Product Description Winner of an Emmy and multiple film festival awards including Best Documentary Film and Audience Awards in 2010, The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club is a fun-filled documentary romp through the life of one of the most colorful and accomplished female pilots of the early 20th Century. Florence ''Pancho'' Barnes was the first woman stunt pilot in Hollywood in 1929 and shattered Amelia Earhart's air speed record in 1930. In the 1940's and 50's, Pancho entertained the greatest test pilots in the world, the men with the right stuff at the infamous ''Happy Bottom Riding Club'' guest ranch near Edwards Air Force Base. When Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 in 1947, he partied with Pancho. A friend of the fast and the famous, Pancho Barnes was a swaggering, forceful, ill-behaved woman whose exploits and accomplishments are truly the stuff of legend. Featuring never-before-seen photographs and film footage and interviews with many of Pancho's friends including astronaut Buzz Aldrin and famed test pilots Bob Cardenas, Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager, The Legend of Pancho Barnes is an unforgettable, exciting, and poignant romp through aviation history. Narrated by Tom Skerritt, with Kathy Bates as the voice of Pancho Barnes. This multi-award-winning film has screened throughout the United States on public television (PBS), in Australia, and in nearly a dozen film festivals. Celebrated within the aviation community, it was specially screened at the EAA's AirVenture in 2010 and 2011, at AOPA's annual convention, at Sun 'N Fun, the Arlington Fly In, NASA Dryden, and at scores of air museums nationwide. This deluxe DVD features both the broadcast version (as seen on public television) and the special uncensored film festival version of the documentary, along with nearly 18 minutes of additional video including deleted scenes. It also features commentary from writer/producer Nick Spark and director Amanda Pope, a study guide for secondary school students, and more. Review If you haven't seen the film, and you love aviation history ... you need to see it. --PilotMag, July 2010Aficionados of aviation's golden age will find a life and times tale here that is as entertaining as it is comprehensive. --Aviation History, March 2011A thoroughly entertaining look at a very unconventional life. If all you know of Pancho Barnes comes from Kim Stanley's portrayal of her in The Right Stuff, well, you've come to the right place. --After Ellen, July 2009 P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); About the Actor Dr. Buzz Aldrin A scientist, astronaut, author, consultant, and former head of the test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, Dr. Aldrin was a friend of Pancho's who attended her 70th birthday party. Buzz likes to tell people, that his first flight as a boy was in a Lockheed Vega -- the same type of plane that Pancho flew as a test pilot back in 1929. Brig. General Robert Cardenas One of the best multi-engine pilots of his generation, Bob Cardenas flew the mother ship B-29 for the Bell X-1 sound barrier busting project. He later served as chief test pilot for the (in)famous YB-49 Flying Wing. A card-carrying member of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, Bob has terrific memories of Pancho. Bob Hoover One of the great aerial showmen of the 20th Century, Bob Hoover's distinguished career included stints as a test pilot, movie stunt pilot, and air show precision acrobatic flier. He flew as backup pilot to Chuck Yeager during the X-1 program and has fond memories of Pancho Barnes.Gene Nora Jessen A woman with an enormous passion for aviation, Gene Nora earned her wings back in 1958. Just three years later, she was accepted into a NASA-sponsored program for women astronauts, and it looked like Gene Nora might fly in space. That never happened, but Gene Nora remained committed to aviation, becoming president of the Ninety-Nines, and paying tribute to the flying women of Pancho's era in her book, The Powder Puff Derby of 1929 (also available on .com).Lauren Kessler An award-winning author whose essays often show up in the New York Times Magazine, Lauren Kessler chronicled the life and times of Pancho Barnes in her book, The Happy Bottom Riding Club. Some of her other books (all of which are sold on .com) include Stubborn Twig, Clever Girl (a profile of Cold War spy Elizabeth Bentley) and the recently published Dancing with Rose. She lives in Oregon.Barbara Schultz A pilot and author, Barbara Schultz was friends with Pancho Barnes' son Billy, and ended up becoming intrigued with the story of the tough, strong aviatrix. After conducting interviews with surviving friends, she wrote Pancho: The Biography of Florence Lowe Barnes (available on .com). Brig. General Charles E. 'Chuck' Yeager The man who broke the sound barrier in 1947, Chuck Yeager's career as a test pilot is without parallel. Yeager's time on the X-1 project is closely associated with Pancho Barnes and her club; Yeager cracked his ribs on Pancho's corral gate just prior to his supersonic flight. About the Director Director Amanda Pope has an extensive 20-year background in writing, producing, directing and editing documentary, dramatic, and advocacy programs. A professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, she teaches graduate documentary and fiction directing. Her hour-long public television documentaries include Jackson Pollock Portrait, a classic in its genre, Stages: Houseman Directs Lear,; and Cities For People. Her new film, Art Rescuers of Nukus on an endangered world class collection of 50,000 artworks secreted away in the desert of Uzbekistan will debut in 2009. Producer and writer Nick Spark has a keen interest in history. He is a former contributing editor to Wings, a bi-monthly aviation history magazine with national circulation. His articles have appeared in Naval History, the Annals of Improbable Research, the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings and Naval History. A short book he wrote about the origins of one of the world's most well-known phrases, A History of Murphy's Law (available on .com), garnered international attention and was recently translated into Finnish. He has appeared on NHK, National Public Radio, PBS' History Detectives and other media outlets domestic and abroad concerning his historical research. In 2005 the American Aviation Historical Society presented him with its Author's Award for his article ''Secrets of the Spirit''. He has produced or directed a number of award-winning documentary and industrial films, including a project for the Department of Defense. Nick's documentary film, Regulus: The First Nuclear Missile Submarines (available on DVD on .com) aired internationally. He holds a masters degree in Film Production from the University of Southern California. See more
S**N
Pancho Barnes Is An Amazing Woman Born In 1901, She Would Be Amazing In Period!
I loved every minute of this documentary about the amazing life of Pancho Barnes. I first heard about Pancho Barnes and her Happy Bottom Riding Club in the move “The Right Stuff”. Her place in that movie was important but peripheral to the story. It only gave the smallest hint of her amazing life.This is one of the best documentaries of a true iconoclast I think I’ve ever seen. She broke all the rules back in the Victorian times when she was born into high class and wealth. As someone who grew up in the 60’s as a misfit gal who chose engineering over more “in the box” paths for women of that time I really appreciate Pancho’s grit and moxie. I especially appreciate the declaration that she has more fun in a week than most people have in their whole life! I believe it.Pancho knew what she wanted and went for it. Even going to Mexico to fight with revolutionaries to get what she wanted. And it wasn’t just about her. She was a Hollywood stunt pilot in the 1930’s and held a number of air speed records even beating her contemporary Amelia Earhart. During this period she led the formation of the first. This is all before the Happy Bottom Riding Ranch where many test pilots would hang out including the legendary Chuck Yeager. She was well known in the test pilot community as an outstanding pilot and personality.One of the colorful parts of the documentary covers her conflict with the Air Force when Edwards had a change of command that did not appreciate her nearby establishment. The documentary covers this in a very informative and entertaining way.As mentioned above I loved every minute of this documentary of the incredible Pancho Barnes. She certainly was a character, but also clearly had character. A powerful combination for sure. I learned a lot about Pancho and her life and feel enriched because of it. As should be obvious by now I’m giving this film 5 solid stars. Well done!
A**N
Pancho Barnes - Brought to Life
I cannot top the previous reviews, especially Ben's which very well sums up the documentary. If I could ever travel back in time I would love to go back to the late 1940's or early 1950's and walk through those doors. What a place and what a time. Her life was just amazing, if ultimately sad, from being a stunt pilot right through to her last days. Why is it that people so often become famous after they have passed away in virtual obscurity? If only Tom Wolfe had written his book a few years earlier, if only....The documentary has so much in it of interest. I found myself freeze framing some of the documents that are very briefly shown to read them. One brief shot is of the Happy Bottom Riding club's guest book with an entry dated 12-10-46 from Slick Goodlin ! If only that book could be reprinted ! I once had the pleasure of meeting Cliff Morris (whose color photo is briefly shown stading in front of the "Air Force" fountain at Pancho's). This was in Lancaster CA in 2005. He used to work at NACA and part time at Pancho's. Cliff was very frail but his son showed me momentoes including his membership card and a music score written by Pancho called "Ghosts of The Badmen" with a note to Cliff. Cliff kindly signed my copy of Barbara Shultz's biography of Pancho which I recommend.Once again a fascintaing and perfectly produced documentary which was exactly what I had hoped for. The audio interview by Don Kuhns is a great bonus. Pancho sounds so much more articulate and thoughtful than one might have expected given the hype. It is good to have that additional perspective on her life.
L**C
Awesome person, awesome story
iI have personal family member and friends who know Panch Barnes. Great story and history
J**N
Great Read
I loved the book. I wanted to learn more about the character from the movie “The Right Stuff” where Chuck Yeager hung out. I was in the Air Force, spent several weeks at Edward’s AFB and awas somewhat familiar with the story and legend. Loved this book.
F**N
Good movie about an unusual person
This was a great insight into the life of Pancho Barnes. I was aware that she knew Chuck Yeager, but not aware she knew Buzz Aldrin. An entertaining look at an aviation Era that we will never see again!
B**N
We got your prime pilots, & we got your pudknockers.
If you saw the classic movie "The Right Stuff", and were interested in the rough-hewn female bartender who ran the local watering hole "Pancho's Happy Bottom Riding Club" and put Gordon Cooper & Gus Grissom in their place at the bar at Edwards AFB, this film is for you. This amazing documentary has been years in the making, and was well worth the wait. The life and times of the legendary, inimitable, Florence "Pancho" Barnes is told by many of the people who knew her best, America's finest test pilots of the era- including Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Bob Cardenas, among others who worked & actually lived with Pancho. More than just a biography, this film for me was also a history lesson studying the early years of female aviation, as well as a glimpse at the men who risked their lives daily at Edwards, testing 'hurtling pieces of machinery', some with no method of ejection from when things went wrong, which they often did. The DVD is loaded with extras, including 2 versions of the film, the longer 64 min. one a little racier for adults, as well as 18 min. of bonus scenes, and a rare audio track where Pancho relates some of her experiences in her own voice during an interview for a student. Chock full of vintage photos & video, this film delves into the character of a woman who lived her own dreams and never gave up, an individual that many would consider larger than life. In her own words, "We have more fun in a week than other weenies do in a lifetime". Narrated by Tom Skerrit, with the voice of Kathy Bates as Pancho, this is an entertaining, informative look into an era that could never happen again. A fine addition to the video library of the aviation enthusiast.
Trustpilot
1 month ago
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