Republic Seabees In The Movies

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This web page tries to list all TV movies and cinema movies in which Republic Seabee amphibians have appeared.  If you can help with additional information, corrections, photos and information on movies missing from this list, please contact Steinar Saevdal at e-mail below:

"Roadblock" (1951)

Story

Insurance investigator Joe Peters falls for a bad girl, Diane (Joan Dixon). The couple meet in an airport and wind up sharing a hotel room in Kansas after their plane is forced to make an emergency landing. She wants Joe but loves the finer things in life, like furs and jewelry, more. Peters can't afford things like that on his small salary, so the normally honest Peters setup a heist in an attempt to finance a dream life with Diane. After the crime, an elaborate railway mail car robbery, things begin to go awry and love sick Peters who continues to try to cover up his actions.

The hard-edged clipped dialogue between the two lead actors is typical of film noir. The following is an example early in the film when Joe and Diane first get to know each other:

"What makes you the way you are?" Joe
"What makes anybody the way they are?" Diane
"You tell me." Joe
"Where they got started maybe. I had a lot of jobs - modeling, clerking, secretarial work. I tried hard but it was no go." Diane
"Does that make a chiseler out of you? Must have been somethingelse." Joe
"Whenever I got a job there was always a man who wasn't interested in my working ability." Diane
"I understand that." Joe
"Really? Coming from you that's a compliment." Diane

The movie features an approach and water landing of a Seabee; The guy in the movie says - "The gang of train robbers had made there get away in an amphibian aircraft that had left marks in the grass from the hull and the wingtip floats." - "That would have to be a Republic Seabee."  - "That's a four place ship, six if you had to."

'Wings of Fire' (1967)

Story

Mr. Joseph J. Glosek of Mesa, Arizona, kindly sent sent this information from his memory (22 December 2004):

I was doing a search on the possible availably of the movie "Wings of Fire" when I came across your site.  This is a movie that I would dearly love to get a copy of as I remember it being a fairly good aviation film.  Not the best, as the airplanes involved are basically backdrop for the love story, but it does have airplanes so it can't be all bad! You stated that you were looking for more info about the story...here goes from over 20 years, so forgive me if I am missing some details

Max owns an FBO along with an assortment of very interesting aircraft such as the Seabee, a P-51 Mustang, and an F8F Bearcat.  (Both the Bearcat and Mustang are early Reno Racers with no mods, but I can't remember who owned them).  Kitty is his daughter and of course she is a pilot.  Taff is a returning Marine Aviator Hero, who seems to have problems related to his war experiences (he doesn't want to fly anymore). In addition he brings his new bride along, Lisa (which creates problems for Kitty as she is still in love with Taff). Taff rents the Seabee and a pilot, to fly his new bride to an island for their honeymoon, but while on the island she is hurt (and later dies).  Kitty moves in on Taff thinking he will now go for her, but he rejects her advances.  Feeling like her world has ended, she takes the Mustang up in an attempt to kill herself (and a perfectly good Mustang!!).  Taff overcomes his "fear?" of flying and takes the Bearcat up to talk Kitty down (which he does, thankfully for the Mustang).

That's all I can remember about the NBC TV-movie that aired in 1967.  Hope it helps you.......

By the way, if you ever find a copy of the movie, tape, DVD, whatever, let me know as I would like a copy.

Joseph J. Glosek
Mesa, AZ, USA
E-mail: wingcar426(at)cox.net

PS! I am a commercial licenced pilot with multi engine, instrument and glider ratings.  (10 hours away from my rotor craft rating). I would like to get my sea plane rating as well in the future.

Update 2017-11-16

The Seabee used in this TV-movie probably was N87498 (s/n 50).  On 1967-10-12, N87498 was purchased by Universal Television (a Division of Universal City Studios Inc.); Universal City, CA. A new C of R was never issued.  However, N87498 was cancelled from FAA Registry on 1967-11-02.  According to Universal letter dated 1967-11-01; "The motion picture use of said aircraft involved the total demolition of the plane, including fuselage and engine. Would you please therefore cancel the registration of said plane.” (Thanks to Barry Collman!).

 

"Haunts of the Very Rich' (1972)

Story

Seven people end up in a remote tropical resort after receiving mysterious invitations. The paradise turns into a nightmare when a severe storm cuts them off from the outside world leaving the guests stranded to face the elements and a series of disasters.

A group of people, all of whom, we can only assume, are Very Rich, are on a plane flying to an island resort. When they land, they are greeted by a mysterious black man (Moses Gunn), and the plot thickens. Cloris Leachman gets a makeover from a mysterious black woman (all the mysterious characters in this film are either black or "native") in a scene laden with homoerotic undertones, and Lloyd Bridges falls in love with her. We come to find out that Robert Reed (of Brady Bunch fame) is a minister tormented by his own conflicted spirituality; Anne Francis is an unhappy housewife strung out on prescription uppers and downers; and Ed Asner has a very, very hairy back (this is actually not critical to plot development, but be forewarned). We also come to find out that just before setting off on their journey, each of the "guests" had narrowly escaped death -- or had they? Lots of great cheesy music, bad acting, and unfathomable plot twists make this early 70s thriller a real joy for conoisseurs of bad films.

"Lady Ice" (1973)

Story

In Chicago, a gang of jewel thieves, led by the beautiful Paula Booth, steals $3 million in diamonds. So insurance detective Andy Hammond sets out to capture the criminals and the goods. The trail leads to Miami, where Paula's father, a dealer of "hot" gems, resides. But when Andy catches up with sexy Paula, diamonds aren't the only things he desires.

Seabee is shown taxiing. Then an approach and a water landing of a Seabee.

"The Man With the Golden Gun" (1974)

Story

A golden bullet arrives in London, with 007's number engraved on it, the trademark of Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), an assassin who charges $1 million per victim. Bond (Roger Moore) is useless to M on his current assignment, searching for a missing solar-engineering expert, until this situation is resolved, so he goes to Beirut, where 002 was apparently shot by Scaramanga in 1969. With some difficulty, he obtains the bullet, and it's analyzed by Q Branch. The gold/nickel content indicates it's probably been made by Lazar, a gunsmith based in Macao.

Bond persuades Lazar to tell him how Scaramanga collects his merchandise, and follows statuesque Miss Anders from a casino in Macao across to Hong Kong, where he meets with fellow agent Mary Goodnight (Britt Ekland), Further not so gentle persuasion of Anders gains the information that Scaramanga will be at the Bottoms Up club. He is - but Bond isn't the target. Gibson, the solar-engineering expert, is, and Scaramanga's midget henchman, Nick Nack, relieves the corpse of the solex, the key piece of the system. Bond is arrested by Lieutenant Hip and taken across Hong Kong Harbour, where he escapes on to the wreck of the Queen Elizabeth, which turns out to be a naval intelligence base. There, M assigns Goodnight to act as liaison between Bond and Hip while they investigate a new lead: Hai Fat, a wealthy Thai businessman, who could have afforded Scaramanga's fee.

Gambling that Hai Fat and Scaramanga won't have met, Bond, masquerading as the assassin, visits Hai Fat, and gets an invitation to dinner. Unfortunately the two are well acquainted and a trap is laid for Bond - he wakes in a karate school from which he escapes with Hip and his two karate kicking nieces' help. Hai Fat decides he will lie low, but Scaramanga kills Win. Miss Anders reveals that she sent the bullet to Bond: 007 is the only person Scaramanga fears. He even has a model of him in his Fun House. She agrees to get the Solex and Bond will then deal with the assassin. They arrange to meet at a boxing tournament, but when Bond arrives she's already dead. Scaramanga warns Bond off, but Bond finds the Solex and gets it to Goodnight, who then follows Nick Nack. Unfortunately, Scaramanga is following her and she is captured.

Bond gives chase, accompanied inadvertently by Sheriff J.W. Pepper, but Scaramanga's car becomes a plane and he flies off. Q's homing device in Goodnight's dress works, showing she's in Red Chinese waters. Unofficially, Bond strays into their territory, and arrives on Scaramanga's island flying a Republic Seabee amphibian (N87545, S/N 105). Scaramanga shows off his solar complex, complete with laser, with which he destroys Bond's plane.

He then challenges Bond to a duel: his golden gun against Bond's Walther PPK. Bond accepts, and Nick Nack appears to help him. Eventually Bond replaces his own mannequin and shoots a very surprised Scaramanga. Goodnight, meanwhile, has dealt with Scaramanga's maintenance man, although, by tipping him in a vat of liquid helium, she's ensured that the place will explode. Bond retrieves the Solex; he and Goodnight steal Scaramanga's junk and, after dealing with Nick Nack, who's stowed away, they take a slow boat from China.

The Republic Seabee Scenes

The Republic Seabee action was filmed at and off the beautiful island Koh Khao Phing Kan in the Phang Nga province in Thailand.  This island is today often referred to as the 'James Bond Island' by tourist travel agents for Thailand.  The Seabee N87545 (S/N 105) was owned by Eon Production, and was airfreighted from USA to Thailand by a Boeing 707 for "The Man With The Golden Gun" film production.

In the first Seabee scene, the James Bond is flying low over a beautiful scenery of small islands.  The Seabee is flown between two close islands when Bond prepares for landing.  In the landing scene the Seabee is filmed from slightly above.  In the next scene the Seabee is seen step taxied towards a beach, but now the left wing float is suddenly missing!  It has been reported that the Seabee had an accident on 14 April 1974, when colliding with a rock during the filming for the movie.  Probably the wing float got damaged and had to be removed for the last Seabee scenes.

Without the left wing float, it would be very difficult for the pilot the take down the wheels to taxi on the wheels up on the beach before the left wing would drop into the water.  This is probably why the Seabee is step taxied on the hull all the way up on the beach.  This scene probably was not included in the original script.  However, this change makes the Seabee scene even more spectacular!

The Seabee crew only got a few hours to take out instruments and other Seabee goodies, before the Seabee was blown up into pieces - to all Seabee enthusiasts' despair...

E-mail from Rick Holliday 22 November 2019

I read your article & noticed you assumed the Seabee traveled by boat. It was disassembled enough to fit in the back of a 707 & then flown to Bangkok. Pat Crowley was the IA, A&P not to mention Pilot with numerous ratings that helped break it down & load it in a 707. Pat Crowley was the test pilot in the Seabee for Man With a Golden Gun. He was asked at least 3 to 4 times while filming to make lower passes while flying over the trees. He told the crew that if he flew any lower he would hit the trees but they kept asking for lower & on there last request to fly lower that’s when the float was torn from the wing. He was concerned about landing the Seabee after the float was torn off but did fine & powered it right up on the beach.

The plane BTW does not exist anymore. It was blown up with dynamite. Pat was watching as the explosives guy put dynamite in the plane. This plane absolutely does not exist anymore. The tail number may or may not be used by someone but the original was blown up. Btw, Roger Moore was NOT a very friendly individual at that point in time during the production of the movie according to Pat. They all stayed in one location in the middle of no where in Bangkok where this whole thing was being produced/ filmed because there were no other options. Pat Crowley was a very quite man that didn’t boast about anything. If you ever got a story from him he would quietly tell it. He never bragged about anything but many at WEA airport knew about his history & I personally have known him for years. Anyway, Pat still has family & friends living that can verify this story. Probably not a big deal to most but maybe to you since you wrote about the Seabee. I’ve known about this particular story for years & saw your article & thought I might mention it. Pat Crowley passed away in June of 2019 & will be missed by many. He had an amazing Aviation History.

Sincerely
Rick Holliday
N377BA

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