Les tigres volants

Original title: Flying Tigers

1942
Approved
1h 42m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

John Wayne, John Carroll, and Anna Lee in Les tigres volants (1942)

Capt. Jim Gordon's command of the famed American volunteer fighter group in China is complicated by the recruitment of an old friend who is a reckless hotshot.Capt. Jim Gordon's command of the famed American volunteer fighter group in China is complicated by the recruitment of an old friend who is a reckless hotshot.Capt. Jim Gordon's command of the famed American volunteer fighter group in China is complicated by the recruitment of an old friend who is a reckless hotshot.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

4.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total

Photos42

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The "Tiger Shark" teeth and eyes painted on the noses of the planes were there for psychological reasons. It was believed that the Japanese, coming from a seafaring nation, would be frightened of being attacked by sharks. There is no word on whether it had any effect.

Goofs
The AVG did not engage in any combat prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their first combat mission against the Japanese was December 20, 1941.

Quotes
Woody Jason: [Woody has just inadvertently insulted Jim's girlfriend, who walks away] Did I do something wrong?
Jim Gordon: Do you ever do anything right?

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in That's Action (1977)

Soundtracks
That Old Feeling
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Played on a record in the Chinese restaurant

User reviews44

Featured review

P-40 replicas used in the film.

Being born in 1939 I grew up watching all the John Wayne movies and remember quite well the impact this film had on me and eventually my chosen profession as a pilot. The question that always comes to mind whenever I see the film is; Who built the P-40 Warhawk replicas used in the movie? I assume Curtis-Wright had a hand in it as they are mentioned in the credits. The replicas were done fairly accurately and obviously had an engine and propeller with enough power to taxi. This also means that they had a steerable tailwheel and main landing gear brakes for stopping etc. Noticeable though is that while taxiing you do not see flight control surface movement especially in the rudder which would move with the tailwheel. No aileron movement is observed either, which you would see during taxi over rough ground and the pilot's hand holding the control stick naturally would transmit some vibration to the ailerons. The most obvious difference from the true P-40 is in the area of the canopy and windshield construction, kind of close but not convincing when the actual footage of aircraft taking off shows the true configuration and size of the aircraft. The film is not "TOP GUN" but is always a nice nostalgic event for this old retired pilot.