Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: Historical fiction of real-life fighter pilot ``Mac'' McConnell, the US's first triple ace, following his life from simple soldier to test pilot.
Biased, pithy comments: Though this opened to some critical and financial success, today it is clearly a propaganda tool with cloyingly obvious stabs at our hearts and our patriotism. There are a few fighter sequences that are exciting, but I was mostly mortified by what a charwoman's life McConnell's wife led. She just pumped out the babies while Mac was at the war, and it was her role and she made do no matter where he was sent. Sure, I have wussie 90s sensibilities about equality among the sexes, but this was almost too much for me---it glorified subservience, which I didn't like. Plus I thought Ladd was totally unconvincing, but that's probably just me.
Other Notes: Originally, it was an upbeat biography, but then the real McConnell died in a plane crash, so they rushed to rewrite the ending.
How many times I have seen it: x1.5
Starring: Alan Ladd, June Allyson, James Whitmore.
Directed by: Gordon Douglas