The Fighting Lady (1944)

The film follows the WWII exploits of the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) (unidentified in the film), in its first major operations following its commissioning in 1943. ... See full summary »

Directors:

Edward Steichen (as Commander Edward J Steichen USNR), William Wyler (uncredited)

Writers:

John S. Martin (narration written by) (as John Stuart Martin), Eugene Ling (narration written by)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Charles Boyer, Joseph J. Clark

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Taylor	...	Narrator (voice) (as Lieut Robert Taylor USNR)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Boyer	...	Récitant / Narrator (French version) (voice)
Joseph J. Clark	...	Himself (as Jocko)
Dixie Kiefer	...	Himself (as Dixie)
G.E. Lowe	...	Himself
John S. McCain	...	Himself
John Meehan	...	Himself
E.T. Stover	...	Himself

Storyline

The film follows the WWII exploits of the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) (unidentified in the film), in its first major operations following its commissioning in 1943. The life of the crew is documented from July 1943 to June 1944, from its passage through the Panama Canal through assaults on Marcus, Kwajalein, Truk and Tinian Islands, and culminating with the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Spectacular 16mm Kodachrome footage of combat operations and naval aviation is prominent throughout.

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Plot Keywords:

naval aviation | aircraft carrier | warship | u.s. soldier | ship's crew | 

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Taglines:

A DRAMA OF THE PACIFIC! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Documentary | History | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1945 (France)

Also Known As:

Le combattant

Filming Locations:

Marianas Trench, South Pacific, Pacific Ocean

Company Credits

Production Co:

Louis De Rochemont Associates,Delta Productions (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-10) is now a museum ship at Patriot's Point, near Charleston, South Carolina. The theater aboard ship is named in honor of Lt. E.T. "Smokey" Stover, one of the Naval Aviators featured in this film. He was lost in the attack on Truk on February 16, 1944.

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Quotes

Narrator: [commenting on the Japanese pilots] These little monkeys are fancy fliers.

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Crazy Credits

Most of the credits appear as if they had been typed out on a teletype machine.

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Connections

Edited into Ils ont filmé la guerre en couleur (2000)

User Reviews

stirring documentary of action in the south pacific.

i saw this film as a child during world war 2 and it has stuck in my mind all these years. i remember the brilliant color and the aerial photography. i grew up in a texas town that had an army basic training post and the theater that day contained many, many basic trainees from camp wolters who cheered and clapped at the pro-american action. i can't believe this film isn't shown on the history channel and i further can't believe it isn't available to the american public.