Lafayette Escadrille

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".

William Wellman's soaring aerial drama, "Wings," won the first Academy Award for Best Picture in 1927, and, three decades later, the director returned to World War I flying aces in his 1958 picture, "Lafayette Escadrille." Although Wellman's second depiction of early pilots and dogfights pales in comparison to his first effort, the film nevertheless has its moments. The aerial scenes, well photographed by William H. Clothier in black and white, are reminiscent of the earlier film. Evidently shot in the air, the fragile aircraft sweep across the French countryside, well, California actually, and we get point-of-view shots of pilots in their cockpits, similar to those in "Wings."

Although Tab Hunter was never known as a great actor, he plays young American troublemaker turned expatriate pilot, Thad Walker, quite well. The handsome blonde is hunky eye candy and quickly falls under the spell of equally blonde and winsome Etchika Choreau. Unfortunately, the film details the romance, trials, and tribulations of the dewy-eyed pair, which border on the clichéd, and neglects the camaraderie of Walker's fellow pilots and their daring exploits in the air. Among Walker's neglected comrades are a pre-"Fugitive" David Janssen, a pre-"Billy Jack" Tom Laughlin, and Brett Halsey. Oh, and there is another young actor among the pilots, a tall good looking guy, Clint Eastwood, whose subsequent career would overshadow those of both the film's star and its Oscar-winning director.

Albert Sidney Fleischman's screenplay has problems with credibility and evasiveness. Despite his wholesome demeanor, Walker is supposed to be troublesome, having suffered at the hands of his father. His conflicted behavior results in some melodramatics involving a French officer, the stockade, and desertion, none of which is convincing. Seeking a job because his "wife," who may or may not be a lady of the evening, is supporting him,he goes to what viewers may perceive as a madame to work at what the audience may construe as a pimp. Not only are the proceedings purposely vague in a 1950's Production Code way, they are at odds with the character as we perceive him and certainly at odds with the image Tab Hunter enjoyed.

In "Wings," Wellman focused on the aerial spectacle and relegated the personal stories to supporting status. With "Lafayette Escadrille," he goes in the other direction. If the drama had been as compelling as the dogfights and biplanes, the movie would have been successful. Unfortunately, the travails of two beautiful people do not sustain interest, despite Tab's often well-exposed torso. Despite the flaws, "Lafayette Escadrille" is not a disaster and worth a look; the aerial photography is good, the vintage planes are wonderful, Tab's muscles are well defined, and young Clint is obviously on his way to a brilliant career.

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.

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.

William Wellman's Lafayette Escadrille is a his swan-song for Jack Warner and WARNER BROS Pictures. It starred Tab Hunter as probably the third movie he made as 'contract-player' for WARNER BROS, who Wellman cast after Hunter had made "Track of the Cat" (1955). It was based on Wellman's own experiences as an American, who volunteered to go to FRANCE, to fight as a 'pilot' in the 'first' World War I.The biplanes used in the training sequences are really remarkable in their simple construction; followed by more sophisticated planes for the fight sequences. They make you feel for the American boys flying those planes at that time. Hunter's fellow cast members are interesting to see as they all emerged as successful actors in the following years. (see if you can recognize them! in the back-grounds.)