Air Cadet (1951) User Reviews

"Oh, you beautiful doll, you!"

[gmasher · 7/10 · 19 February 2005]

The plot is predictable, especially considering the film is, for all intents and purposes, a recruiting film. It's also a thinly veiled rework of the earlier Berne Lay script, "I Wanted Wings." As a matter of fact, the barracks interior scenes at Randolph AFB, early in the film, utilize the same sets used for the aforementioned 1941 classic. The neat thing is the combination of aircraft and "actors" - the T-33 two-seat jet trainers are some of the earliest models, prior to the installation of ejection seats. There is also a liberal sprinkling of single-seat F-80s used throughout as well. For the flight gear aficionado, the pilots wear the first production "hard hats," the P-1 helmet. Among the actors are actual USAF personnel. Future Mercury 7 astronaut Gus Grissom is mentioned in the IMDb listing as a cast member, but I'm going to have to watch it again to pick him out. More recognizable for me was Col. Leon Gray - he gives a speech to the new jet students about the sophistication of their aircraft, how it will "talk" to them. Gray was a highly decorated WWII veteran who flew photo reconnaissance P-38 Lightnings in the European theater. He went on to command one of the first P-80 squadrons at March Field, then took command of the first RF-80 (reconnaissance version of the Shoioting Star) wing in the USAF.

If you're an early jet nut, this movie is a "must have" in your collection.

Better than I'd expected.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 1 September 2019]

Apart from seeing Rock Hudson in a small role, most of the actors in "Air Cadet" are second-tier--the sort of guys you might have seen but whose names you cannot remember. Yet, despite this, the film is quite good....and it got better and less formulaic as it progressed.

The first portion is about a small group of men who enter flight training school with the US Air Force. Despite the film being made in 1951, no mention is made of the Korean War which had just begun. Instead, it's a pretty straight forward account of what it's like to go through such training.

The second portion is about three of these men who then go on to train in flying jet fighters. Here, however, the story becomes less general and more centers on one cadet and his personality class with the Major....who seems bent on washing him out of training.

For airplane nuts like myself, seeing the F-80 and T-33 two-seat trainer was a nice treat. Others might not care....but hopefully the story (which is reasonably well written) is enough to keep their attention. Worth seeing.

Air Cadet

[CinemaSerf · 5/10 · 25 November 2023]

This could almost be a training/recruitment exercise for the US Air Force as we follow the rather contrived relationship between "Maj. Page" (Stephen McNally), his independently-minded student "Ross" (Richard Long) and his estranged wife and new friend of his amorous young pupil "Janet" (Gail Russell). There is some fine aerial photography here, early jet aircraft put through their paces - bit the story and acting are very disjointed. It can't quite decide whether it's about the science, the disciplined training or the romance - and as a result it all rather misfires leaving us with a rather dull experience. It does give us the briefest of illustrations as to just how green some of these would-be pilots were - best exemplified by Alex Nicol's barely started shaving "Joe", but the rivalry between the two leading roles is too manufactured and Russell injects little by way of charisma into her role before a conclusion that I felt distinctly predictable - and sentimental. Maybe worth a watch for the planes - and an early outing for Rock Hudson, but not for much else, sorry.

18 inches!! I wouldn't WALK that close to another guy.

[RussianPantyHog · 9 September 2004]

It's 53 years old, it's a B movie, it's unashamed propaganda for the USAF - and I loved it. This movie is in my opinion a minor classic and a real piece of history. There's no definite 'plot' to the film, but it's the story of a group of USAF cadets going through flying training in the (very) early years of the jet engine. I really enjoyed it & all the actors showed the enthusiasm of young men at the beginning of their careers. If I was 21 again and transported back to 1951 I couldn't think of a better choice. It was really interesting to see "museum piece" airplanes brand new and the subject of such awe from the cadets and the photography throughout was as crisp as if it'd been filmed yesterday. It was also one of Rock Hudson's earliest movies and, it's so obvious why he later became a star. 'Air Cadets' certainly didn't win any Oscars but it's MUCH more realistic than the ridiculous 'Top Gun' and well worth watching.

From through these walls pass all sorts of people to through these walls pass the greatest pilots.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 2 February 2021]

Yes indeed, there are all sorts of people who attend the air force cadet school to be fighter pilots, and along the way, there are all sorts of obstacles that stand in their way. Alex Nicol, Robert Arthur and Richard Long are the cades; Among their trainers are Stephen McNally and Rock Hudson, seen earlier as their first trainer before they move onto the advanced academy, having it in for the brash Nicol. But there's a soft side to Nicol, protecting young rich kid Arthur who seems to become Hudson's pet project, seemingly humiliated by Hudson with all sorts of exercises utilized to put him through the roughest tests so he can move onto the next level. The first half of the early training moves onto a more traditional romantic triangle between McNally, his estranged wife Gail Russell and Long. Of course, there's plenty of air action, and this results in your standard patriotic military drama that came along as America was getting heavily involved in its latest conflict. Decent for the B picture it is, but not one of the military classics.

Training our new Air Force

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 17 September 2020]

The United States Air Force was only 5 years old when Air Cadet was made. Shortly after the Air Force would be fighting its first war in Korea as a separate service.

The film was dated by 1954 when the Air Force Academy was founded in Colorado Springs by act of Congress. Until then what you see here is how pilots were made.

Air Cadet follows the story of four enlistees Robert Arthur, Richard Long, Alex Nicol and James Best and their time in training. The main plot line involves Richard Long and his infatuation with the separated wife of his training officer Gail Russell. Said training officer Stephen McNally isn't quite ready to let Russell go and therein lies the plot.

Aviation buffs will like the training scenes with the latest in planes in 1951. The aerial shooting is well done and nicely integrated into the story.

Rock Hudson is in this film as an upper classman whomakes our cadets especially Robert Arthur jump. Alex Nicol was the most interesting character, a veteran infantryman from World War II who wants a taste of the glamour that pilots had in the last war. I wish we had more of him.

I'm sure Air Cadet was a fine tool for recruitment for the newest of our Armed Services.

Highly recommended for its its portrayal of Aviation Cadet life in the 50's

[snj5 · 10/10 · 10 May 2006]

In 1951 I went to the Premier of this movie in Houston Texas. I was an Aviation Cadet at the time. I have seen the movie on AMC several times. Although there are no legitimate tapes as far as I know I have obtained one from ebay. I would like to get an uncut 16mm or 35mm film for showing if they are available. I have collected peripherals such as posters,black and white stills and ads about this movie. The movie came out during the Korean War and was done using actual settings and real Air Force persona. In fact in the initial screening in Houston several of my classmates are shown. The movie as shown on AMC does not include that segment. It may have been cut out after the initial premier before being distributed. It was realistic as it showed the life of a cadet from start to his commission. It also showed the heartbreak of being "washed out" as a good many cadets were. It is truly a film of the early fifties and shows young men being prepared for war in the Korean skies.

The 26 Year Old Rock Hudson

[Single-Black-Male · 3 November 2003]

Rock Hudson certainly looks older than his age and has the maturity of someone at least in his 30's. There's no question about it, the man is tall, dark and handsome, and there's real depth to his emotions and facial expression. He does have a rich, silky voice.

Good Storytelling That Sidesteps Cliches

[bluejay52-902-637854 · 10/10 · 8 December 2022]

If you love aviation, you'll appreciate all that Air Cadet offers. It's well acted, beautifully produced, and vastly more realistic than most military flying films.

The aircraft, flight instruction, and training facilities are all historically accurate and take place at the training bases actually named because this movie was produced with the full cooperation of the U. S. Air Force.

The plot is only minimally hokey as it largely sidesteps the Hollywood clichés that make so many films of the era unwatchable. The main characters have depth, complexity, and credible motivations. No spoilers here, but the protagonist isn't entirely good / right and his antagonist isn't entirely bad / wrong. In short, the film realistically represents the human element in flight training.

The Lockheed F-80 and T-33 are stars in their own right. Two versions of the same first-generation USAF jet, the former is the single-seat fighter version and the latter a two-seat trainer.

The greatest treat of all is the in-flight photography.

It's utterly superb and -- a rarity in aviation films -- is perfectly choreographed to match the storyline. A great deal of planning, coordination, and astonishingly precise flying creates a spectacular look at the USAF's "early blowtorch era."

I suspect this film's undeservedly the low IMDb rating reflects viewer expectations of over-the-top drama and cliché-ridden hyperbole rather than something relatively realistic. It truly deserves to stand alongside I Wanted Wings before it.