If still alive, my buddy Tim would turn 71 on August 27th. I was recently thinking about Tim, while reminiscing about our friend Howard’s 10th birthday party in 1965. I still laugh at the story of an usher almost kicking us out of the Roxy Theatre when Tim shouted out, “LOOK AT THAT SPITFIRE!” in the middle of the movie, “Von Ryan’s Express.”

It’s a story Tim, Howard, and I laughed about our entire lives.

When Howard turned ten years old on August 6th, 1965, his folks gave him a different kind of birthday party. Rather than running around their backyard for a few hours, they bought us all tickets to see the recently released movie, Von Ryan’s Express, at the Roxy Theatre in Ottawa. Starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard, it was a WWII action movie about a group of soldiers escaping from an Italian Prisoner of War Camp.

Von Ryan’s Express

There may have been eight or ten of us, and we were all excited to go. The big day finally arrived, and Howard’s parents dropped us off at the theater for the matinee showing. Of course we loaded up on popcorn, but also Milk Duds, Good & Plenty, Goobers & Raisinets, Sugar Daddies, and who knows what else before going in and finding our seats.

Tim, Howard, and I a Year or Two After the Incident

The movie was good, and we were all into it. I’d like to think we were well behaved, but I doubt that is true. A group of unsupervised ten-year-old boys working on sugar-highs probably set off warning lights for the ushers, and sure enough, they visited us a couple of times and told us to quiet down. 

 As the movie moved towards its climax, planes arrived as a part of a battle. While pointing at the screen excitedly, Tim shouted out at the top of his lungs, “LOOK AT THAT SPITFIRE!”

A British Spitfire.

We all went silent as we heard an usher walking quickly down the aisle and then arriving at our row. He turned his flashlight on and directed it at our faces.

“Who said that?” he whispered loudly.

— silence —

Then, louder: “WHO said that?!”

— silence —

“If I hear anything more out of any of you, you will ALL be kicked out of the theater.” He then stomped back up the aisle.

We all snickered, but didn’t say anything.

 The movie ended a short while later, and we left the theater. We all poked fun at Tim, while also giving him hell for almost getting us kicked out. We finally made our way back to Howard’s house for cake and ice cream and eventually the party ended.

 Our telling of the story didn’t end.

 I’m not sure why that story stuck in our heads. Or why, other than juvenile humor, we thought it was so funny, but we did. Over the decades, we have told the story hundreds of times. Sometimes, we didn’t even have to tell it. Someone might see a plane, point at it, and call out, “Look at that Spitfire!”, while we all broke up laughing. You know how it is with old friends. Others might get tired of their stories and internal jokes, but they never do.

 Why am I telling this now? A few weeks ago, Cathy was gone and I was looking for something to watch on TV. Lo and behold, Von Ryan’s Express was on, which I hadn’t seen in decades.

 As I settled in, I texted Howard, “Von Ryan’s Express is on!” Two minutes later, a text came back: “Look at that Spitfire!” I laughed, and I am sure Howard did as well.

 As I watched the movie, I was waiting for the big scene with the British Spitfire. It never arrived. There were only German Messerschmitts and an American P-38. I went to bed thinking somehow I had missed the Spitfire.

 The next day, I checked Google to find out what kind of planes were in Von Ryan’s Express. It turns out there were only two: the P-38 Sinatra was flying when shot down, and later, near the end of the movie, German Messerschmitts trying to stop the prisoners’ escape.

 What?!

 I texted Howard and we talked about it. At ten years old, we probably didn’t know a British Spitfire from a German Messerschmitt from an American Mustang. We just knew they were fast planes. When Tim called out, “LOOK AT THAT SPITFIRE!”, he was no doubt pointing at a Messerschmitt in completely good faith.

A Messerschmitt From the Film Itself.

The lack of an actual Spitfire in the movie adds a twist, AND a little joke to the story that Howard and I both appreciate. We know Tim would have chuckled about it as well. I can assure you, none of us would ever think of changing the phrase to “Look at that Messerschmitt!”

 So, Tim, happy birthday to you from Howard and me. We miss you. We still tell the old stories, but wish you were here to chime in as well.

 And up there in heaven, keep your eyes peeled. If you finally spot a real Spitfire, let us know.

Addendum:

Here are some previous blogs about Tim and me. I sure do miss him:

  • In the ‘80s when we lived in Germany, several family members and friends visited us. To “help” them overcome jet lag, we made sure the first couple of days were action packed with eating, drinking and activities to keep them occupied. It almost proved one friend’s undoing in 1987 […] Continue here: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2023/09/12/tim-and-bobbys-visit/
  • This slightly blurry photo from New Years Eve, 1978 captures Mark, Howard, Tim and me.  We are, perhaps, slightly inebriated. Our youth has passed, and our adult lives stretch in front of us.  Looking at the picture now, 42 years later, I think about our friendship and the transience of […] Continue at: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2020/12/27/old-friends-dunny-howard-june-and-ben/
  • The last time I saw Tim, I was in Ottawa for my Brother-in-Law Jack’s funeral. I didn’t know it would be the last time, although I suspected it might. Mark, Howard and I were invited to Tim and Renee’s home for a lunch of Mooseburgers, with Tim serving as grill master […] continue here: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2024/01/15/mooseburgers/ 
  • The coffee cup is old and has chips and a crack in it. It was a gift from my buddy Tim in ‘80 when he visited us in Germany, while returning from Russia. Tim passed away a little over a year ago, and I’ve thought about whether I should continue using the mug, or put it on a shelf somewhere. Continue here: https://maxnhall.com/2025/03/18/the-coffee-cup/
  • I opened the door to the room and the five of them were there. My brother-in-laws, Jack and Don, old friend Tim, Dad, and Cathy’s Dad, Max. All looked robust and in their 50s, except for Max who died at 41 and remained forever young. Tim looked up from the bar. “French 75 Maxie?” I nodded yes […] Continue here: https://maxnhall.com/2025/10/01/the-dinner-party/

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