Customer Reviews

Lafayette Escadrille [VHS]

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

 

 

This video was interesting in a couple of areas. It has early appearances from Clint Eastwood, Tom Laughlin (Billy Jack), David Jansen. Some of the early training flights are interesting in their realism. But, it is not a movie for airplane buffs. Or WW1 historians. Or war movie fans. It is a love story based on a young American boy, who makes some mistakes, fights with his father, and runs off to join the war. While there, he falls in love, makes more mistakes, grows up, repents, etc.... everyone lives happily ever after. American Movie Classic buffs will enjoy it (once). Airplane buffs will hate it (wrong airplanes). WW1 buffs will hate it (no history here, except opening credits). War movie buffs will hate it (they call that a battle scene?) Two stars is all I can give. END

William "Wild Bill" Wellman directed 1927's WINGS the first film to win an Academy Award. "Wild Bill" Wellman was a real life Ace in the US Army Air Corps in World War I. He was wounded, went to Hollywood and ended up a prolific and hard edged director. It would seem fitting that Wellman's last film would be LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE. Unfortunately Wellman's status as a director had greatly diminished in Hollywood and so was the budget allotted for this would-be epic. Wellman tries to put what style he can into the aerial sequences but essentially this becomes a standard wartime love story via Tab Hunter. The film still boasts good photography by Cinematographer William Clothier and a score by Composer Leonard Rosenman and has an excellent cast including Clint Eastwood, David Janssen, Paul Fix, Will Hutchins, Tom Laughlin, Bret Halsey and William Wellman Jr.

William "Wild Bill" Wellman directed 1927's WINGS the first film to win an Academy Award. "Wild Bill" Wellman was a real life Ace in the US Army Air Corps in World War I. He was wounded, went to Hollywood and ended up a prolific and hard edged director. It would seem fitting that Wellman's last film would be LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE. Unfortunately Wellman's status as a director had greatly diminished in Hollywood and so was the budget allotted for this would-be epic. Wellman tries to put what style he can into the aerial sequences but essentially this becomes a standard wartime love story via Tab Hunter. The film still boasts good photography by Cinematographer William Clothier and a score by Composer Leonard Rosenman and has an excellent cast including Clint Eastwood, David Janssen, Paul Fix, Will Hutchins, Tom Laughlin, Bret Halsey and William Wellman Jr.

I had a photo of my grandfather that I never knew and he was in a French Military uniform. Low and behold after searching someone told me this might be the movie. IT was in fact the movie so it was awesome to see him in a non-talking role but enough screen time that it made it worth the price. I can't say I was thrilled about the movie itself since there was no action but hey you get to see Clint Eastwood as well.