Customer Reviews

Bombardier [VHS]

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This underrated war film was made in 1943, in the middle of World War II, and thus it has a wartime hyperpatriotism lacking in many of the WWII films made in the 1950's. It follows a group of bombardier hopefuls through training and their first big mission in a B-17 squadron. The film was intended as propaganda- and is not exactly subtle in its portrayal of the Japanese villains. The film attempts to justify to the viewer ( by means of an entertaining story) the US Army Air Corps' strategy of high-altitude precision bombing ( as opposed to the more traditional "dive" bombing technique used by the enemy). This is done by creating a colorful cast of characters, each of whom have their own adventures, some fun, others harrowing.The two leads are Pat O'Brien ( the base commander who champions the new style of bombing) and his friend played Randolph Scott (a pilot who likes the old way but eventually accepts the new method). This film would probably appeal to WWII aviation buffs the most- as it shows the changing relationship between pilot and bombardier during this important air war.The training montages are fun, the tone is light and often funny-and there are stirring patriotic speeches and a good dramatic death scene at the ending. Plus a Bombardier theme song that the cast sings along to! I think this film was possibly intended as a recruitment film for the Army Air Corps, but i'm not sure. In any event, it is extremely enjoyable to watch. If you like old patriotic war movies, then you could do a lot worse- This is definitely my favorite WWII movie.

This is a wonderful old movie and should be put outon DVD. Do it!!!!!!!