Lafayette Escadrille

William Wellman's Lafayette Escadrille is a his swan-song for Jack Warner and WARNER BROS Pictures. It starred Tab Hunter as probably the third movie he made as 'contract-player' for WARNER BROS, who Wellman cast after Hunter had made "Track of the Cat" (1955). It was based on Wellman's own experiences as an American, who volunteered to go to FRANCE, to fight as a 'pilot' in the 'first' World War I.The biplanes used in the training sequences are really remarkable in their simple construction; followed by more sophisticated planes for the fight sequences. They make you feel for the American boys flying those planes at that time. Hunter's fellow cast members are interesting to see as they all emerged as successful actors in the following years. (see if you can recognize them! in the back-grounds.)

Not one that'll live long in the memory.

'Lafayette Escadrille' is mildly watchable but I can't really recall anything that occurred across the 90 minutes or so. The potential-filled story isn't all that interestingly portrayed and the acting is, while nothing bad, just very plain, pardon the pun, as no-one stands out.

This is one of Clint Eastwood's early credited roles, though he may as well have been uncredited to be honest - very much seen more than he is heard, though apparently could've been lead if director William A. Wellman had his way. Tab Hunter is the lead here, but the only thing I'll take from him here is that he kinda looks like MMA fighter Ian Garry... just me that sees that? Probably.

Could be worth a watch for some of the neat aerial sequences near the end, but otherwise this 1958 flick isn't one I'd recommend.

Thad Walker (Tab Hunter) steals a car and hits a bicyclist. Luckily, the victim survived. His abusive tycoon father is not so delighted. Thad runs away to Europe as a stowaway on a ship. He joins the Lafayette Escadrille, a squad of American flyers fighting for France during WWI. He falls for French girl Renée Beaulieu. George Moseley (Clint Eastwood) is a member of the squad.

To me, Tab Hunter is a beef cake with limited acting skills. He doesn't have that many chances to be shirtless, but he makes every one of them count. It is interesting that they gave him a scar on his face. It actually helped his acting. The movie is slow and plodding when it's only his story. It becomes more fun when it's the group. It doesn't hurt to have future star Clint Eastwood in the mix. I like the group, but I like the flying more. I love the trainer planes. They look like kites with wings. If there is more room to grow, it would be more flying sequences. I'm a sucker for real planes and real flying. There is some good flying at the end, but the movie needs more of it especially during the middle part.

A project very close to director William Wellman's heart, this semi-autobiographical account of his escapades in the title organization during WWI only partly succeeds. Hunter is a shiftless and troublesome youth who, after stealing a car and causing an accident, decides to enlist in a French air corp which allows American men to wear French uniforms and fight the war against Germany (the U.S. not having entered the war at this point.) On the sea voyage to France, Hunter meets up with older man Janssen and young, eager enlistees Hover and Wellman Jr (playing his own father.) They've scarcely downed their first glass of beer in a cafe when Hunter falls under the spell of misty-eyed French girl Choureau. He disappears with her for ten days, only resurfacing in time for his adventures in the Escadrille. The men are shown training for their flight careers in a comic, credibility-straining way with a bumbling Drillmaster barely able to communicate with them. Eventually, they take to the air and help the cause, though Hunter (due to his obsessive love for Choreau) runs into more trouble than he was in to begin with! Here the film becomes less about the Lafayette Escadrille and more about the troubled and contrived affairs of the young lovers. The films strengths lie in the cheerful, fraternity-like interactions of the men (even if narrator Wellman dwells on each one in the beginning, denoting their ultimate fate before the viewers have even met them), many of whom are played by actors who were just on the verge of greater things. It's interesting to see men like Halsey, Hutchins, Laughlin and especially Eastwood in these roles, though their lack of screen time ultimately becomes a bit of a frustration because their fame lends their smallish roles more weight than they were probably meant to have. Another big plus is gloriously handsome and beaming Hunter, though his looks are altered part way through the film. His charm is utilized throughout to help smooth over his character's selfish and foolish edges. It's also nice to get a glimpse into this little-known aspect of WWI and Wellman clearly wanted to bring various remembrances and details of his experience to the film. What doesn't work is the unevenness in tone of the film. It sways wildly from slapstick comedy to soapy romance to documentary to action. The title suggests a survey of the air corp along with action and aerial sequences (which do occur), yet the film turns into a "Let's Play House" love story complete with unintelligible murmurings from Choreau and a loopy, boozing, one-armed hotelier. This division of focus does more against the film than for it. Though he did manage to carve out a minor Hollywood career for himself, it should be noted that Wellman Jr, though amiable, gives a very stiff, flat performance as his father (though it couldn't have been easy to step into the role and be directed by Wellman Sr!) Hunter is beautiful and gives a committed performance. Janssen doesn't get to do a lot more than smart off and the rest of the men don't appear all that much (but they do show off their attractive physiques occasionally.) There is a (non-PC by today's standards) hilarious little part played by Nakamura as the men's human alarm clock and coffee pourer. In all, an okay film that could have been much better if the focus had remained where it belonged, which is on the fighting men of the Lafayette Escadrille. Studio tampering led to a happier ending for Hunter's character than was intended, much to Wellman's dismay.

The films involving early flying, aircraft and the conflict of air battle are very interesting. However, due to the limited equipment and the lack of good directors and writers, the earliest offerings of movie flying are greatly lacking. The late great Howard Hughes did one called 'Hells Angels' which was not bad, but difficult to follow. This is one of those attempts. The casting is overloaded with prime star material, in fact this movie has some of the best aspiring talent in Hollywood. If you'll look closely, you'll see, David Janssen, playing Duke Sinclair, Clint Eastwood playing George Moseley, Tom (Billy Jack) Laughlin as Arthur Blumenthal, Paul Fix as the General and Will Hutchins as Dave Putnam. Tab Hunter is Thad Walker in this story which is more love story than W.W.I fighting epic, is fine for it's day, but somewhat of a sleeper for modern audiences. Nvertheless, a good offering of primitive flying and fanciful storyline for it's time. ***