A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Darrell Ware (screenplay) and
Karl Tunberg (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 February 1942 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

ROLLICKING ROMANCE! GLORIOUS ADVENTURE! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Tyrone Power is a pilots' pilot, but he doesn't believe in anything beyond his own abilities. He gets...

Plot Keywords:

German Officer | German Soldier | Beautiful Woman | Nazi

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Tim Baker
Betty Grable	...	Carol Brown
John Sutton	...	Wing Commander Morley
Reginald Gardiner	...	Roger Pillby
Donald Stuart	...	Corporal Harry Baker
Ralph Byrd	...	Al
Richard Fraser	...	Thorndyke
Denis Green	...	Flight Lieutenant Redmond
Bruce Lester	...	Flight Lieutenant Richardson
Gilchrist Stuart	...	Wales
Lester Matthews	...	Group Captain
Frederick Worlock	...	Canadian Major
Ethel Griffies	...	Lady Fitzhugh
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Headwaiter
James Craven	...	Instructor

Also Known As:

A Yank in the RAF (Australia) (video catalogue title) (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
A Yank in the Royal Air Force (International: English title) (informal title)
The Eagle Flies Again (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #7276) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:(Banned) (1942-1946) | Finland:S

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The scenes with the Spitfires were filmed in the UK. The Spitfires were from 602 squadron under the command of Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone who were resting in early 1941 in Scotland after fighting in the Battle of Britain.

Quotes:

Tim Baker: Well, I haven't looked at another girl since you left.
Carol Brown: Well, I've looked at other men.
Tim Baker: Maybe, but I'll bet you didn't look at them the same way you looked at me that first night in Kansas City. Remember?... You were going east, and I was going west; then we saw each other, and I was going east!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Betty Grable: Behind the Pin-up" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Bless 'em All

Power at his most charming.

Tyrone Power is so charismatic in this film that the rest of it hardly matters. His astonishing good looks and easy charm really make this film. But there is also good direction, a witty script, great Oscar-winning special effects and fine cinematography.

Betty Grable has never done much for me, but she's pleasant enough in this. But the aerial work, done mostly with models, is exceptionally strong particularly in a spectacular and believable recreation of the evacuation at Dunkirk. This is a war propaganda film, designed to encourage the USA to join the war in Europe - but it is not cloyingly over patriotic. And there are some very original moments - look at the scene where Power wakes up and doesn't know where he is. The camera stays in extreme close-up on his face for a long time, so we don't know where he is either. We see him go through fear and bewilderment as we hear strange sounds. Finally his face relaxes and the camera pulls back to reveal...well I don't want to spoil it for you, but this is a very strong directorial decision. Henry King is to be praised.

You'll enjoy this film.