Despite hearing and reading very mixed to negative opinions on it, decided to see 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' on the basis of having immense respect for the Royal Air Force, liking some of Henry King's other work as director ('The Song of Bernadette' is a favourite of mine) and liking other works of Tyrone Power and Betty Grable.
'A Yank in the R.A.F.' to me was not a bad film at all, though can see why others would not like it while sharing the same praises of those who did like it. Was also not wholly enamoured by it either and considering what it had going for it it should have been much better. While finding it to have a number of good qualities it did have major faults that were very difficult to ignore.
The film does look great, the photography is especially good. It looks beautiful and is also very clever in some quite thrilling aerial shots. Stock footage does not always lend itself well to film, many times jarring and looking cheap, it is though used effectively in 'The Yank in the R.A.F.' and seamlessly done.
Music fits well and has some pleasurable song contributions from Grable giving it her all and bringing some welcome levity. There is tension and thrills in the war scenes and there is emotion, regardless of the inaccuracy and whether it's realistic or not. King directs very competently in these scenes, though not his best work by any means. The cast are fine. Tyrone Power is charismatic and plays his role to the hilt while Grable is in one of few dramatic roles and proves herself to be more than comfortable. John Sutton is charming.
It is though in the domestic-oriented scenes where 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' is less successful. The script felt underwritten and lacking in subtlety, things getting melodramatic all too often that it becomes almost too silly. Some scenes came over heavy-handedly and descended into ham.
Felt too that the pace wasn't as secure sometimes and count me in as another person who never believed in the central relationship, not because of the performances of Power and Grable or that there wasn't any chemistry (there was) but it was more to do with the relationship itself and how it's written. Others have found it to not make sense due to finding it hard to believe that Grable's character sees something in a character so impossible to like, have to agree.
Overall, not a bad film but not great. 6/10 Bethany Cox
'A Yank in the R.A.F.' to me was not a bad film at all, though can see why others would not like it while sharing the same praises of those who did like it. Was also not wholly enamoured by it either and considering what it had going for it it should have been much better. While finding it to have a number of good qualities it did have major faults that were very difficult to ignore.
The film does look great, the photography is especially good. It looks beautiful and is also very clever in some quite thrilling aerial shots. Stock footage does not always lend itself well to film, many times jarring and looking cheap, it is though used effectively in 'The Yank in the R.A.F.' and seamlessly done.
Music fits well and has some pleasurable song contributions from Grable giving it her all and bringing some welcome levity. There is tension and thrills in the war scenes and there is emotion, regardless of the inaccuracy and whether it's realistic or not. King directs very competently in these scenes, though not his best work by any means. The cast are fine. Tyrone Power is charismatic and plays his role to the hilt while Grable is in one of few dramatic roles and proves herself to be more than comfortable. John Sutton is charming.
It is though in the domestic-oriented scenes where 'A Yank in the R.A.F.' is less successful. The script felt underwritten and lacking in subtlety, things getting melodramatic all too often that it becomes almost too silly. Some scenes came over heavy-handedly and descended into ham.
Felt too that the pace wasn't as secure sometimes and count me in as another person who never believed in the central relationship, not because of the performances of Power and Grable or that there wasn't any chemistry (there was) but it was more to do with the relationship itself and how it's written. Others have found it to not make sense due to finding it hard to believe that Grable's character sees something in a character so impossible to like, have to agree.
Overall, not a bad film but not great. 6/10 Bethany Cox