The Rear Gunner (1943)

Director:

Ray Enright

Writer:

Edwin Gilbert (writer)

Release Date:

10 April 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Drama | War

Plot:

Documentary-style drama on training of aerial rear gunners in World War II. Private PeeWee Williams...

Plot Keywords:

Gunner | Aerial Gunner | WWII | Propaganda | Machine Gunner

Cast

Burgess Meredith	...	Pvt. L.A. Pee Wee Williams
Ronald Reagan	...	Lt. Ames
Tom Neal	...	Instructor Sergeant
Dane Clark	...	Benny (as Bernard Zanville)
Jonathan Hale	...	Commanding Officer
Knox Manning	...	Narrator (voice)

Also Known As:

Broadway Brevities: The Rear Gunner (USA) (series title)

Runtime:

26 min | USA:20 min (shortened version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

U.S. Army Air Forces

Trivia:

Vitaphone production reel #A1111

Movie Connections:

Featured in Warner at War (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Army Air Corps Song

A great short film to laugh at.

"A short film bout a B-17 gunner starring Burgess Meredith and Ronald Reagan. Approximately 20 minutes - B & W."

I guess, back in 1943, you were supposed to join the armed forces after seeing this short film. It's pretty much a recruitment film. Meredith plays a stuttering soldier who finds his place as a rear gunner aboard a B-17. Ronald Reagan plays the part of the pilot.

I found this film on a DVD of WWII films that I bought at Wal-Mart for about five dollars.

It's a great film to make fun of with your friends. Just imagine all the lines from Rocky and Grumpy Old Men that you can quote while watching Meredith shoot down Japanese fighters over the Pacific.