As a war film, Miller's work is mediocre, but thematically the movie is significant for introducing the two-generational conflicts that defined most of John Wayne's features, war, adventures, and Westerns, for the next three decades.
Flying Tigers (1942)
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Reviews Counted: 9
Fresh: 6
Rotten:3
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: John Wayne is fightin' mad as the squadron leader of a group of American pilots-for-hire in World War II China. Not only are they wildly outnumbered by the Japanese, but they have plenty of problems within their own ranks. Things really heat... John Wayne is fightin' mad as the squadron leader of a group of American pilots-for-hire in World War II China. Not only are they wildly outnumbered by the Japanese, but they have plenty of problems within their own ranks. Things really heat up after the Duke's best friend gets a couple of pilots killed thanks to his pointless hotdogging. Wayne stands by his friend, helps the Chinese people, and manages to pitch a little woo with one of the British nurses on the scene; all in all, not a bad day's work. [More]
Starring: John Wayne, Anna Lee, John Carroll, Paul Kelly
Starring: John Wayne, Anna Lee, John Carroll, Paul Kelly, Mae Clarke
Director: David Miller
Director: David Miller
Screenwriter: Kenneth Gamet, Barry Trivers
Producer: Edmund Grainger
Composer: Victor Young
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Reviews for Flying Tigers
While the plot is a clunky and the message heavyhanded, the acting is generally good.
The film's best scenes are reserved for the 1930s style airplane dog-fights.
This eary WWII picture combines action sequences, romance (with nurse played by Anna Lee), and morality too (making a "real man" out of a new, immature recruit).
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