The War Lover (1962)

Buzz Rickson is a dare-devil World War II bomber pilot with a death wish. Failing at everything not involving flying, Rickson lives for the most dangerous missions. His crew lives with this... See full summary »

Director:

Philip Leacock

Writers:

Howard Koch (screenplay), John Hersey (novel)

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Shirley Anne Field

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve McQueen	...	'Buzz' / Buzz Rickson
Robert Wagner	...	'Bo' / Ed Bolland
Shirley Anne Field	...	Daphne
Gary Cockrell	...	Lynch: Crew of 'The Body'
Michael Crawford	...	Junior' / Junior Sailen: Crew of 'The Body
Bill Edwards	...	Brindt: Crew of 'The Body'
Chuck Julian	...	Lamb: Crew of 'The Body'
Robert Easton	...	Handown: Crew of 'The Body'
Al Waxman	...	Prien: Crew of 'The Body'
Tom Busby	...	Farr: Crew of 'The Body'
George Sperdakos	...	Bragliani: Crew of 'The Body'
Bob Kanter	...	Haverstraw: Crew of 'The Body'
Jerry Stovin	...	Emmet
Ed Bishop	...	Vogt (as Edward Bishop)
Richard Leech	...	Murika

Storyline

Buzz Rickson is a dare-devil World War II bomber pilot with a death wish. Failing at everything not involving flying, Rickson lives for the most dangerous missions. His crew lives with this aspect of his personality only because they know he always brings them back alive.

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Plot Keywords:

bomber | pilot | bomber pilot | airplane crash | bomber aircraft | 

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Taglines:

John Hersey's Major Novel of World War II

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

A háború szerelmese

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Columbia British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, restored to flying condition in World War II configurations, were used during filming. Clever camera work and multiple shots of the planes with different names painted on their noses were mixed with wartime footage to create the illusion of an entire Group of B-17 bombers. Noted aviation author and pilot Martin Caidin, who helped fly one of the B-17s from America to England, chronicled the restorations of the aircraft, their flight across the Atlantic, and their use in the film in his book "Everything But The Flak."

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Goofs

The staff sergeant radio operator in the control tower has four brass lapel disks on his uniform jacket instead of the authorized two disks.

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Quotes

Captain Buzz Rickson: What's the matter Bolland, afraid to die?
1st Lt Ed Bolland: Damn right I am. But you're scared to live.

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Connections

Referenced in Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Roll Me Over"
(uncredited)
Written by Robert Musel and Desmond O'Connor

User Reviews

Character Study of Arrogance and Conceit

I haven't read the John Hersey novel others praise. (I've always liked Hersey's reporting and writing - just missed this one). So I can judge only the movie.

Steve McQueen gives a truly wonderful performance as the sort of guy you want to punch - arrogant, self-absorbed, cruel, conceited. (Of course in life, we read the same of him!). Robert Wagner also gives a wonderful performance - how not to appear a loser when the cruel arrogant one always wins. Shirley Anne Field is absolutely lovely in a very upper class/dreamgirl sort of way.

The movie is quite romantic - you really believe in Wagner-Field as a couple. There is warmth and lust and trust and realism between the two. The movie gives the flavor of love in wartime almost as well as Yanks.

I quite liked the movie- but it seems too short - let us have more of these characters' interactions. They ARE interesting characters at an interesting and dangerous time. I suppose if they'd have taken more from Hersey's novel, it would have felt a more substantial meal.