Flying Tigers (film)
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| Flying Tigers | |
|---|---|
 Flying Tigers DVD Cover |
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| Directed by | David Miller |
| Produced by | Edmund Grainger |
| Written by | Kenneth Gamet, Barry Trivers |
| Starring | John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 1942 |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Flying Tigers is a 1942 black-and-white war film, starring John Wayne and John Carroll as mercenary fighter pilots fighting the Japanese in China prior to the U.S. entry into World War II.
The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Effects, Special Effects for Howard Lydecker (photographic) and Daniel J. Bloomberg (sound); Best Music for Victor Young; and Best Sound, Recording for Daniel J. Bloomberg.
[edit] Plot
Jim Gordon (John Wayne in his first war film) leads the Flying Tigers, a legendary unit not sanctioned by the American government at the time. His men fly Curtiss P-40 fighters against Japanese bombers and fighters in the skies over China. The pilots are a mixed bunch, motivated by money (they receive a bounty for each plane shot down), patriotism or just the thrill of combat.
One day, old friend Woody Jason (John Carroll) enlists. An arrogant, hot-shot aviator, he starts causing trouble immediately. When the Japanese raid the base, the enthusiastic new arrival goes after them, taking a plane without permission, not realizing until too late that it has no ammunition. As a result, he is shot down. He is unharmed, but the precious plane is a wreck. As time goes on, he shows that he has little use for teamwork, alienating and endangering the other pilots...particularly Blackie Bales, who is picked off while parachuting from his crippled plane because Woody ditched him to chase another "Mitsy."
In a subplot, Woody starts romancing nurse Brooke Elliott (Anna Lee), who had been waiting for Jim to notice her. One night, they go on a date. When he is late getting back for a patrol, Jim's right hand man, 'Hap' Smith (Paul Kelly), secretly takes his place. Unfortunately, he had been grounded because his vision had deteriorated, particularly at night. In the resulting dogfight, he is unable to judge distances accurately and winds up dying in a collision with a Japanese raider. This proves to be the final straw; Jim fires Woody, explaining that "It's out of my hands now. None of these men will ever fly with you again. And they HAVE to fly."
A day later, Jim receives word that a crucial bridge has to be destroyed. The target is so heavily defended, the only way that has a chance of working is to sneak in undetected with a single cargo plane and bomb it, but it would be a one-way trip. Jim volunteers, but Woody invites himself along, much to Jim's irritation. They are able to bomb the bridge only after a crucial supply train has crossed. The plane is hit and catches fire. Jim bails out, expecting Woody to do the same. Instead, Woody flies the plane into the train, destroying it at the cost of his own life.
The next day, Jim reads a letter Woody wrote to him just before the fateful mission. As Woody's last will and testament, it asks Jim to "Give my silk scarf to the next hedge-hopper who takes this for an easy racket." Jim does so; smiling, he admonishes the young replacement: "Take good care of this; it belonged to a pretty good flyer."
[edit] Historicity
- John Wayne's character is nicknamed ‘Pappy’. This was real-life Marine fighter ace Gregory Boyington's moniker. Boyington (the inspiration for the TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep) did in fact fly with the Tigers until early 1942, when he was dishonorably discharged.
- Modified Curtiss P-36's with added surfaces were used to portray the Curtiss P-40's the Tigers actually flew.
- Actual combat footage was used in some of the scenes.
