Flying Tigers [Blu-ray]

Overview

The Flying Tigers were a group of American volunteer aviators, flying against the Japanese on behalf of General Claire Chennault and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek in the months just prior to World War II. John Wayne is the most responsible of the bunch, and John Carroll the least. It's bad enough that Carroll tries to beat Wayne's time with pretty Red Cross nurse Anna Lee; but when Carroll's negligence results in the death of veteran-flyer Paul Kelly, the man becomes a pariah to the rest of the pilots. Unable to serve in World War II due to health reasons, John Wayne spent the duration licking the Japanese and the Germans in front of a Republic Studios process screen.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2014
UPC:	0887090077606
Original Release:	1942
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	12,000

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Wayne	Jim Gordon
John Carroll	Woody Jason
Anna Lee	Brooke Elliott
Paul Kelly	Hap Davis
Gordon Jones	Alabama Smith
Addison Richards	Col. Lindsay
Edmund MacDonald	Blackie Bales
Bill Shirley	Dale
Tom Neal	Reardon
Bud McTaggart	McCurdy
David Bruce	Lt. Barton
Chester Gan	Mike
Jimmie Dodd	McIntosh
Gregg Barton	Tex Norton
John James	Selby
Charles Lane	Airport Official
Tom Seidel	Barratt
Richard Loo	Doctor
Richard Crane	Airfield Radio Man
Willie Fung	Jim, the Waiter
Mae Clark	Verna Bales
Victor Young	Composer

Technical Credits

Kenneth Gamet

Barry Trivers

Edmund Grainger	Producer
Howard Lydecker	Special Effects
Daniel J. Bloomberg	Sound Effects
David Miller	Director
Kenneth Gamet	Screenwriter
Barry Trivers	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Similar in story to Only Angels Have Wings, The Flying Tigers is nevertheless an entertaining and fairly exciting war-time flick. Sure, it's long on propaganda, and its plot is not terribly original, but it's directed with muscular verve by David Miller and features John Wayne in the kind of role at which he excelled. Coming out of Republic Studios, it didn't have an overly generous budget, but it was enough to make the film look good, especially through judicious use of stock and newsreel footage, which was expertly edited in. Miller seems to have a genuine love for the material, and he doesn't care if some of it is a rehash; he treats it as if it's brand-new, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Wayne sails through his role with ease, effortlessly handling all the duties demanded of him and relishing lines like "I hope you two had a good time, because Hap paid the check." The supporting cast is also good, with John Carroll impressing as the obligatory self-centered flyer who has to pay a price. The action sequences are very well done, and overall it's a good way to pass the time.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler