Customer Reviews

God Is My Co-Pilot [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Dennis Morgan stars as fighter pilot Colonel Robert Lee Scott who flies with the Flying Tigers, trying to keep the Burma Road open, while also launching attacks into Hong Kong, trying to strike down the Japanese Navy. Scott believes in himself and in luck, while missionary priest Alan Hale tries to make him see that God's hand can be found all over. Morgan is good in the lead role, and well supported by Hale and many familiar character actors with faces you might remember, even if their names escape you. The film isn't quite as moralistic as the title would suggest, although Morgan's gradual acceptance of God's power is certainly at the heart of the film. I imagine that the image of God taking care of everyone must have been a comfort to audiences at a time when the world had been turned upside down. The film is also filled with some terrific air battles, replete with some bad Japanese trash talking (did Forties' audiences buy this?). I've seen enough Forties war films to expect that, as well as some stiff, corny dialogue between the fliers, and I find that part of the fun of watching these kinds of movies. At only an hour and a half, the film moves along quickly, mixing in enough action with the sentiment to keep me entertained.

Good war action movie. Dennis Morgan in the lead role is excellent as Col. Robert L. Scott. Alan Hale Sr. has a great supporting supporting role as "Big Mike" Harrigan, the Mission Priest who doubles as the Base Chaplain for the American Volunteer Group (AVG) Flying Tigers. I always watched this film whenever it was on TV when I was a kid. The last time that I saw in on TV was about 10 years ago. I taped it and then later erased it by mistake. I have been looking for a copy to call my own ever since. There is a poem called "And They Believed" that Big Mike recites to Col. Scott while they are flying to Fr.Mike's new mission assignment. I love this poem so much that I have a printed copy on my wall at home. Would love to see this movie again and again.

Ever since I first saw this movie back in 1960, the P-40 has been my favorite fighter plane. I did alot of reading on the Flying Tigers and continue to search out new literature about them. This movie is much more accurate than the John Wayne film covering time frames and dates. By the time Col Scott arrived on the scene, the Flying Tigers were flying the P-40E models which are similar to the F models you see in the film. There are some misconceptions about the Flying Tigers that these two films support that are simply not true. They were fighting the Japanese Army Air Force, not the Japanese Naval Air Force. As such, they were flying against KI-43 'Oscar' fighter planes, not Zero's. Secondly, although the Flying Tigers were in place before America entered the war, their actual first combat took place on December 20th, 13 days AFTER Pearl Harbor. Raymond Massey's advice to Dennis Morgan concerning combat tactics was true. Allied pilots who turned with a Japanese fighter on their tail often got shot down. The Japanese planes in the movie were actually AT6 Texans. The flight scenes were performed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The movie deals with issues that I'm sure many combat veterans must have experienced, but doesn't get too sentimental. Since the Flying Tigers were our real first glimpse of success against the Japanese, it was fitting that they should be honored. Col Scott proved to be an excellent leader staying in China till the end helping Chenault. This movie in fun to watch not only for the flight scenes but also that period's view point of our enemy. Richard Loo, who played the Japanese ace 'Tokyo Joe' in this movie also played the Chinese doctor giving the physical exams in the John Wayne film. Also, the English speaking Japanese radio announcer in the first part of this movie, Philip Ahn, also appeared in the film Battle Hymn with Rock Hudson. He also played various Korean characters in several tv episodes of M*A*S*H. The sounds of the planes and the machine guns seems accurate and the black and white format just makes this film more enjoyable. If you are a fan of combat aviation, or like films of the '40's, you will enjoy God is My Co-Pilot.

The oldest book in my possession is my Landmark Books #105 copy of John Toland's book about "The Flying Tigers." When I was given this book as a birthday present as a boy I happened to be living on Chennault Drive on McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, so there was something to be said for knowing the story of the man whose name was on the street sign on the corner. There was also the fact that the P40B-Tomahawk with its shark teeth was a cool looking fighter plane and that there were Americans who were fighting the bad guys before the United States entered World War II.

Based on Colonel Robert L. Scott's memoirs, "God Is My Co-Pilot" tells of how Scott (Dennis Morgan) had always dreamed of being a fighter pilot but when World War II starts he is stuck flying transport planes over "The Hump" into China. But then he persuades General Claire Lee Chennault (Raymond Massey) to let him fly with the Flying Tigers, the American Volunteer Group that was fighting the Japanese in the skies over China before Pearl Harbor. By the time the Flying Tigers are replaced by the U.S. Army Air Corps, Scott has made his reputation and assumed a key leadership role in the group. The title comes into play periodically when Scott talks with Big Mike (Alan Hale, Sr.) a priest ministering to the Chinese, who is available for brief discussions on the role of faith in combat. But mostly the film is about shooting down lots and lots of Japanese aircraft.

From a historical perspective the film is more accurate than John Wayne's "Flying Tigers" movie, which is more of a traditional World War II melodrama (two buddies fight the Japanese and each other for the girl they both love). For example, "Tex" Hill was one of the key characters in Toland's book and he shows up here in a major role, played by John Ridgely. More importantly, you get a sense for a real group of fighter pilots, flying a small number of outdated airplanes against the newer and faster Zeroes of the Imperial Japanese Air Force and doing more than hold their own. This is primarily Scott's story, but the history of the Flying Tigers and the pilots that replaced them is still the backbone of the narrative. You also have some foreshadowing of "12 O'Clock High," where it looks like Scott will not be able to go on the big mission, just when the Americans are finally going on the offensive to finish off the Japanese. But unlike General Frank Savage, Colonel Scott has that whole co-pilot thing going for him, not to mention a priest, and a commanding general who still considers himself a fighter pilot at heart.

Keep in mind the movie was made in 1945, which explains the vitriolic racism underlying the aerial combat as the American pilots banter with Tokyo Joe (Richard Loo), the Japanese ace. When Chennault's aviators bomb Hong Kong, the Japanese slap a woman in a prisoner of war camp cheering the sight. Then there is the contrast with the scenes back in Scott's hometown of Macon, Georgia, where whites and blacks celebrate his kills with equal joy. So the stereotypes are a little unsettling on both sides, but this is to be expected for a movie that was made while the war was still going on ("God Is My Co-Pilot" premiered on February 21, 1945), where propaganda was always a consideration. Fortunately that racist elements are not the main part of the film and the aerial combat sequences are pretty good, at least until the pilots starting tossing insults at each other (Scott's coup de grace for Joe is, "There's your six feet of China. Go fill it up").

God Is My Co-Pilot is a wonderful example for an enjoyable movie. When I first seen the movie on the American Movie Channel I knew I had to have a copy of it. This movie lifts up your spirits.

This is a very good movie and I would like to see it put on DVD so it does not deteriorate.
Sincerely, Joan Tupper

I saw this movie in the mid 1940's when I was a kid. I had been looking for it for some time, and almost by accident looked on Amazon.com. The price was right, delivery fast, quality excellent. All the P-40's are real, as are the early B-25's, and the only time you'll see a P-43. Excellent true story.

ordered this product in good faith-never recd this product or notified why it didnt ship.this experience left a bad tast in my mouth. amazon should be ashamed to allow nothingbutnet to handle any orders to amazon
a very disappointed customer
jim hemphill

This is a great VHS showing unique of the P-40E Flying Tigers, specifically the 23rd FG. I appreciate the way the movie protrays Col. Scott, for historically he did fly solo and his five kills were credited with escorting C-47s over the infamous "Hump".
Now I need to get this in DVD...

This is a very well made account of Col. Robert L. Scotts time with the 'Flying Tigers in World War 2. All the actors are top notch, and the story moves along very well indeed. It has a very emotional scene with actor Alan Hale Sr. recieting the poem 'Believe'. This clip is available on YouTube: Favorite Prayer, Large Version
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Watch Favorite Prayer, Large Version Videos. Free Streaming Favorite Prayer, Large Version Clips.The prayer is from a 1946 movie called, "God is My Co-Pilot." It is recited by Alan Hale, Sr... This will bring tears to ones eyes. The movie is very well worth getting a copy of. Wish it was in color though.