I'm not 100% sure if I saw this TV movie when it first appeared on ABC because this was before my family had a VCR. However, I must have, since I recall "Three Little Fishies" and "I'll Get By" playing during the course of the movie. Some years later, I saw it listed on TBS and fired up the non-HiFi Betamax to capture this "aerial cops-and-robbers" movie. (Alas, none of the surviving Betamaxes can play the tape, so it's all a matter of unreliable memory. No, I didn't get a VHS unit until the VCR wars were over.) At first glance, it looked like a routine movie about a helicopter pilot going about an ordinary day, with a traffic jam and sunbathing beauties to liven up his day. The opening sequence referring to his days as a Flying Tiger and the testy relationship with his ex-buddy-turned police captain should have been a tipoff that things were going to get interesting. Then there was the break in at the military weapons depot by fur-faced, sunglass wearing perpetrators who were OK within killing anyone who stood in their way. Unlike the technowizardry found in "Blue Thunder," Harry walker has only the tools at hand to face down a set of not-ready-for-peacetime military veterans. As the only game in town once an ordinary bank heist turned into an aerial pursuit, this movie shows why Tom Brokaw would call such folk "The Greatest Generation." Considering what kinds of special efx were available at that time, this movie shows what a difference between the real thing vs. the green screen DFX-safe world of today. (As with screenplays, Real trumps Imagination or even "Reimagining".) A chance search on Amazon.com for a butchered VHS version yielded an "On Order" notation. Release of "Birds of Prey" is set for July 12, 2005, and I'll be there to fly the spacious skies of Utah once again, even if "Three Little Fishies" or "I'll Get By" aren't in the soundtrack.
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etsuo5 July 2005
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brinner22 July 2002This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I just loved the flying-scene and the cool hardened look of Jansen. I think it´s too little helicopters in movies now a days. Helicopters are probably the coolest and most impressive vehicle ever invented. Maybe, the morrow-accident recalls too much bad memories to the directors? Nevermind this is a good film (especially because it´s TV-film from the 70´s) recommended especially for teenagers and war-veterans..
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tandkmoran27 March 2006Just corny enough to be fun, once the chase starts - hang up onto your seat. Not a movie for those prone to air sickness. Only Blackhawk Down holds a candle to it in terms of 'copter flicks, and the actual stunt flying here is better, a lot better. I'm guessing the copyright holder of the original version of "Three Little Fishies" is hanging onto it tightly, as it's hard to find as it is. I've always thought the movie is really about us old, burned out old-time hero types, always tempted to take that one last fling at glory that we know we really shouldn't. Great fun flick, one of my faves. Needs restored on DVD with some Dolby sound remastered. A must see for anyone who likes helos.
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I saw this TV movie when it first appeared on television. I was riveted. The flying scenes were superb, and it was fast moving. One of David Jansen's best performances. The main character seemed to come alive, and you were able to see what events in his past shaped who he was. Just wish it were available on video.
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This movie was released in 1973 primarily for TV, not a theatrical release. With respect to acting, cast and production quality it was done on a very limited budget, so it is really not fair to compare it to bigger budget Hollywood pictures. One of the ways that the defunct Tomorrow Entertainment chose to save production money was to only license the 1940s music used in the film for a very short number of years (I believe 10 years). The cost savings move by shorter music licensing was hailed by the entertainment industry back in 1973 as an example of thinking outside of the box, but since the music in this movie was so very much a part of the tone and theme of the movie, this means that the impact of the VHS, Beta and DVD versions is disappointing, because the original soundtrack is not there. You have to remember that home video systems like Beta, BetaMax, VHS and DVD really did not exist until years afterwards. What did exist was expensive and not for the average consumer in 1972-1973. Video systems were bulky, reel-to-reel and required a vidicon tube camera to record. Color recording was damn expensive. It is not surprising that the executive producer had no thoughts at the time of a home release product. Home video recording and playback technology was still years away and would not be affordable or mass marketable for years. By the time it was affordable and mass marketable, the permission (license) to use the original music had expired.
The movie has some terrific flying scenes. I've flown both helicopters and fix wing aircraft and helped develop military flight simulators in the 1980s, and my hats are off in respect for the stunt pilots on this movie. This particular movie actually inspired me to work in the aerospace industry in the 1980s.
It is a decent movie with a decent plot and acceptable acting and interesting characters. Janssen and Meeker play well off of each other. Although the music is dramatically different than what was originally used, I still have this in my DVD collection. I do wish that I could find out who sang "I'll Get By" in the original soundtrack. She was a superb singer who was better than the others I have heard singing that same song. -
vinnienh9 December 2000This tv-movie shows David Janssen in his usual "lonely macho hero"-type role: as a helicopterpilot with WorldWarII-sentiments. Although the script is interesting the dialogue is very unrealistic (between the characters there is a constant "cool talk" going on) and it gets too talky at the wrong times. Nevertheless the helicopter-scenes are dazzling!!
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Ralpho8 September 2001David Janssen and Ralph Meeker are perfectly cast in this TV movie as World War II flying buddies who have had disparate levels of success in adjusting to post-war life. Meeker's character, McAndrews, is an apparently well-balanced police captain in Salt Lake City. Janssen's character, Harry Walker, flies a helicopter for a local radio station and has not been able to put the war behind him.
Janssen's character witnesses a bank robbery and chases the perpetrators, who are also in a helicopter. The aerial stunt work is top-notch, and the film was made on location in Salt Lake City at a time when you could fake very little with special effects.
But the core of the movie is the relationship between Walker and McAndrews. Walker feels alive for the first time in a long time as he chases the bad guys. McAndrews tries to restrain Walker through most of the movie, although it's clear he sympathizes with his old friend. And at the end he's as crazy as Walker.
When the movie was originally televised, a beautiful and perfectly appropriate version of the song "I'll Get By" played over the opening credits. I have searched long and hard for a recording of that version of that song without success. It wasn't the cover by Keely Smith, or by Billie Holliday.
I wouldn't have looked so hard for a recording if the song was included in the videotape of "Birds of Prey." I suspect that whoever put the movie on video would have had to pay royalties to someone if the song was retained. So this despicable person replaced "I'll Get By" with an instrumental big band song that is probably in the public domain.
This thrifty gent likewise axed a song from the body of the movie to which Janssen's character sings along. So the videotape viewer is left to wonder what song Janssen is singing as an instrumental big band number plays. -
rlorenz22 August 2009Rather unsophisticated chase movie in some ways, but spectacular flying and striking landscape backdrop - Utah canyon-lands. All real flying too, not CGI. Ending was a bit weird. Amusing/odd feature is that the bad guys have no attributable dialog - they are apparently dubbed, or speak via a loudhailer on the chopper, etc. You never see them actually speak, even when they fight among themselves. Another cute motif is the computers (tapes, flashing lights) at the police HQ. 'I'm not behind a desk, I'm behind a computer. That's how it is done these days'...then later 'What did the computer come up with'. "Zero". Not the best movie ever, but well worth a watch.
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Thunderbolt10 July 2000This movie was one of my favorites as a kid. I have always been interested in world war 2 aircraft and the Flying Tigers especially. Harry Walker is a ex Flying Tiger pilot flying a modern day helicopter as a traffic reporter. The movie is filled with helicopter flying, all very good. The tv movie you see on tv has the original music, however the version you buy on vhs for some reason does not. I'm not sure why the changed the music, the original worked fine. I really enjoyed the character study of Harry Walker, thinking back of his war days, mixing in with the reality of his situation; chasing the new bad guys who have a hostage. I think most will enjoy this fast moving film.
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In fact, the leading hero isn't actually a cop, but a radio traffic reporter, played by David Jansen. He's a former fighter pilot from World War II who witnesses a bank robbery, cases after the crooks, and ends up with their hostage and the cash, all the while corresponding with old army buddy Ralph Meeker, now a Salt Lake City police captain. Elayne Heilveil, as the rescued hostage, is now under his care as they hide in a canyon from the thieves, waiting for a rescue by the authorities. Debates over what they should do with the money should they not be able to get out occur, so not only is this a race against time but a fight with ethics.
I didn't find it necessary to have so much focus on the female hostage because this really just distracts from the real drama and is only there to have a female presence in the movie. In fact, a lot of their conversation has nothing to do with their situation and distracts from what's going on just to have a flirtation between Heilveil and Jansen. He keeps having flashbacks to his combat days which adds some interesting psychological content to the film. Worth it for the action chase sequences and for Jansen's performance. -
Bovard-29 November 2005I was very happy to see that this movie was finally available on DVD and ordered it from Amazon. It arrived today and I was greatly disappointed to find that the soundtrack of WWII era music had been trashed and replaced with music that wouldn't even be accepted by Muzak!
What's missing? The opening and closing credits were over "I'll Get By", and Walker's (Janssen) requested song is "Three Little Fishies". In several scenes, Janssen can be seen singing along.
This movie is a great action film, but crappy soundtrack really detracts from the story. -
campingboat31 January 2005Frist time I saw this movie I thought that was the best helicopter action movie I have ever seen.The best part is when two helicopters fly inside the warehouse and just miss the I beam while flying around and the blade from the helicopter were moving up and down.I love the way it fly hard left to right and right to left take off while the dirt and sand flying up in the air.I know there so much more to tell but it just been so long time .They did a good job making that movie.I don't think they can make a better movie than this if it an update movie it real and danger that what make a great movie.Even so I am deaf and not understand. The Action tell it all! I been long waiting for it to come on DVD
Hopefully very soon. Ron Simpson -
Delrvich20 February 2020It had a rushed, badly planned, and callous ending. Thumbing their noses at veterans? Not sure.
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Leofwine_draca1 November 2019BIRDS OF PREY is another low budget, high energy television movie of the early 1970s starring rugged, ageing action man David Janssen as another unlikely hero brought into play to fight crime. This time around, he's a media reporter working from a helicopter when he spots a robbery, followed by an escape with female hostage in tow. Janssen gives chase, and appears to be the only man capable of bringing the perpetrators to justice. So far so good, and the first half of the film is quite watchable in a low rent kind of way; the many helicopter scenes have realism to them that you wouldn't get these days. Sadly, the pacing suddenly drops stone-dead halfway through when Janssen and the hostage hook up, leading to the most awkward May to December romance ever. It does pick up a little at the end, but it's had it by this point.
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mark_alex_smith29 June 2002Elegaic, and subtly played by the star. How often could you say that of a 70's TV movie? (I think) there is a closing line in the movie, "You didn't have to do that." It's about having been brave once, in forgotten circumstances, and then, suddenly, living up to that again in old age. Of course, it's full of technical glitches and cliches, but I like it.
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nexusstudio8 October 2006I'll add to the many comments here on this movie. It came at the tail-end of the "t.v. movie" phenomenon of the late 60's and early 70's which along with several other films from this period, elevated television from the droll tired formulas of the past to exciting "theatrical quality" (at least by early 70's standards!) films which featured intelligent scripting and veteran actors who were mostly underrated even when they weren't 'veteran'. David Janssen never escaped his "fugitive" typecasting but "Birds of Prey" was the finest film he made. To my buddy and I from those days this was the most incredible and exciting film on a small screen with the sudden interest in Heli's or "choppers" as they came to be called was directly the result of films like this one. Everybody was watching all those 'bitchin' assault helicopters from the Vietnam war era on the 6 o'clock news and this movie came at the end of the Vietnam conflict and is a period piece for that with a 'bad guy' who is an ex-Vietnam chopper pilot assisting in a robbery with a spectacular escape (for those days).
As someone mentioned the score was 'replaced' from the swing-era big band stuff Harry listens to which is like the music running through his mind as he pursues these guys r e l e n t l e s s l y. It is integral to the story and somebody should have tried to get the music cleared for re-use in this classic movie. This happens all to often nowadays with these types of films from this era.
The remake of this film is crap---it does not capture the flavor of the original. If this story intrigues you, check out this one which had incredible chopper stunts for those days and even today in some scenes.
My buddy and I would watch this movie anytime they showed it--day or night. Then it sadly disappeared from syndication about 15 years ago.
To all the 'youngins' out there it might seem like a bit of a yawn in light of all those Hollywood spectaculars but this movie is widely studied by budding film students for it's pacing and stunt work. It makes an old doddering grey-beard like myself forget his physical infirmities and remember the excitement of the post-nam era.
This movie is a nostalgia trip for me but my wife is non-plussed. It's not a "chick-flick" then or now!
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jerryfoisel5 October 2005This is THE BEST helicopter action movie ever made! When two helicopters (Harry's Hughes 500 and the Vet's Aerospatiale Gazelle) fly into the hangar Harry's hiding in (co-incidentally at Wendover Field in Nevada: where the Enola Gay and her crew practiced delivering the atomic bomb) they orbit around each other like giant mechanical dragonfly's.They did a truly amazing job making this movie.I don't think they could remake a better movie than this.The piloting and potentially deadly maneuvers in addition to a heart rending story about "remembering the best times of your lives" make this a great movie. There's also a subplot of a May/December, unfulfilled romance between the very sexy Harry and the very cute "22" (played by Elayne Heilveil). I'm convinced that in the scene where she asks Harry (David Janssen) if SHE CAN KISS HIM: the young Ms. Heilveil nearly passed-out and probably got just a little bit wet! She first says the kiss definitely doesn't feel like her dorky fiancé's. It definitely doesn't feel like kissing her father. Then shortly before she practically mounts ol Harry with EYES AS BIG AS SAUCERS, well: YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
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kgowen-16 September 2008I put this in my Netflix queue based on the strong comments I read here. Boy, was I disappointed. The idea, a chase involving not cars but helicopters, has good potential, but it was executed poorly. This is a low-budget movie and it shows. The soundtrack was jarring and incongruous and sometimes Walker is seen in the helicopter moving his mouth in all sorts of strange contortions, but I guess this is because when this movie was originally shown, the music in the soundtrack was different.
The dialog was clunky and the relationship between Walker and the young girl was poorly thought-out and developed. The acting ranged from poor to fair; David Janssen never was all that good of an actor, but here he is adequate in a role that doesn't require much.
There's also a major continuity error when he stops to commandeer a fuel truck. Walker parks the helicopter on the highway, but then after he fuels up, the helicopter is clearly seen taking off from an open field, with the highway nowhere in sight.
I don't think this movie was good even by 1973 standards, and 35 years later, it is almost laughable. -
AlsExGal7 October 2017Friends since their WWII days as part of the Flying Tigers, Meeker's character is now a Lt. (I think) on the Salt Lake City police force while Janssen, whose character misses the good old days and feels somewhat disconnected with things as they are in the present day of 1973, is a radio station helicopter traffic announcer. During the course of his work one day, he spots a bank robbery in progress and, seeing the thieves take a young lady hostage and being aware that they will likely escape if he doesn't intervene, decides to follow them in his copter. Before long, he becomes much more involved with this scenario than he imagined he would be. The interchanges between Janssen and Meeker during the pursuit, as well as the final encounter between the forces of law & order and the criminals, are indeed memorable and worth a look.
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dean.s.espitallier13 June 2000This film was part of the edge-of-your-seat action/chase genre made popular in the '70s. Films like Vanishing Point, and Smokey and the Bandit, where nothing more than a car chase sequence with a little cohesive drama or comedy thrown in.
The makers of Birds of Prey obviously had the same thing in mind, but they added an interesting twist; helicopters instead of cars.
David Janssen plays Harry Walker, an ex-WWII fighter pilot longing for the glory days of dog fights and heroic aerobatics. He is a now twice divorced, lonely, and somewhat bitter, Salt Lake City helicopter traffic reporter. Ralph Meeker plays Jim "Mac" McAndrew, a former war buddy of Walker's who prefers to stay on the ground, forget flying, war planes, and the past, to focus on the his career as a Salt Lake City cop.
On a routine day Walker witnesses a bank robbery from the air. He calls it into Mac who thinks he's pulling a gag. The robbers kill a bank guard and take a hostage then get away in a stolen car. The chase begins. The police join the chase as car and chopper scream through urban Salt Lake City.
This was a pretty good film for a made-for-TV movie. The flying sequences are well done and well coordinated. The flying stunts, including diving under overpasses, flying into and out of buildings, tumbling (auto-rotating), and flying between sky scrapers, are all done with real helicopters. No toys on strings or models with goofy trick photography were used. The acting and drama aren't bad, but that's not what this movie's about. Like Top Gun, this movie's about flying. -
...and then some. David Janssen plays a military-vet-turned-newschopper-pilot in Salt Lake City who happens upon a bank robbery involving the baddies, a female hostage and an Aerospatiale Llama; Thus, it's off to the rescue in his trusty Hughes 500D, tailing the baddies and along the way: Rescuing the female hostage, blockading a fuel truck on the freeway for a fill-up, and camping out under the stars in the desert wilds (Flying helos that low at night isn't entirely safe, as the Army can adequately prove). In the climactic ending, both helicopters duel it out at an abandoned desert airstrip where the baddies and law converge, and finally, David's character's Hughes 500 collides with the Llama in mid-air. But the story resumes in a dare-to-sequel ending as the awaiting baddies flee in a Cessna 206, with the law in hot pursuit. Excellent action/adventure movie from the '70s, should be archived alongside the greats as "Two-Lane Blacktop", "Vanishing Point" and "Duel".
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MissClassicTV3 November 2015Set in 1973 Salt Lake City, this movie is about a WWII fighter pilot working as a radio station traffic reporter who chases down bank robbers in his helicopter. The robbers have a hostage, a 22-year-old bank employee who's about to be married at the end of the week. The robbers make their getaway first in a car then in a helicopter. Later, the tables turn and the robbers are chasing the ex-fighter pilot.
Many reviews rave about the stunt flying, chase sequences and the canyons of Utah. There really is a lot of sensational flying and gorgeous scenery. From my point of view, though, this is an incredibly sad story. Harry Walker, the pilot, has never let go of the past. At one point, while being chased by the bad guys, his old friend who was also a fighter pilot but is now a captain on the police force, tells him to go home and let the cops handle it. Walker says, "Don't you get it, Mac? I am home." The great David Janssen plays Harry Walker as a sentimental romantic, a hero longing for the old days.
Oh, and David Janssen has a nice voice. -
movies-10924 October 2020After reading the other reviews about the songs being replaced, I wasn't too keen about playing the copy I have. I don't remember if it's on VHS or DVD now, but I bought it off ebay some time ago and never got around to watching it. I saw this movie on TV back in the 70s - on our old family black & white. I've always been a fan of David Janssen, although this movie is probably the first time I really saw him. I probably watched Harry-O a few times, and later I saw Janssen in Jaqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough, a guilty pleasure piece of trash I remember fondly due to the presence of Deborah Raffin and Mr. David Janssen.
Anyway, after reading the reviews - I clicked on this after one of my usual deviations searching for something else on IMDB, and saw the mention of the music being replaced. Even though it's just a short part of the intro, it's very important in establishing that Janssen's character lives in the past. I know that feeling well - my own father was like that, although not a WWII veteran, his brothers fought in the war. He was too old and too nearsighted at the time Pearl Harbor happened.
Anyway I'm pleased to report that as of this writing, Birds of Prey is available on Amazon Prime streaming for "free", as in no rental charge if you are already a member of Prime. And the opening scenes with the music are there. The picture quality is fairly soft - this appears to be an old print from syndication. But if any "remastered" or "cleaned up" versions are out there, they probably have replaced the music. Toby Halicki's widow utterly ruined the re-release of the original Gone In 60 Seconds - starring Halicki and most of his friends and family - by replacing ALL of the music and car engine sounds with false crap. The opening theme song is even gone, Halicki's friend Phil Katchaturian provided a country-blues style sound track that apparently Denise Halicki didn't want to pay for - she was a bit strapped after paying Nick Cage's salary for the ridiculous sequel. Anyway, this is a review of Birds of Prey.
Janssen's pursuit of bank robbers - in a helicopter with a hostage - is perhaps his best role, although I haven't seen them all. Helicopter stunts like this were not topped until the incredible, insane chase in Capricorn One. Janssen's character is likable and sympathetic - at least for those of us that grew up in a neighborhood of Boomer kids with Greatest Generation parents. I'm going to watch the rest of it now - I hit pause after confirming the music was there.
And they swam and they swam all over the dam! -
brandtre3 October 1999David Jansen plays the phenominal role of ex-World War II fighter pilot who is a traffic heliocopter pilot. After seeing robbers flee a crime in a heliocopter he follows, refuels along the road, frees the hostage and enters into a showdown with the robbers.
The film has many scenes of sensational flying. -
1998MarkVIII20 February 2022I remember first watching this movie on late night TV in 1985. It captivated me then as it does now. It is simply one of my favorite movies of all time. It is touching, poignant, and has wonderful aerial sequences. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you can watch it with the original soundtrack.