When I first read the reviews for A Yank in the R.A.F., I thought, come on, it can't be THAT bad! As a pilot myself, who is eternally enamored of historical aviation related movies, I went into this viewing experience thinking, Tyrone Power - the R.A.F. - it's got to be, at least, an O.K. flick. I was wrong.
Some viewers complained about the aviation scenes as weak points (and some of the special effects simulations were weak - even by 1941 standards). I found the few minutes of actual footage of Spitfires, however, being refueled, rearmed and taking off in mass formations to be the only high point of the film. One scene of a Spitfire being brought in for refueling, with the wingtips being tended by the ground crew, as it spins around very quickly to line up with the refueling truck is especially awesome. The crewman on the wingtip on the outside of the turn looks like a rag doll as the Spit does a very fast 180 degree turn. This scene was from candid footage, clearly in full combat mode, and would never be seen today.
Cinematography and character development are both effective. The problem is that once the characters are developed one realizes that it's impossible to care about (or even respect) either of the two American leads. Power's character, a combination of sophomoric imbecile/great heroic pilot (a combination I would challenge anyone to find in real life), was too much a distraction to be entertaining. Even WWII wasn't enough to straighten him out.
There seemed to be hope for Grable's character. For a time one imagined that by movie's end she would be able to make a good decision and live in splendor in a beautiful country estate with a titled English gentleman for the rest of her life. But even that was a disappointment.
Some viewers complained about the aviation scenes as weak points (and some of the special effects simulations were weak - even by 1941 standards). I found the few minutes of actual footage of Spitfires, however, being refueled, rearmed and taking off in mass formations to be the only high point of the film. One scene of a Spitfire being brought in for refueling, with the wingtips being tended by the ground crew, as it spins around very quickly to line up with the refueling truck is especially awesome. The crewman on the wingtip on the outside of the turn looks like a rag doll as the Spit does a very fast 180 degree turn. This scene was from candid footage, clearly in full combat mode, and would never be seen today.
Cinematography and character development are both effective. The problem is that once the characters are developed one realizes that it's impossible to care about (or even respect) either of the two American leads. Power's character, a combination of sophomoric imbecile/great heroic pilot (a combination I would challenge anyone to find in real life), was too much a distraction to be entertaining. Even WWII wasn't enough to straighten him out.
There seemed to be hope for Grable's character. For a time one imagined that by movie's end she would be able to make a good decision and live in splendor in a beautiful country estate with a titled English gentleman for the rest of her life. But even that was a disappointment.
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