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 | ship's crew | aircraft carrier landing | 

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Taglines:

Photographed in Zones of Combat by Men of U.S. Navy

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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

In the scene of a strafing mission against the Japanese-held island of Truk, one of the figures seen running for cover is an American POW. According to his autobiography, that prisoner was Maj. Gregory H. 'Pappy' Boyington, the highest-scoring U.S. Marine pilot of the war, who had been shot down a few months before in the Solomon Islands.

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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 They Filmed the War in Color (2000)

User Reviews

The intent and content of "The Fighting Lady 1944"

The Fighting Lady is an American made `docudrama' typical of much Hollywood's war years production. It is narrated by Hollywood star Robert Taylor who had enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. There is no central character, rather it is primarily the story of life aboard a typical American aircraft carrier during the middle war years in the pacific. It includes some spectacular color gun camera footage of strafing and bombing missions at the battles of Marcus, Truk, and Kwajalern and the Marians. It acknowledges US losses, but does not tell of their extent: our carrier aircraft losses at Truk, for example, were particularly severe. The movie seems to be preparing the US public for a possibly long and costly conclusion to the pacific war. It describes the campaign necessary to conclude the pacific war in some detail. It is a campaign that thankfully was cut short. It should be seen as essentially a propaganda film, and is worthwhile viewing especially from that perspective.