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Fighter Squadron

"If it had wings, they'd fly it! If it had skirts they'd fight for it!"

During World War II, an insubordinate fighter pilot finds the shoe on the other foot when he's promoted.

Top Cast

  • Edmond O'Brien

    Edmond O'Brien

    Maj. Ed Hardin

  • Robert Stack

    Robert Stack

    Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton

  • John Rodney

    John Rodney

    Col. William 'Bill' Brickley

  • Tom D'Andrea

    Tom D'Andrea

    M / Sgt. James F. Dolan

  • Henry Hull

    Henry Hull

    Brig. Gen. Mike McCready

  • James Holden

    James Holden

    Lt. Tennessee Atkins

  • Walter Reed

    Walter Reed

    Capt. Duke Chappell

  • Shepperd Strudwick

    Shepperd Strudwick

    Brig. Gen. Mel Gilbert

  • Arthur Space

    Arthur Space

    Maj. Sanford

Overview

During World War II, an insubordinate fighter pilot finds the shoe on the other foot when he's promoted.

Rating

6.2 / 10
13 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Nov 27, 2023

    Henry Hull ("Gen. McCready") is determined to find new ways to attack the Nazi air bases and support the impending D-Day landings, but is fresh out of ideas. One of his squadron commanders "Brick" (John Rodney) has some plans, though - but that necessitates the promotion of "Ed" (Edmond O'Brien) into a job that most think him unsuited for. He's an undisciplined character who thinks the rules are for someone else. Can he mend his ways and take charge of his squadron at this crucial time of the war? There's plenty of internal squabbling, rivalries, soul-searching, sabre-rattling and a slew of black cats - but, essentially this is really a post-war feel-good feature for domestic audiences with little actual jeopardy to what limited plot there is. It features plenty of exciting airborne actuality to keep it moving and the last fifteen minutes make the rest of this plodding wartime drama worth watching. It's curious that there are no women here at all to temper the testosterone!

Recommendations

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Flying Leathernecks

5.9 1951
Aces High

The first World War is in its third year and aerial combat above the Western Front is consuming the nation's favored children at an appalling rate. By early 1917, the average life-span of a British pilot is less than a fortnight. Such losses place a fearsome strain on Gresham, commanding officer of the squadron. Aces High recreates the early days of the Royal Flying Corps with some magnificently staged aerial battles, and sensitive direction presents a moving portrayal of the futilities of war.

Aces High

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