Flying Tigers (1942)

Capt. Jim Gordon's command of the famed American mercenary fighter group in China is complicated by the recruitment of an old friend who is a reckless hotshot.

Director:

David Miller

Writers:

Kenneth Gamet (screenplay), Barry Trivers (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Capt. Jim Gordon
John Carroll	...	Woody Jason
Anna Lee	...	Brooke Elliott
Paul Kelly	...	Hap Smith
Gordon Jones	...	Alabama Smith
Mae Clarke	...	Verna Bales
Addison Richards	...	Col. Lindsay
Edmund MacDonald	...	Blackie Bales
Bill Shirley	...	Dale
Tom Neal	...	Reardon
Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart	...	McCurdy (as Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart)
David Bruce	...	Lt. Barton
Chester Gan	...	Mike
Jimmie Dodd	...	McIntosh (as James Dodd)
Gregg Barton	...	Tex Norton

Storyline

Jim Gordon commands a unit of the famed Flying Tigers, the American Volunteer Group which fought the Japanese in China before America's entry into World War II. Gordon must send his outnumbered band of fighter pilots out against overwhelming odds while juggling the disparate personalities and problems of his fellow flyers. In particular, he must handle the difficulties created by a reckless hot-shot pilot named Woody Jason, who not only wants to fight a one-man war but to waltz off with Gordon's girlfriend.

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Plot Keywords:

china | pilot | american | fighter pilot | japanese | 

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Taglines:

NUNCA COMO HASTA AHORA SE FILMO LA GUERRA EL EL AIRE TAN CRUENTA, TAN REAL, TAN VIOLENTA! (original Argentine poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

De vliegende tijgers

Filming Locations:

Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Co., Buffalo, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The airplanes seen on the ground in the film are decommissioned P-40Bs, of the type actually used by the American Volunteer Group in China; they have four prominent gunports on the engine cowling (but no guns.) In the aerial sequences the planes are 1941 P-40E's, with six wing-mounted guns and a smooth cowling.

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Goofs

The AVG did not engage in any combat prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their first combat mission against the Japanese was December 20, 1941.

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Quotes

Jim Gordon: Don't try to win this war all by yourself.

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Connections

Featured in The John Wayne Anthology (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
(uncredited)
Music by William Steffe (1856)
Played as background at the end

User Reviews

One of Wayne's Best WWII Films

Sure the corn flows right along with the fake blood, but this is very good action. The special effects were great, with just one really lousy shot. Wayne is tough, and we win in the end anyway, so why complain. No, this isn't "Saving Private Ryan," but if that had been released in WWII, we would have lost the war. I give this an 8, pilgrim.