Bombardier

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Movie Info

A major moneymaker for RKO Radio, Bombardier stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott as trainers at a school for bomber pilots. O'Brien and Scott argue over teaching methods, while their students vie for the affections of Anne Shirley. O'Brien's methods prove sound during a bombing raid over Tokyo. Scott and his crew are captured and tortured by the Japanese, but the mortally wounded Scott manages to set fire to a gas truck, providing a perfect target for his fellow bombardiers. Stylistically, Bombardier is one of the most schizophrenic of war films, with moments of subtle poignancy (the death of trainee Eddie Albert) alternating with scenes of ludicrous "Yellow Peril" melodrama (the Japanese literally hiss through their teeth as they torture the helpless Americans). Though it can't help but seem dated today, Bombardier remains an entertaining propaganda effort (the film is sometimes erroneously listed as the debut of Robert Ryan, who'd actually been appearing before the cameras since 1940).

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
Directed By:

Richard Wallace
Written By:

Derek N. Twist, John Twist
In Theaters:

May 14, 1943 wide
Runtime:

99 minutes
Studio:

RKO Pictures

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Cast

Pat O'Brien
as Maj. Chick Davis

Randolph Scott
as Capt. Buck Oliver

Anne Shirley
as Burton Hughes

Eddie Albert
as Tom Hughes

Walter Reed
as Jim Carter

Robert Ryan
as Joe Connors

Barton MacLane
as Sgt. Dixon

Leonard Strong
as Japanese Officer

Richard Martin
as Chito Rafferty

Russell Wade
as Paul Harris

James Newill
as Capt. Rand

John Miljan
as Chaplain Craig

Charles Russell
as Instructor

Joe King
as Gen. Barnes (uncredited)

Charles D. Brown
as Officer at Briefing (uncredited)

Lloyd Ingraham
as Colonel (uncredited)

Lee Shumway
as Officer (uncredited)

Edward Peil Sr.
as Officer (uncredited)

Herbert Heyes
as Officer (uncredited)

Robert Middlemass
as Officer (uncredited)

Neil Hamilton
as Colonel (uncredited)

Abner Biberman
as Japanese Sergeant (uncredited)

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Critic Reviews for Bombardier

All Critics (1)

This entertaining but dated wartime propaganda film from RKO could just as easily serve as a recruitment poster.

Aug 29, 2005 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews