Sources of inspiration

Books

Biggles
A long running series of novels regarding a Britsh fighter pilot of the First World War, which ran from 1932 until 1999. I have only read a few of these, and they vary greatly in quality. The character of George Macarthur is loosely based on several of Biggles's companions. 2/5

Bulldog Drummond: his four rounds with Carl Peterson.
By Sapper. Set in the 1920's, these are the first four stories in a series of novels featuring the character of Bulldog Drummond. They are some what dated now, but have a large dose of period escapism. The character of Daniel Mansfield is largely based on Hugh Drummond. 4/5

The lost world
By Arthur Conan Doyle. Set sometime in the early twentieth century, probably around 1912. This seimanl work began the 'lost world genre' of science fiction and gaming. 4/5

The thirty-nine steps
By John Buchan. Set in 1914. This novel is an iconic spy story/mystery featuring the character of Richard Hannay. 4/5

This man is dangerous
By Peter Cheyney. One of a series of novels about a private detective named Lemmy Caution and his numerous adventures against gangsters and criminals, this book is set in 1936. 2/5

The lunatic at large, again
By Joseph Storer Clouston. Set in the early twentieth century (first published in 1922), this is the second in a series of novels (I haven't read any of the others yet, though the full text of the first novel can be found here) regarding the antics of a man with mental health problems. Very funny. 4/5

Movies

20,000 leagues under the sea
Set in 1866, this is the tale of Captain Nemo and his infamous submarine, Nautilus. There are several versions and my favourite is the 1954 Disney version. A great story, and despite being set in the wrong time, still excellent inspiration for skirmish wargaming scenarios. 4/5.

55 days at Peking
Set in China in 1900. This is a film about the Boxer rebellion with numerous scenarios suitable for wargaming. Copplestone do numerous figures which seem to be based on this film. 3/5

Atlantis
Set in 1914, this is an animated feature film by Disney which follows a group adventurers seeking the lost city of Atlantis. The film features several excellent idea's for skirmish wargaming in the early twentieth century. The character of Helga was largely based on the charcter of Helga Sinclair featured in this film. 4/5

Australia
Set in Northern Australia in 1939-42. This is a film about a young English noble woman and her struggle to save her dead husbands ranch and build herself a home. The film features the Japanese air attack on Darwin in 1942. 1/5

Bonnie and Clyde
Set during the Great Depression (early 1930's). The tale of two notorious criminal lovers. 3/5

Boxcar Bertha
Set during the Great Depression. Similar to Bonnie and Clyde, but grittier, with less glamour and more nudity. 3/5

Chinatown
Set in Los Angeles in the 1930's. This detective story features many elements of the classic film-noir genre and offers some good idea's for role playing in the 1930's. 3/5

Gunga Din
Set in India in 1880, this black and white film is about the adventurs of three British soldiers and a water bearer (after whom the film is named) during a thugee rebellion. It features, elephants, a thugee temple and a pitched battle. 4/5

Heaven knows Mr Allison
Set on a Pacific island during the Second World War, this film is about a US Marine and a novice nun who are forced to survive together. 1/5

High Road to China
Set in central Asia during the 1920's, this film is about a young woman who hires an ex ace pilot to help her find her father. The film features two biplanes travelling across Asia and a climactic battle with Chinese rebels, but the overall production is pretty cheap. 2/5

Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull
Set in the Americas in 1957. This film is something of a cgi-fest, but despite the odds manages to retain some of the magic of the older Indiana Jones films. 3/5

Indiana Jones and the last crusade
Set in Europe and Arabia in 1938. This film is a sequel to Raiders of the lost arc. It contains a great many inspirational details and idea's. 4/5

Indiana Jones and the temple of doom
Set in India in 1935, this film is a prequel to Raiders of the lost arc. Not as good as the other Indiana Jones films, it is nonetheless a classic of the genre. 3/5

Khartoum
Set in Egypt and the Sudan, in 1885. This film is about General Charles Gordon and the fall of Khartoum to the Mahdi. There isn't much of interest from the perspective of Rocketman, but the film does have a few interesting details for skirmish wargamers, such as a paddle steamer attempting to run a blokade. 2/5

King kong
There are several versions of this story, but the best take place during the early 1930's. 3/5

Lawrence of Arabia
Set in Arabia in during the first world war. This film features several desert skirmishes, including an ambushed train. Personally I didn't find much inspiration in it however, and it is very long winded. 2/5

Lion of the desert
Set in Libya in the late 1920's, this is a film about the Beduin guerilla leader Omar Mukthar and his final battles before being captured by the Italian general Rodolfo Graziani. On the whole a poor film, but it has a few interesting details for a war gaming perspective and is generally historically accurate. 2/5

March or die
Set in France and Morocco just after the First World War. This is a film about a company of French foreign legionaires assigned to protect a group of archeologists from a Berber rebel leader who is loosely based on Abd-el Krim. It features examples of period weaponry and some nice imagery, but has a tired, predictable story. 2/5

Mysterious island
Set in 1868, this is a sequel to '20,000 thousand leagues under the sea'. Not as good as the original, it does however feature an island populated by giant genetically mutated creatures (animated by Harryhausen). 3/5

North western frontier
Set in Northern India (now Pakistan) in 1905. This is a film about a group of foreigners, a Hindu boy-prince and a train driver called Gupta, attempting to escape from a Muslim rebellion. Plenty of pro British bias and post Imperial angst, but excellent inspiration for skirmish wargames. 3/5

Quigley down under
Set in Australia at an unspecificied date, but presumably some time in the late 1800's. This film features a character with a long range snipers rifle and a conflict with an unscrupulous land owner. 1/5

Raiders of the lost arc
Set in 1936. This is the first Indiana Jones film, and almost certainly the best. This film, more than any other is the inspiration for Rocketman and is a must see for any aficionado of the pulp genre. 5/5

Rocketeer
Set in California, 1938, this is film is an homage to the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s, in particular the original Rocketman, Commander Cody. Of all the characters in movies, Rocketeer is the closest to Rocketman. 5/5

Shout at the devil
Set in Zanzibar, 1913. This is a film about two men who take on a German battleship hiding on a river during the First World War. 3/5

Sky captain and the world of tomorrow
Set in an alternative 1939. this film is an attempt at recreating the pulp genre by using live actors against a computer generated back ground. Made by an amateur who was given a chance, it has both strengths and weaknesses, but is well worth a watch. 3/5

The good. The bad. The weird.
Set in Manchuria in the 1930's, this film features a train robbery, Manchurian bandits and numerous gun fights with period weapons. There are no set battles however. 3/5

The island of Dr Moreau
Set in 2010, this is a modern version of HG Wells classic novel. It features the same over all idea of an island populated by genetic mutants. 2/5

The sand pebbles
Set in in China in the 1920's. This film is about the crew of an American gun boat trapped on the Yangtze river during a Kuomintang uprising. 4/5

The sting
Set in the American north east, during 1936. This film features gangsters, a set up and numerous scenes of America during the depression. 3/5

The thing
Set in Antarctica in 1982, this is a film about an American research facility whose personnel discover a crash space craft, aboard which is an alien life form. This film has lots of inspirational material for role playing and skirmish war games. 4/5

The wild bunch
Set in Mexico in 1913, this is a tale about a group of American criminals who get involved in the Mexican revolution. It is gritty and blood thirsty and features several skirmish type battles. 4/5

The wind and the lion
Set in Morocco in 1904, this is a dramatized account of the 'Perdicaris Incident'. It features the usual charismatic-local-leader-against-war-mongering-colonials type plot and has a few interesting details for skirmish wargamers to find inspiration from. 2/5

Two Jakes
Set in Californina in 1948. This is the sequel to Chinatown. 1/5

Villa rides
Set in Mexico around 1912. This is a curiously sentimental film about Pancho Villas. From the gamers perspective it has much to recommend it, Mexican bandits, a bi-plane vs semi-armoured train battle and a cavalry charge across wetlands and numerous gun fights. 4/5

Young Winston
Set in late Victorian era in Northern India, England, the Sudan and South Africa, this film deals with the early life of Winston Churchill. It features several battles including one with an armoured train. 4/5

Zulu
Set in South Africa in 1879. This film deals with the battle of Roukes Drift where a small British force defeated a much larger Zulu force. The film has plenty of inspiration for skirmish wargaming. 3/5