... is IMPOSSIBLE. Why didn't Pat put on shoes more suitable for that terrain?
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
The 'point' of this was kinda forecast by the lingering camera on her shapely legs in the first scene we see her (dress caught on the ladder as she descends from the plane).
shareHeels of that sort were the norm for women in that period in TV and films. Barbara Billingsley did housework in high heels in the show Leave it to Beaver. An equally reasonable question would be, who would wear a dress and high heels when flying on a small military bomber. And why a short range bomber?
shareYou are right 'Owen-13', heels were common in TV and films of the era because that was what women wore in that time period. Yes, women wore "flats" and "tennis shoes" but only around the home or in an informal setting. The same was true for trousers. A 'formal' occasion like flying was back then would call for the skirt and heels despite flying on a military aircraft. The aircraft was 'made up' to look like a VIP aircraft(notice the two general's stars just below the cockpit) so it would have had VIP seats in place of the regular minimal seat that was "factory". The actual aircraft appears to be a B-25 "Mitchel" medium bomber. If you notice the nose, it is shaped oddly. I believe it was the camera plane that TallMantz Aviation created for their movie business. The airport appears to be Orange County Airport because there is nothing visable in the background. I would be curious if the location could be documented.
Actually the B-25 was not so "short range"; after all it was used on the Dolittle Raid on Japan in April, 1942. It could of made the hop from Washington D.C. with one refueling stop depending on the version and load. It was common for WWII excess light and medium bombers to be converted by the new Air Force as VIP/General's transports. They were resonably fast and readily available in that era. Jets were still fairly new and all the Air Force's large jets were bombers and commited to use in the Cold War. Transports were all propeller models with turboprops just beginning to show up. I suppose a C-47 or C-46 would have also been a good choice.
>"The airport appears to be Orange County Airport because there is nothing visable in the background. I would be curious if the location could be documented."<
It's actually the old Palmdale Army Air Field, later USAF Plant 42, now Palmdale Regional Airport/USAF Plant 42. The approximate spot where the scene was shot is at 34 37.183N, 118 5.054W. The original concrete and asphalt pavements of the old flight apron are still there, visible on Google Earth (you can line up the Tehachapi Mountains seen in the background of the film). The buildings seen in the film are marked on the USGS "Lancaster" 1:62,500 quad of 1958. The map shows the elevation as 2525 feet -- in the film, the sign you briefly see hanging from the control tower says 2530.
The 'point' of this was kinda forecast by the lingering camera on her shapely legs in the first scene we see her (dress caught on the ladder as she descends from the plane).
Her father insisted on going out the desert immediately after their plane landed. She didn't have a chance to unpack or change. Later in the movie when they are bombing and investigating the nest, she's dressed more appropriately.
sharePat obviously loved her father so much that she didn't have the heart to tell him that her clothes and footwear were not suitable for the desert terrain.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
I got the impression the trip to the sandy ant area was short notice. When she got dressed that morning, she didn't know she'd end up needing practical shoes later that day. Later on in the movie, when she's had the opportunity to plan for the day's activities, she wears hiking boots.
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