not having children, without explaining why. Helen is wary of telling him that while she was away she gave birth to his son. Brad's problems are compounded by the presence of a young competitor, Tom Loomis, whom Brad himself had encouraged to try aerobatics and quit drug smuggling.

So, Brad faces difficult decisions. There are some vicious drug dealers using a fighter airplane to ground down drug-smuggling planes to take their cargo, will he do something about it? Will he continue to compete despite his failing health and the death of a colleague due to G-LOC, something he risks himself? And, what will happen with Helen?

Cast

* David Carradine as Brad Randolph
* Jennifer O'Neill as Helen St. Clair
* Joseph Bottoms as Tom Loomis
* Colleen Camp as Cindy
* Albert Salmi as Ozzie Randolph
* Salome Jens as Jean Randolph
* Norman Alden as Dr. Putnam
* Nina Van Pallandt as Caroline Sheldon
* James T. Callahan as Walt Lawson
* Hoyt Axton as Brad's mechanic
* Woodrow Chambliss as Curtis Pitts

Production

Director Barry Brown met aerobatic pilot Tom Poberezny in England, during the 1970 FAI World Aerobatic Championships, where he had the idea for the plot. It took several years for him to get financing and resolve the technical problems of filming with cameras that could withstand more than 3 g for actual competition-level maneuvers.

The film had a budget reported as of $3.5 million dollars, crediting the cooperation of organizations like the Experimental Aircraft Association, Piper Aircraft, Goodyear, and Narco Avionics.

Director Barry Brown, who also produced the film, co-wrote the story, and designed the aerial sequences, is a pilot and aeronautic engineer. Therefore, he wanted to ensure a film on aerobatic flying was authentic. ''Cloud Dancers stunts were performed in real airplanes by real pilots, without the use of models or the still rare CGI.
Two Pitts biplanes were specially built by Aerotek-Pitts in Afton, Wyoming, to include lightweight built-in cameras, able to resist up to 12 g, invented by Brown. The camera mounts were built into the primary structure of the airplanes: a tripod mount on the top wing, another on the handhold of the top wing of the S-2, wing mounts, side fuselage mounts, a tail mount, and one between the cockpits of the S-2 for close-ups of the rear seat occupant. These airplanes alone flew 160 hours for the filming. The shooting of the movie was in April 1978.

The technical advisor and chief pilot for ''Cloud Dancer'' was the former world champion aerobatic pilot, Tom Poberezny, who appears in the film as himself; together with Charlie Hillard, also named in the film, they made most of the flying for the film. The third member of the "Red Devils" Aerobatic Team, Gene Soucy, is also named in the film. Crowd scenes were shot at actual air shows in the Phoenix area, specifically, the ones at Falcon Field ("First Annual Arizona Festival of Flight," April 2), Chandler (April 5), and Deer Valley ("Festival of Flight," April 8–9). The film counted with the appearance of famed air show announcer Sonny Everett as himself.

The movie also had the participation of pilots Leo Loudenslager, and Jimmy Leeward, this one piloting his own Mustang P-51. The film is dedicated to pilot Walt Tubb, who cameoed as a chief judge, and died a few months after the filming (coincidentally while performing the same maneuver he did in the movie that causes the death of one of the characters) and to another twelve "fallen airmen whose example made ''Cloud Dancer'' possible."

The cast was subjected to actual flying conditions, so their reactions are authentic. The scene in which Brad Randolph takes Helen St. Clair for her first aerobatic ride was the first time actress Jennifer O'Neill had that experience. It is reported that actor Joseph Bottoms became so fascinated with flying that he gained his pilot's license, and went solo during production in a Decathlon. As for David Carradine, he learned to taxi a Pitts, and during the many acrobatic maneuvers in which he flew in the back seat of the airplane to film his acting and facial distortions, he endured severe airsickness. It is also reported he became a proficient pilot.

It took two years of editions and re-editions for ''Cloud Dancer'' to find distribution.

Aircraft

The aircraft featured in ''Cloud Dancer'' included a single-seat S-1S and a two-seat S-2A Pitts Specials as the airplanes piloted by the leading characters through most of the movie. The three Pitts Specials of the "Red Devils" Aerobatic Team are seen on the ground. Also, a Mustang P-51 is the fighter plane that appears in pursuit of a Piper PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III in a climactic scene. Other aircraft included were Christen Eagle, and Piper PA-350 Navajo.

Airplanes seen in the background are: Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, Cessna 140, Cessna 172M

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