223: Flying Over the Silent World

Movie Meltdown - Episode 223 This week we talk to Bob Braunbeck, Jacques Cousteau's helicopter pilot for 16 years! He is, as he describes it - an old-school pilot. And in time he would also earn his title as "Director of Aerial Photography" for Cousteau's films. He's lived an amazing life, filled with adventures that most of us can't even imagine.    Then we discuss the 1956 film "The Silent World", Jacques Cousteau's legendary and Oscar-winning documentary. As it turns out, this movie is something very different then what we expected. The world was a very different place in 1956, and many things take place that would never be allowed today. If you watch the movie... you'll know what we mean. So beware, there some disturbing images mixed into this visually stunning documentary.  And as we find out about hotwiring a helicopter, we also talk about...  there's never anybody on the radio, learning a new language, the red beanie, balancing four things at once, communicating with whales, listening with your mouth, a licensed mechanic, Russell Brand's words to live by, working in Germany, Kansas City, rubber bungee, backing up in a helicopter, getting permission to shoot, living in France, burning a tree,  running a helicopter in saltwater conditions, learning French on a pillow, damaging the blade, he always wanted to be somewhere else, putting a butterfly in a coal mine, two colors - blue and green, flying through caves, it's like we were brothers, I had to watch part of it through my hands, the Air Force Academy, believing what the older animals tell you, arguing is a waste of time, hosing down a shirtless dude, I had to get back to the boat... and it was getting a little dark, the pleasures of life, deforestation, power line control, I'm confused by what part of what they did was science, New Albany, taking me to pull my fingernails out, using the wrong word, judging the blades, traveling around the world, getting arrested in a foreign country, ADHD, sun block, the Bureau of Aviation, dead fish, a straight-up beau hunk, the difference between a reason  and an excuse, breaking the helicopter, have you been filming?, floating frat party, staying out of the air traffic,sea turtles and avenging the whale!  Spoiler Alert: I don't know if you'd call them exactly "spoilers", since they actually happened... over 57 years ago! But this film features tons of beautifully shot footage as well as a few horrifying parts, by today's standards. So watch the movie beforehand, and you will know what we are talking about.   "...they showed me all the places where you don't land, 'cause that's where all the smugglers come in - and they'll shoot you if you land there."