International Squadron (film)
| International Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster | |
| Directed by |
Lewis Seiler Lothar Mendes |
| Produced by |
Hal Wallis Edmund Grainger |
| Written by |
Kenneth Gamet Barry Trivers |
| Based on | Ceiling Zero by Frank Wead |
| Starring |
Ronald Reagan Olympe Bradna James Stephenson |
| Music by | William Lava |
| Cinematography |
Ted McCord James Van Trees |
| Edited by | Frank Magee |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros |
Release dates | 13 August 1941 |
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
International Squadron is a 1941 American war film directed by Lewis Seiler and Lothar Mendes that starred Ronald Reagan, Olympe Bradna and in his final film, James Stephenson. The film is based on the Eagle Squadrons, American pilots who volunteered to fly for the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Cast
Ronald Reagan ... Jimmy Grant
Olympe Bradna ... Jeanette
James Stephenson ... Squadron Leader Charles Wyatt
William Lundigan ... Lt. Rog Wilkins
Joan Perry ... Connie Wilkins
Reginald Denny ... Wing Commander Severn
Cliff Edwards ... Omaha McGrath
Julie Bishop ... Mary Wyatt
Tod Andrews ... Michele Edmé
John Ridgely ... Bill Torrence
Charles Irwin ... Biddle
Addison Richards ... Chief Engineer
Selmer Jackson ... Saunders
Holmes Herbert ... Sir Basil Wryxton
Joan Perry ... Connie Wilkins
Production
When American pilots went to war in the R.A.F. Eagle Squadrons, it set off a minor war between several of the Hollywood studios. Producer Walter Wanger had immediately copyrighted the name of "Eagle Squadron" for his film of the same name that appeared in early 1942. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century Fox wrote angry letters to Hal Wallis of Warner Bros. accusing them of not only stealing his idea of his A Yank in the R.A.F. but making a low budget B picture to beat Fox's prestigious production to the screen. Zanuck threatened legal action unless Warners stopped the film from being made or not to release their film until 60 days after Zanuck's film was released. Warners ignored Zanuck as the Eagle Squadrons were a major news item of the day and Warners based their screenplay on a film made by the studio Ceiling Zero based on a play by Frank Wead. They did change the film's original title from Eagle Squadron to Flight Patrol then finally International Squadron and released it two months before A Yank in the R.A.F.[1]
Warners acquired another boost by hiring Byron Kennerly (09/30/1908-02/01/1962), a former member of an Eagle Squadron as the film's technical advisor. Kennerly had written a magazine story Squadron 71, Scramble! A Day in the Eagle Squadron, R.A.F. that was published in the July 1941 issue of Harper's Magazine and was in the process of writing a book The Eagles Roar! that Warners bought the rights to. However according to some sources Kennerly left the Eagle Squadron before their first engagement;[2] with some sources saying he was on furlough for an ear ailment.[3]Kennerly later served with the United States Army Air Forces and was jailed for bank robbery in February 1951.[4]
Actual film of dogfighting between Spitfires and Messerschmitts and Heinkels and a London air raid were shot by Warners' Teddington studios technicians and shipped to the United States for inclusion in the film.[5] Paul Mantz acted as the film's stunt pilot.
References
Bibliography
- Glancy, H. Mark. When Hollywood Loved Britain: The Hollywood 'British' Film 1939-1945. Manchester University Press, 1999.
See also
External links
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