After Pearl Harbor, America prepared to fight for its life. In mere weeks, millions of civilians from farmers to belIhops were turned into battle-ready gunners, commandos, Seabees, pilots and bombardiers.
A cast of man's men, including Pat O'Brien, RandoIph Scott and Robert Ryan, headline this prime exampIe of WorId War Il filmmaking that works on many Ievels: as a fIag waver, an action picture and, most memorably, a taut procedural (featuring actual training camp filming) that folIows would-be bombardiers through the periIs, camaraderie and confIict of training. Equipment faiIs, controls jam, men plunge to their deaths. . and the bombardiers soar on to face explosive, souI-testing action in the Pacific. |