La squadriglia Lafayette

I saw this movie while stationed on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA42 sailing in the Mediterranean sea in 1959. It's true that it was more a romantic than an action movie. However, at the time I was thinking more about meeting women than flying airplanes, and I was completely caught up in the engrossing love story. It was a movie that I walked out of on air, and couldn't get out of my mind for months! My visits to Med ports such as Cannes and Nice, France, Majorca and Barcelona, Spain were totally changed as I looked for, and eventually found, a real-life Renee (although in Majorca not France).

The true action movie of this story has now been made in the form of "Flyboys", which I just saw and liked also. The story had a bit of the romance in it, with a very appealing French girl as well, but told much more of the flying, and heroic side, of the story. Aside from some hooky computer effects, this was a great flying tale, appealing equally to the flier and action fan in me.

Both are highly recommended.

Every scene between Thad and what's-her-name dragged the movie down. Sorry, the movie is called "Lafayette Escadrille", not "Thad and, Whomever Get Hitched." Yaaaaaaaaaawwn. David Janssen was terrific. Always a solid performance from him and the rest of the cast was also splendid to watch. Why William Wellman, Jr. didn't get better parts is beyond me. A great actor, nah, but did a nice job. Sure, Tab Hunter was used by the studio as the draw and I enjoyed his performance, and I guess having a love interest isn't a crime, but it took up way too much of the film and frankly ruined the whole experience for me. I'm not against love stories, I've enjoyed my share, but when it becomes a focal point of a movie that's supposed to be about the Lafayette Escadrille, well, let's put it this way; I watched it after recording it and ended up using the fast forward button.

What I found truly sad was, this should have been a superior film about the directors personal experiences and featuring his own son playing him. How rare an opportunity is that? As I read in the 'trivia', I guess the studio is to blame. That sickens me. Movie executives can be block headed, simpleminded twerps just like TV executives. What should have been a brilliant and fascinating film, was a mediocre crapshoot. How very, very sad.

While the title of the film is "Lafayette Escadrille", it really isn't a movie about this famous unit of American pilots...instead, it's mostly an unconvincing romance. It's a shame, as the real story of these men would have been quite interesting without all the extraneous content and embellishment.

When the story begins, Thad (Tab Hunter) has apparently screwed up again and his father is furious with him. So, Thad runs away and joins the Lafayette Escadrille...a unit in the French Air Corps made up of American volunteers, as the US was not officially in WWI at this time. Once he arrives, you see a bit of his flight training...but soon the headstrong Thad decks an officer and is arrested. He soon escapes and makes his way to his girlfriend...and at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the film is about this and not the war nor pilots.

Had the film been about Thad and his girlfriend, it wouldn't have been much of a tribute to the unit...though it might have worked. But the romance seemed artificial and made little sense. After all, we are to believe that Thad would throw everything away on a romance where neither he nor the lady knew each other's language and had never actually had a conversation! As such, it just seemed like an unnecessary plot which got in the way of the story I wanted to see...about these brave pilots.

When I saw the film, I could understand why writer/director Bill Wellman was not happy with what the studio did to his story. How much of this I can blame on him or the studio, I have no idea but the story just didn't work and seemed dull and senseless. If you want a better film about WWI pilots, there are many better flicks, such as "Wings", "Hell's Angels", "The Dawn Patrol", "The Eagle and the Hawk", "The Blue Max" and "Fly Boys".

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.

There isn't much here more than a great director's swan song. Tab Hunter's acting is pretty good (!?) but not enough to lift the drab GI-in-love-with-a-French-woman theme. Most of the flying scenes don't match the ones from the director's 30s films. If you're interested in the director's career, don't skip this, you'll enjoy the themes and the depiction of air combat. Also Leonard Rosenman's score is a stand-out. But if you're not a Wellman fan you won't remember this a month after you've seen it. Wellman is one of the great American directors; see everything else and watch for the evidence of his skills that are sadly not to be found here.