Review of Air Force (1943) by Jim H — 01 Jan 2008

Capsule review of Air Force (1943) directed by Howard Hawks.

One of the great movies of it's time. A B-17 bomber and it's crew are en route to Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941 and arrive just after the attack. The men become some of the first to fight in WW II when they refuel and then take off to pursue and fight the Japanese along with the few planes that have not been destroyed or were nearby by like they were. The characters are less stereotypes than the archetypes for dozens of movies that would come later: the incredibly resourceful mechanic (think Star Trek's Scotty), well-played by Harry Carey; the committed and decisive Captain; and John Garfield as (of course) the prototypical "Guy From Brooklyn.".

The comraderie and strong bonds between friends (usually men, as seen here) that was a signature of Howard Hawks' films is very evident here and creates some poignant moments. The war is not very romanticized -- it's shown as brutal and unforgiving. Some men are wounded and not everyone lives.

Hawks also used a visual style that is filled with dramatic camera angles, shadowy grimness, and evocative and exciting montages, which showed that he could compete with stylists like Hitchcock and Fritz Lang if he needed to, even though it was usually not his habit to do so.

Finally, Air Force has an odd and complex blend of patriotism and anti-war elements that separate it and elevate it above most of the films of this era. The film is suffused with determination and grief as the crew presses on further and further west, with more and more men getting killed and wounded, their bomber taking more and more damage, and no end in sight for these weary but intrepid soldiers.