The legendary Howard Hawks directed this WWII classic about the Mary Ann, a B-17 bomber lead by Captain John Ridgely and featuring crew members Gig Young, Harey Carey, Arthur Kennedy, Charles Drake, George Tobias, Ray Montgomery, and John Garfield. On a routine mission to Hawaii, the crew arrives just hours after the Pearl Harbor attack and find themselves thrust into war. Other stops include Wake Island and the Philippines. Of course, one of the purposes of this film was to rally the American spirit, and it features some of the anti-Japanese dialogue you'd have to expect. But the film succeeds beyond the propaganda value. The action sequences are well filmed and exciting, with terrific aerial action and some good ground sequences, too. The camraderie amongst the crew is credible. Each member has his own small "back story" as you would expect, but these fine character actors make it all very believable (Harry Carey is a particular standout). This film is a true WWII classic.
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On their way to Pearl Harbor, a flight of B-17 bombers arrive at the height of the Japanese attack at the start of WW2. After landing they are told to refuel and fly on to the Philippines where they are to fight the Japanese. Many problems ensue but the crew pulls together and takes the fight to the Japanese. This is truly one of the best WW2 movies with lots of action and a relatively unknown cast...stars Harry Carey, Sr, a young John Garfield, and the B-17 "Mary-Ann". The interplay between crew members and the Marines in the Philippines is worth the price of admission alone. A long lost classic finally being released....DO Not miss this one..!!!
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The older ones were far better, than the more recent ones.
I could end my review here, but it would be unfair, considering the effort made to put this collection together.
So let's start at the beginning:
1. "Air Force" (1943) B&W 124 min.
starring John Garfield and Gig Young, is a simple tale of a crew of a Flying Fortress struggling their way from "The Day of Infamy" through the entire Pacific War. (Watch the B-17 closely, it was a true Flying Fortress and alas was lost in the process of fighting that war!);
2. "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944) B&W 139 min.
Who doesn't remember Spencer Tracy in this one, together with Van Johnson and Robert Walker? This too, is based on a true story of WWII, but this time we're talking about a B-25 "Mitchell" crew and its deeds that led to the first bombing of the Capital of Japan.
3. "Command Decision" (1948) B&W 112 min.
with Clark Gable at the helm and based on a stage play, comes through from a different perspective. What do Commanders do, when it comes to gambling with people's lives (in this case Bomber Pilots and Crews), when the stakes are high and the mission is key for victory or defeat?
Assisting Mr. Gable (who himself was an Air Force Captain and flew real missions, hence knows what he's talking about...) are Walter Pidgeon, again Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy and Charles Bickford.
4. "Hell to Eternity" (1960) B&W 132 min.
The story of a man, raised in an American-Japanese family, confronted with the War in the Pacific. Based on a true story, this is the tale of a man facing prejudice from both sides and who manages to win his internal struggle by even capturing, single-handedly, hundreds of Japanese Soldiers. Incredible but true!
5. "36 Hours" (1964) B&W 115 min.
A "What If..." movie, starring a powerful James Garner. We are in 1950, the war is over and the lead Character wakes from a Coma in an American Military Hospital. He suffers from Amnesia, he can't recall anything.
Only that we are not in 1950, but rather in 1944, in a mock-up Hospital built by German Intelligence and the setting has carefully been prepared in order to find out where the Allies will finally land.
More than a true War Movie, this is far more a Spy Thriller, and tightly knit at that, so well told it is almost believable as a true story.
These are 36 Hours you won't easily forget.
Together with Mr. Garner appear actors of the caliber of Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint, together with Werner Peters as a Gestapo Man (an actor I love to hate).
All DVD transfers are clean and the sound although mostly in 2.0 channel Mono, is sharp and clear.
This is a very interesting Collection, even from a purely analytical standpoint. I must compliment the people at Warner's for having chosen 5 very significant movies out of dozens others and having offered them in this very reasonably priced set.
If more, of the same quality were produced, I am sure people would flock to buy them.
Honest reviews on Air Force (1943)
I was impressed the very first time I saw this film, and I enjoy watching it every year. A fine cast makes it believeable. The early hours of world war two. This film truly shows how unprepared we were, but also shows the dedication of our american servicemen.
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Lots of action, suspense, thrill, bombs and camaraderie. Well packed war movie with fast pace action, good dialogue, growing in intensity as the story develops and amazingly well done settings that give plenty of realism. The dark scenarios along the film provide that gloomy and tragic feeling that matches those moments before and after Pearl Harbor. The cast does pretty well and their friendship on the B-17 is not just an accompaniment to the war scenes but grows with them.
It sure reveals the masterful hand of classic artisan director Howard Hawks. If not one of his greatest films it still is a very good one, and one of the very best war films ever.
