The Tuskegee Airmen (TV 1995)

The true story of how a group of African American pilots overcame racist opposition to become one of the finest US fighter groups in World War II

Director:

Robert Markowitz

Writers:

Paris Qualles (teleplay), Trey Ellis (teleplay),

Stars:

Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Fishburne	...	Hannibal Lee
Allen Payne	...	Walter Peoples
Malcolm-Jamal Warner	...	Leroy Cappy
Courtney B. Vance	...	Lt. Glenn (as Courtney Vance)
Andre Braugher	...	Benjamin O. Davis
Christopher McDonald	...	Major Joy (as Chris McDonald)
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Col. Rogers
John Lithgow	...	Senator Conyers
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Billy Roberts
Mekhi Phifer	...	Lewis Johns
Christopher Bevins	...	Young Hannibal
Eddie Braun	...	Tail Gunner
Max Daniels	...	Left Waist Gunner
Jack Dwyer	...	Operations Officer
James Field	...	Conductor

Storyline

During the Second World War, a special project is begun by the US Army Air Corps to integrate African American pilots into the Fighter Pilot Program. Known as the "Tuskegee Airman" for the name of the airbase at which they were trained, these men were forced to constantly endure harassement, prejudice, and much behind the scenes politics until at last they were able to prove themselves in combat.

---

Plot Keywords:

training | african american | fighter pilot | military | aerial combat | 

---

Taglines:

They Were Our Country's Best Defense ... And Its Greatest Glory.

---

Genres:

Drama | History | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong war violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A 99-es alakulat

Filming Locations:

Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Price Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's closing epilogue states: "The 15th Air Force delivered a massive and successful raid on Berlin. The 332nd [Fighter Group] shot down three German jet fighters, the first jet planes of the war . . . Between May 1943 and June 1945 [,] 450 Tuskegee Airmen were awarded more than 850 medals. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen died in battle. The 332nd Fighter Group never lost a single bomber to enemy action."

---

Goofs

When the Airmen see the German destroyer, it is steaming through the water; when they strafe the destroyer, it is obviously at anchor.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Young Hannibal: [chasing after biplane] Hey! Hey! Hey! Wait for me!

---

Connections

Featured in 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1996)

---

Soundtracks

"Straighten Up and Fly Right"
Written by Nat 'King' Cole and Irving Mills
Used by permission of EMI Mills Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Master used by permission of EMI Music Publishing

User Reviews

A long, hard trip from Alabama to Hitler's Germany.

This movie gives a good look at the first all black squadron of fighter pilots trained in Tuskegee, Alabama. The trials and tribulations of the "Fighting 99th" as they join the 332nd Fighter Group. They gained respect and much deserved recognition by escorting bombers over Germany. The Tuskegee Airmen received over 800 medals for their collective war efforts and never lost a single bomber under their protection. A standard, but memorable WWII flick with its share of 'dog-fights'.

The hard working cast includes: Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., John Lithgow, Christopher McDonald and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

NOTE: parts of the movie were filmed in Muskogee, Oklahoma at Davis Field. Local EMTs and firefighters were used as extras.