Wing and a Prayer (1944)

"Where is our Navy? Why doesn't it fight?" In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. Navy in the Pacific is stretched thin, torn between trying to defend against an expected attack on the U.S. West coast or striking a decisive blow against the Japanese. The unnamed U.S. Aircraft Carrier (An amalgam of U.S.S. Enterprise and U.S.S. Lexington) embarks on a series of "see me, I'm here" feints which results in aircrew losses. Various subplots detail shipboard life in 1942 as the sailors and flyers wonder when they will get a chance to attack the enemy. Then, the campaign turns serious and the fleet gathers near Midway island to strike the Japanese navy. Squadron attacks fail, then succeed, as the enemy fleet loses ships and aircraft. Then it is the turn of The Carrier to come under attack as the Japanese torpedo and dive bombers swarm in for the kill. This film was made as the war in the Pacific was still going on, but after the battle of Midway, so some carrier aircraft seen are later models. A rousing wartime action adventure for war bond drives. 6.5/10

This is quite an interesting story depicting the lives of sailors and airmen aboard an American aircraft carrier shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. Their task, is however, a bit different. They are to sail around the Pacific trying to give their enemy the impression that their fleet is disorganised and dispersed widely whilst their sister ships actually mass near Midway for a battle royal. This decoy mission has disadvantages for the crew though - they must be visible to the Japanese, but not engage them - a dangerous task made much more difficult and frustrating because they are determined to avenge their murdered comrades. It falls to Don Ameche ("Harper") to manage this air crew led by Dana Andrews ("Moulton") that features quite a few "individuals" who have scant regard for authority or discipline. First amongst them is the handsome, Hollywood heart-throb "Scott" (William Eythe) as well as the recent recipient of a Presidential citation "Cookie" (Kevin O'Shea) both of whom have their own plans for the war... The narrative provides us with a well trodden story as the youngsters start off hostile to their commander but gradually come round to his own way of thinking - before an epic battle at the end. The acting isn't up to up much either - a few scenes from Charles Bickford and Sir Cedrick Hardwicke give a certain gravitas, but really it is the aerial photography and battle scenes that helps this to fly, as it were. They are great to watch, plenty of well staged aero-acrobatics interspersed with actuality that gives a decent sense of the peril. It takes far too long to get anywhere exciting, though, and offers nothing new to the genre.