11 Jan A Yank in the R.A.F.
A Yank in the RAF, WWII Movie starring Tyrone Power and Betty Grable
(1941) An American pilot decides to join the Royal Air Force, thinking that it will be a grand adventure.
Whenever I watch an early World War II movie I look up the New York Times review that was written at the time of the film’s premiere, usually by Bosley Crowther, NYT film critic for 27 years. Sometimes if I don’t particularly care for a movie he surprises me with a glowing review.
In 1941 the U.S. had not entered the war. Air battles in action, filmed by the R.A.F., may have been the most exciting anyone had seen up to that point. Also exciting were Tyrone Power in an R.A.F. uniform and his leading lady Betty Grable, who went on to become America’s #1 pin-up girl during WWII. I thought there was too much emphasis on their on again/off again romance but I’m sure that’s what the public wanted to see. Both stars were hot properties at 20th Century-Fox.
Tyrone Power was a hot property off the stage too. According to Wikipedia, the handsome actor was married three times and had numerous affairs, Judy Garland and Lana Turner being his most famous. He had a fatal heart attack at the age of 44.
A Yank in the RAF at amazon.com
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