Stars: Tab Hunter, Etchika Choureau, David Janssen, Clint Eastwood
Best Quote: A monument stands in aging splendor on the outskirts of Paris. A war turned to stone in the broad museum of Europe. To the Americans who wore French uniforms, who fought in French planes, and fell in love with French women, history has reserved two words: Lafayette Escadrille.
Made by award winning director William Wellman (Wings, Battleground, The High and the Mighty) this was supposed to be his tribute to his fellow World War One pilots*. Unfortunately, its pretty mediocre and low budget. This is the kind of movie that should have tons of great flying scenes, shot in technicolor. But it doesn't. Its B&W, and takes Tab Hunter 80 minutes to get into combat. And the 10 minutes of aerial action are pretty standard (except for one vivid scene where Hunter is saved from being shot down by sheer dumb luck).
What are the first 80 minutes like? Its mostly service comedy/training scenes and a love affair between Choureau (who's quite attractive) and Hunter (who's bland, but does well enough). Its not bad, its just familiar. However, we get one surprising twist, Hunter deserts and ends up working as Parisian whore house tout!** Ooh, la, la. Of course, he later redeems himself by joining the US Air Service.
The supporting cast isn't given much to do, but does it well enough. Eastwood has about 2 lines.
Summary: One of Tab Hunter's more obscure films, this ode to WW1 flyers barely gets off the ground. Definitely a missed opportunity. Wellman shows flashes of directorial brilliance, but we get too much talking - and not enough fighting.
*Wellman wanted Tab Hunter to die in the first and final dogfight, but Warner's insisted on a happy ending, which is a good thing. The movie goes on for another 3 minutes, after Hunter survives and shows him getting married.
** - Absurdly, some reviewers think Hunter becomes a Parisian male prostitute!
Postscript - The Tribute that Wasn't
It seems the actual, surviving members of the Lafayette Corps (most of them in their 60s) were less than pleased with the movie. They were angered the film's hero was a deserter/pimp and showed the training center as a "summer camp for wayward boys" - complete with pranks.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.