Fighter Squadron (1948)During World War II, an insubordinate fighter pilot finds the shoe on the other foot when he's promoted. Director:Raoul Walsh |
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Fighter Squadron (1948)During World War II, an insubordinate fighter pilot finds the shoe on the other foot when he's promoted. Director:Raoul Walsh |
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Complete credited cast: | |||
Edmond O'Brien | ... | ||
Robert Stack | ... |
Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton
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John Rodney | ... |
Col. William 'Bill' Brickley
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Tom D'Andrea | ... |
M /
Sgt. James F. Dolan
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Henry Hull | ... |
Brig. Gen. Mike McCready
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James Holden | ... |
Lt. Tennessee Atkins
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Walter Reed | ... |
Capt. Duke Chappell
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Shepperd Strudwick | ... |
Brig. Gen. Mel Gilbert
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Arthur Space | ... |
Maj. Sanford
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Jack Larson | ... |
Lt. 'Shorty' Kirk
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Bill McLean | ... |
Pvt. Wilbur
(as William McLean)
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Mickey McCardle | ... |
Jacobs
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Jeff Richards | ... |
Captain
(scenes deleted) (as Richard Taylor)
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Rory Mallinson | ... |
Guard
(scenes deleted)
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At an American air base in England, 1943, is conniving Sergeant Dolan, who manipulates everyone, and insubordinate ace fighter pilot Major Ed Hardin. When Ed is promoted to commander of his group, he must fight his former anti-authority stance as well as the enemy; tension grows as D-Day approaches. Generally lighthearted between moments of technicolor gore; lots of air combat footage, much of it genuine. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
There's a lot wrong with this film, including the schmaltzy or trite stock characters: the Tough Commander, the Happy Go Lucky Guy, the Goof Off, the Big Operator, and of course The Kid.
Henry Hull plays...yet again...Henry Hull.
Modelers will wonder why an 8th AF group uses 12th Air Force markings, with different colored cowlings in the same formation. (It would not have been hard to do it right.) Some of the film footage is reversed (stars & bars on upper right instead of upper left wings) and much of the color combat film is from Japan in 1945.
Still, how often do we get to see P-47s in color? "Fighter Squadron" is much like the egregious 1970s TV series "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (BBBS!) in that the plot is thin and the acting is marginal, but the airplanes are watchable.