Mad Pilot – Der Wahnsinnsflieger

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. [1]

Brad Randolph 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, whom Brad himself had encouraged to try aerobatics and quit drug smuggling. That also means for Brad exposing himself to some vicious drug dealers who use a fighter plane to ground down drug smuggling planes and take their cargo.

Intertwined with Brad's professional struggles is his relationship with Helen St. Clair (with whom, unbeknownst to him, has had a son), as he had decided not getting married due to his dangerous profession, and not having children due to the fear of transmitting the disability that affects his brother Ozzie.

When Brad begins to have nosebleeds during his competitions, after several near accidents and the deaths of two fellow pilots, he faces a tough decision.

Extra child in crowd at airshow - Todd Jones (that's me) It was a fun gig.

The technical advisor for Cloud Dancer was former world champion aerobatic pilot, Tom Poberezny. Crowd scenes were shot at actual air shows in the Phoenix area.[1] Producer/director Barry Brown was a pilot and wanted to ensure a film on aerobatic flying was authentic. He constructed a special aerial camera apparatus to film the pilots in the air. [2][Note 1]

The aircraft that were featured in Cloud Dancer included two S-1S and S-2A Pitts Specials. A North American P-51 Mustang. Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, Ford Trimotor 5-AT-C and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress were utilized. Other aircraft include: Piper PA-28R- 201T Turbo Arrow III, Christen Eagle, Cessna 140, Cessna 172M, Beechcraft A 36 Bonanza, Lake LA-4 Buccaneer… and Douglas A-4F Skyhawk.[2] Piper PA-350 Navajo

Composer Fred Karlin provided three original songs: "It's So Easy", "Cloud Dancer" and "Sainted Angel", the last two written with Norman Gimbel. Composer S.L. Mossman wrote "Talkin' Lady Mechanic Blues" while Mark Dawson contributed "The Heart You Break May Be Your Own". Songwriter/artist Hoyt Axton sang "You Taught Me to Cry" and "Talkin' Lady Mechanic Blues". David Carradine wrote and sung "Man". Gene Cotton sang "Cloud Dancer", "Sainted Angel" and "It's So Easy". Mary MacGregor sang "It's So Easy".[3]

Cloud Dancer was released earlier, but had its worldwide premiere in Milwaukee on May 29, 1980. Although the aerial sequences were spectacular, the film was not well received. Aviation historian Stephen Pendo considered it an example of an aviation film that could not be saved by its vivid cinematography. He commented: "... the picture is so bad that it never went into wide distribution, Here is a classic example of how good stunt flying cannot save an otherwise poor film.[4]