The War Lover | | Cast : | Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner | | Director : | Philip Leacock | | Studio : | Columbia Tristar Hom | | Format : | Black & White, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | October 25, 1962 | | DVD Released Date : | May 13, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Japanese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | NR (Not Rated) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | December 28, 2004 | | Summary | An Overlooked Gem | Content
 | McQueen's portrayal of a hotshot B-17 pilot is brilliant. This is a guy who loves the war because in it, he's somebody. Without the war he is a nobody-- a misfit without a purpose. The character development of Rickson is superb; his cruel streak gradually becomes visible to his crew and his drive to "win" overrides his loyalty to his co-pilot.
The look and feel of this film reeks of authenticity-- how many other war movies show a planes machine guns being test-fired on the way to a bombing mission. At the end, the B-17 is almost impossible to control and you can almost feel the plane bucking and vibrating as it gradually disintegrates. This story could not have ended any other way. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 15, 2004 | | Summary | A Five Star Movie with a Five Star Cast | Content
| This is one of my favorite films and is a valuable addition to any collection of war genre movies, or any other collection for that matter. Steve McQueen IS, Buzz Rickson, "The War Lover". He and only he could bring this character to life and give him the personality that sells Rickson as the reckless, and dangerously brave, pilot of a B-17 stationed in England. Robert Wagner portrays the more "conventional" co-pilot, Ed Bolland, with excellence and provides one party of a rather involved love triangle. McQueen, Wagner and the most beautiful Shirley Anne Field as Daphne (never saw her before or since in anything else), are the trio in the triangle. McQueen is chasing Daphne, who is really Wagner's girl friend, and as these two fly together, there is more than the usual friction between them.
There are fantastic aerial scenes and McQueen's (Rickson's) daredevil and heroic antics make for some exciting entertainment. The movie, while Hollywood of course, gives some insight as to what flying B-17s during WWII must have been like. Rickson's seemingly self-destructive nature in and out of an airplane lead to suspenseful and exciting viewing.
The movie ends as only it could (I won't give the ending away), and it is one never to be forgotten. If you haven't seen it--do. If you want a movie to enjoy every now and then, this is one to own. You won't be sorry. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 24, 2004 | | Summary | Three B-17s were flown to England... | Content
| Three B-17s were flown to England in 1963 for this production, which was a project in itself. The flight was chronicled in a book by Martin Caidin, who flew as one of the pilots, engineers, and firemen. Yes, they encountered a number of emergencies, suspicious characters, and thus the book makes for a memorable read, and the movie spectacular for use of actual flying aircraft rather than a cockpit section mounted on a mattress frame (as in the TV series of 12 O'Clock High). The acting isn't bad either... |
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