Biggles –  80’s TV dinner salesman, Jim Ferguson, inadvertently saves the life of Biggles – a crash-landed pilot who somehow appeared from 1917. With the time hops coming along randomly, Jim never knows when he’ll be called back to help Biggles and his crew. In more ways than one time is running out. Can they discover the location of a dastardly new secret German weapon and stop it before it’s too late? 

Biggles (1986) – Director: John Hough

Rating: PG

Running Length: 108 mins

Starring: Alex Hyde-White, Neil Dickson, Peter Cushing

Genres: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction

REVIEW: BIGGLES

Time travel stories are always popular but can often get bogged down in their own complexities – a paradox is always lurking in the background for any audience member savvy enough to think a little harder beyond the immediate spectacle. So, how does a story not get caught in this trap? Well, in ‘Biggles’ case, it simply ignores the issue. Don’t sweat the mechanics!

Jim – the 1980’s American yuppie – is surprised to be transported to Europe in 1917 but isn’t crushed by the weight of the situation and other than a few ‘how can this happen’ moments, never really questions it. This helps move the plot along and makes it fit squarely into the light-hearted adventure genre nicely.

Of course, the eponymous hero ‘Biggles’ is James Bigglesworth, the protagonist in the W. E. Johns novels about the WWI and WWII fighter pilot who’s brave exploits have been delighting readers for decades. There’s no real discernible reason for him to be in a time travel story but it does make for a more relatable movie when a more contemporary (for the time) character is as baffled by what’s in front of them as the audience.

While a good portion of the plot is set in WWI with dog fights and trench warfare, the actual film focuses more on Jim and the time travel element which carefully ensures that this isn’t actually a war film – a genre which had somewhat lost its popularity in the 1980’s.

While there is plenty to criticise about the film (e.g. the soundtrack is painfully 80’s and female character ‘Marie’ is utterly pointless), Biggles is a fun swashbuckling romp aimed squarely at delighting the whole family.

CONTENT: IS ‘BIGGLES’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

Jim Ferguson is dropped off outside his home by his girlfriend and a strange man dressed all in black watches him. The music is mysterious and creepy and the stranger follows Jim but at a distance so as not to be seen. Jim opens his door to the stranger who knows his name and asks him some unusual questions. He then asks to enter but Jim declines. The man is polite and although he is confused that something hasn’t happened, he leaves. Jim walks back inside and mutters ‘weirdo!’

There is a loud, thunderous noise and the lights in Jim’s home flash while papers are blown about by wind. Lightning strikes Jim and he suddenly finds himself outside, standing in mud. An old bi-plane crash lands near him, forcing him to duck and the pilot calmly asks for his help. The pair run away as the plane explodes. Shortly after another explosion happens near Jim and he finds himself back in his apartment, unharmed.

A scene opens with a large, mostly naked cardboard cut-out of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his body-building days.

Chuck, one of Jim’s colleagues is overweight and is portrayed as a sleazy, gluttonous pig. Another colleague shows Jim the proposed image for one of their products which has a model in revealing clothes. The colleague exasperatedly says ‘We can’t let the buyers see this – look at that girls’ breasts!’ Chuck insists that the cover is necessary due to being modern and sexy saying ‘this is what young America’s all about…tits and TV!’ Chuck then stands in front of a table of food meant for other people and when no-one is looking takes a bite and puts the rest back.

Chuck also tells Jim of a line of products he’s working on where models are ‘tastefully posed in provocative positions’ hoping to get their ads on the Playboy channel. He suggests the slogan could be ‘Munch a Starlet tonight’. Jim is clearly unimpressed. The other colleague from before dislikes Chuck and asks when they’re going to ‘dump that mountain of sh*t’.

At a big event for Jim’s company an investor looks at the cover and disparagingly asks if the box is going to contain silicone implants.

There is an exciting dog fight where two planes chase and fire at each other.

When ‘The Weapon’ is used, there is a loud, high-pitched screeching and whirring sound and the plane struggles to stay in the air. Children who have difficulties with loud and unpleasant noises may need the volume for this scene to be turned down. This also happens later in the film and is longer and more intense.

Jim tries to be prepared for his next time leap and goes through a bag full of weapons such as guns and knives.

Jim lands on a table wearing only a small towel around his waist which only just covers his private parts. The table is in the shape of a cross and he lands in a crucifixion pose – the towel looking a lot like a loin-cloth. The only clothing that Jim is able to wear is a nun’s habit. After an altercation with the Germans, Biggles jokingly calls Jim ‘Sister’ in reference to what he is wearing. Jim returns to his current time and is discovered by his girlfriend and Chuck, Chuck is shocked and is convinced Jim has become ‘a religious transvestite’.

During an explosion, a skeleton suddenly lands on Debbie, who has been dragged back in time with Jim. There is a loud musical sting to create a jump scare, however this isn’t particularly distressing. Debbie tries to understand her situation and states that ‘it must be those mushrooms I had on the plane’.

Biggles’ group manage to get to safety before ‘The Weapon’ is tested. A man who has been left outside suddenly appears at their window, holding his ears and is clearly in pain and distress. Debbie screams at the sight. The man then stumbles around before collapsing dead in a steaming puddle. When it is safe to leave, they approach the body and when Biggles touches his arm, it easily comes off in his hands. Debbie groans in horror.

Debbie touches the face of another corpse and is horrified when his eye and skin are pulled away in her hand. This is quite gory and is shown in detail for around 5 seconds.

A plane opens fire on civilians on the ground. An established character doesn’t get up, appearing to be dead. They are brought into a nearby church and they are cared for by the nuns.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘BIGGLES’ FOR KIDS?

The 80’s were awash with family adventure films with many earning classic status, such as ‘Indiana Jones‘ and ‘Labyrinth‘. ‘Biggles’ didn’t enjoy this level of popularity but can certainly stand up as a great adventure in its own right. There is infrequent bad language and some violence but this is on the lighter side and not overdone so we would recommend this movie for kids aged 7 and over.

• Violence: 2/5 (nothing too strong – people are punched, kicked and shot but there is no suffering or graphic imagery. However, there is some gore from the dead bodies after the Weapon is used)
• Emotional Distress: 1/5 (a character appears to be dead but this isn’t lingered upon too much)
• Fear Factor: 2/5 (the man following Jim at the beginning is a bit creepy)
• Sexual Content: 2/5 (Chuck’s sleazy preoccupation with making the products ‘sexy’ is sexist and over the top)
• Bad Language: 2/5 (infrequent mild and moderate cursing. A character uses the term ‘Eskimo’ when talking about an igloo)
• Dialogue: 2/5
• Other Notes: deals with themes of time travel, bravery, being a fish out of water, adapting, friendship, loyalty, getting on with difficult and dangerous jobs.

Words by Laura Record