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...
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Title: The War Lover (1962)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Steve McQueen | ... |
'Buzz' /
Buzz Rickson
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| Robert Wagner | ... |
'Bo' /
Ed Bolland
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| Shirley Anne Field | ... |
Daphne
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| Gary Cockrell | ... |
Lynch: Crew of 'The Body'
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| Michael Crawford | ... |
Junior' /
Junior Sailen: Crew of 'The Body
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Bill Edwards | ... |
Brindt: Crew of 'The Body'
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Chuck Julian | ... |
Lamb: Crew of 'The Body'
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| Robert Easton | ... |
Handown: Crew of 'The Body'
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| Al Waxman | ... |
Prien: Crew of 'The Body'
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Tom Busby | ... |
Farr: Crew of 'The Body'
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George Sperdakos | ... |
Bragliani: Crew of 'The Body'
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Bob Kanter | ... |
Haverstraw: Crew of 'The Body'
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Jerry Stovin | ... |
Emmet
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| Ed Bishop | ... |
Vogt
(as Edward Bishop)
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Richard Leech | ... |
Murika
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Plot Summary
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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. Written by KC Hunt <khunt@eng.morgan.edu>
Plot Keywords:
pilot | bomber | bomber pilot | reference to marilyn monroe | airplane |Taglines:
... came with their BIG bombers, BIG talk, BIG money - and went over BIG with the women! See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 October 1962 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El amante de la muerte See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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1st Lt Ed Bolland: Damn right I am. But you're scared to live.
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(uncredited)
Written by Richard Addinsell and Raymond Anzarut
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Did You Know?
Goofs
The briefing map the pilots get to see before the raid on Leipzig shows the Netherlands as having an area of reclaimed land that was not yet there during WW II. It's called Eastern Flevoland (or, in Dutch: Oostelijk Flevoland) and wasn't finished until 1957. See more »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.
See more »
Soundtracks
Song of Liberty(uncredited)
Written by Richard Addinsell and Raymond Anzarut
See more »
Although this is one of my McQueen favorites, the movie itself is flawed.
The film does not stand on its own merit. Rather it assumes the viewer has read the original novel, by John Hersey, upon which it was based. Since many of the important aspects of the book are assumed, the film contains gaps and jerks in its sequencing and total focus.
However, if you like period pieces, the uniforms and flight gear are terrific. And except for one really bad special effects sequence (anyone who saw this movie knows I'm talking about the burning parachute which looks like what it is- a burning handkerchief) the aerial sequences, both war footage and interior close up action shots, are detailed and believable.
McQueen clearly captures the character of Buzz Rickson ( Buzz Marrow in the book), an A#1, narcissistic SOB. A great line is: "I risk the crew's life every time I take them off the ground, don't I...sir?" The pause between "don't I" and "sir" tells the whole story. This guy deftly walks the line between being totally professional and totally insubordinate.
All in all, a great flick.