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IMDbPro

The Tuskegee Airmen

  • TV Movie
  • 1995
  • PG-13
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Allen Payne, Courtney B. Vance, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
Whether you want to witness the action of a pivotal battle, the bravery of a history-making unit, or the heroism of a four-legged "sergeant" and his partner, we've got five films you can stream now: 'Dunkirk,' 'Megan Leavey,' 'Greyhound,' 'War Horse,' and "The Tuskegee Airmen."
Play clip2:06
Watch 5 Inspiring Military Dramas to Stream
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64 Photos
DramaHistoryWar

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 IIThe 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 IIThe 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
    • Trey Ellis
    • Ron Hutchinson
  • Stars
    • Laurence Fishburne
    • Allen Payne
    • Malcolm-Jamal Warner
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    6.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writers
      • Paris Qualles
      • Trey Ellis
      • Ron Hutchinson
    • Stars
      • Laurence Fishburne
      • Allen Payne
      • Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    • 38User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 6 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos2

    5 Inspiring Military Dramas to Stream
    Clip 2:06
    Watch 5 Inspiring Military Dramas to Stream
    9 Films With Inspirational Heroes to Celebrate
    Clip 3:16
    Watch 9 Films With Inspirational Heroes to Celebrate

    Photos64

    Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Courtney B. Vance, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Courtney B. Vance, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    William Earl Ray in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Mekhi Phifer in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Mekhi Phifer in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Tim Kelleher and Ned Vaughn in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Marco Perella in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    Tim Kelleher and Ned Vaughn in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    John Lithgow in The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Fishburne
    Laurence Fishburne
    • Hannibal Lee
    Allen Payne
    Allen Payne
    • Walter Peoples
    Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    • Leroy Cappy
    Courtney B. Vance
    Courtney B. Vance
    • Lt. Glenn
    • (as Courtney Vance)
    Andre Braugher
    Andre Braugher
    • Benjamin O. Davis
    Christopher McDonald
    Christopher McDonald
    • Major Joy
    • (as Chris McDonald)
    Daniel Hugh Kelly
    Daniel Hugh Kelly
    • Col. Rogers
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Senator Conyers
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Billy Roberts (Train)
    Mekhi Phifer
    Mekhi Phifer
    • Lewis Johns
    Christopher Bevins
    • Young Hannibal
    Eddie Braun
    Eddie Braun
    • Tail Gunner
    Max Daniels
    Max Daniels
    • Left Waist Gunner
    Jack Dwyer
    • Operations Officer
    James Field
    • Conductor
    Vivica A. Fox
    Vivica A. Fox
    • Charlene
    • (as Vivica Fox)
    Bennet Guillory
    Bennet Guillory
    • Hannibal's Father
    David Harrod
    • White Pilot #1
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writers
      • Paris Qualles
      • Trey Ellis
      • Ron Hutchinson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Most of the characters were fictitious composites of real pilots. However, Benjamin "B.O." Davis was very much a real person and was depicted accurately.
    • Goofs
      When Cadet Hannibal Lee is release by Major Joy for his first solo flight, he is given the typical order for all first solo flights: "Three circuits around the [traffic] pattern with full stop landings." The scene then cuts to Cadet Lee far above the traffic pattern altitude (obvious to any pilot) which is a violation of the order he has been given.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis: We weren't assigned. We were requested.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Desperado/Dangerous Minds/Mortal Kombat/Beyond Rangoon/Lord of Illusions/The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
    • 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 reviews38

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    So Much Talent. So Much Wasted.
    Consider this scenario: The powers-that-be (ostensibly with every good intention), having offered a select group of talented African-Americans the vehicle by which they could prove themselves, then proceed to undermine the laudable efforts of those very same African-Americans. What I have described is one of the major underpinnings of The Tuskegee Airmen.

    Sadly, I have also described what occurred in said film's creation and production process.

    Thwarted and hobbled by truncated events, a rather thin, basic script, embarrassingly cartoonish air combat dialogue, pedestrian direction, dicey editing, some poor continuity, and a woefully anemic budget, this HBO attempt never reaches the lofty heights that it otherwise could have attained, never realizes what should have been - and what history deserved. The acting notwithstanding, the end result of this unpolished affair amounted to nothing more than an errand list being checked off; such was the quality of the production value. Apart from the "live" air-to-air action, the battle scenes are populated by enough unrestored and colorized WWII stock footage to have temporarily drained the National Archives. Adding further insult, the production elves carelessly managed to drop in approximately five seconds of Vietnam carpet-bombing footage; no excuse here could ever suffice.

    Only the impassioned performances of key cast members truly propel this film - at least getting it off the sticky tarmac, but not far enough to fully complete its mission. Noteworthy, though, is Laurence Fishburne as the crazy-for-flying Hannibel Lee Jr., Christopher McDonald as the racist major, dubiously named Sherman Joy, Courtney B. Vance as the pragmatic Lt. Jeffrey Glenn, and - most noteworthy of all - Andre Braugher as Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis. I dare anyone to ignore Mr. Braugher when he is running at full-throttle. He is, arguably, this country's best actor, and it is impossible to take your eyes off of him. What a waste of talent!

    This tragic squandering is compounded by the fact that a feature drama - anything other than a documentary - was 50 years in coming; now that it has been made, its very existence may defer a proper telling for a long time to come. The significance and gravity of the subject matter deserved a rousing, blockbuster treatment - which broaches this question: why would an unmitigated disaster (both historically and in film content) such as 2001's Pearl Harbor warrant such a great influx of attention and funding, while a story of victory on all levels be denied so much? Anyone interested in answers should look to Hollywood, the almighty marketing and demographics gods, and maybe the other Maj. Joys still out there.

    My personal peccadillos aside, in first approaching The Tuskegee Airmen, I feared my penchant for military aviation and historical fairness would pervert my (hopefully) objective critique and unduly merit this HBO effort. On both points, my fears were far off-target. Performances? Within effective range! A good hit! 9 out of 10. Production? A dud! Call out the bomb squad! 3 out of 10. Overall Rating: 6.0
    helpful•11
    5
    • hlcepeda
    • Apr 7, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 黑色轟炸機
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Films
      • Price Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $8,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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