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

This film's opening prologue is a quote from Kai-Shek Chiang. It states: "Since the Flying Tigers first spread their wings in the skies above China, the enemy learned to fear the intrepid spirit they have displayed in face of his superior numbers. They have become the symbol of the invincible strength of the forces now upholding the cause of justice and humanity. The Chinese people will preserve forever the memory of their glorious achievements." 'Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek'

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Goofs

When the burning cargo plane is waved off at the Rangoon airport, it has only the right landing gear down. Moments later the pilots are shown raising the left landing gear.

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Quotes

Woody Jason: Maybe we can have dinner some time.
Brooke Elliott: I never get quite *that* hungry.

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Connections

Featured in Special Effects: Anything Can Happen (1996)

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Soundtracks

"That Old Feeling"
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Played on a record in the Chinese restaurant

User Reviews

Volunteering for China

The Flying Tigers and God Is My Co-Pilot are the two films out of World War II which are dedicated to the American volunteers who flew for the nascent Chinese Air Force both before and after America officially got into World War II.

Though this film is based on fictional people it holds up a lot better than God Is My Co-Pilot because it avoids the racial stereotyping of the Japanese. The Japanese are seen, but only in aerial combat shots with no dialog. And it's true they did have a nasty habit of machine gunning fliers while they were parachuting down, no avoiding that.

The main plot of the film is John Wayne as the disciplined leader of this particular squadron of Flying Tigers based somewhere in western China and an old and rather undisciplined friend John Carroll in a rivalry over nurse Anna Lee. Carroll's irresponsibility causes the death of one man and maybe another.

Still he's not a bad sort, just an overgrown kid. Carroll actually has the best moment in the film consoling Mae Clarke the widow of one of the Flying Tigers.

Some nice aerial combat shots are in this film and it really should be seen today to explain some of the Chinese attitudes towards the Japanese today. We got into World War II on December 7, 1941 which in fact the men in Wayne's squadron hear about in the film. The Chinese were essentially at war with Japan starting in 1931 with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. It was a longer struggle for them than for any other country.

Other performances of note are Paul Kelly as Wayne's second in command and Gordon Jones are Carroll's sidekick. Check it out if it is shone on TCM.