Minute 072: He’s Heading for the Door

Guest Host: Clark Acton

Clark Acton – A Finhead with a sword?

Clark lives in Burbank, CA with his wife and daughter where he works as a Model Maker for movies and television. He fell in love with The Rocketeer when it was first released in 1991 and it is still his favorite obsession movie. When his wife lets him, he continues to add to his Rocketeer collection. When not doing that, or building something, he participates in a medieval recreation society, The SCA.

Summary

The Rocketeer  is trying to negotiate his way through the smoky interior of the South Seas Club, as patrons scatter.  He tries to steady himself by straddling a large ice sculpture of a snail, but the sculpture slides off the end of the buffet table. The snail continues to slide along the carpeted floor, while Cliff tries to steer away from the columns supporting the mezzanine. He lets go of the snail, which crashes through the front doors of the South Seas Club.  A rush of exiting diners run through the doors, while Jenny makes her way back inside the club.

Lothar strides through another doorway near the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Spanish Johnny tells Sinclair that Secord “is headed for the door!” Neville takes Spanish Johnny’s machine gun and aims at the ropes supporting  a decorative gold net hanging from the ceiling. As The Rocketeer circles the room, Cliff finds himself suddenly trapped in the net. He falls to the floor.

Neville, Jenny, and Lothar all spy The Rocketeer’s plight. Lothar advances on Cliff, reaching toward him with huge, grasping arms. Cliff ignites the rocket and rams into Lothar, knocking him down the stairway to the dance floor.  Neville reacts to this sudden act. As Lothar recovers, the giant henchman pulls out a handgun to shoot The Rocketeer. Jenny intervenes with a solid blow to Lothar’s head via a large seahorse sculpture. Jenny goes back to hiding among the potted palms while Cliff frees himself from the golden net.

Neville shoves his machine gun into the arms of Eddie’s henchman, Mike. “Get the rocket!” shouts Neville.

The Rocketeer, groggy but on his feet, staggers as he surveys the smoking ballroom. From the stairs, Spanish Johnny and Mike are advancing on him.  Eddie Valentine, pistol drawn, joins the henchmen as they descend the stairs.

Cliff looks up at a stained-glass rosette window in the ceiling of the ballroom. He takes a final look at the advancing mobsters, then presses the ignition button. A gout of flame blows the gangsters away from him as Cliff ascends to the ceiling.

In This Minute
Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Bob Sandman as South Seas Bandleader
Rick Overton as South Seas Patron
Robert Miranda as Spanish Johnny
Daniel O’Shea as Mike