Lafayette Escadrille

directed by William A. Wellman
List(s):"Movie One"
Category: "War"
Year of Release:1958
Date Added:12/31/2014
Date Watched:09/12/2019
Description:Thad Walker (Tab Hunter) is a spoiled rich boy who runs away to join the French Air Force during WWI after he steals a car and almost kills a kid. He joins other Americans fighting for France, including Duke (David Janssen) and George Moseley (Clint Eastwood). Thad meets Renee, a prostitute in Paris, and falls in love. When he strikes a French officer, he deserts and runs to Renee. She quits hustling and gets a job as a conductor on a trolley. Thad hides out in her apartment, then gets a job pimping for a bordello. One night he escorts an American general to the bordello and spills his guts. The general gets him enlisted in the American Air Corps. Thad goes up in his first dogfight and downs a German, earning him leave to go to Paris and marry Renee.
My Rating:4

Reviews for Lafayette Escadrille

Review - Lafayette Escadrille

The movie begins and ends with a salute to the Americans who flew in the Lafayette Escadrille, but it's really about an entitled jerk who is ridiculously pardoned for his crimes and becomes a hero and marries the girl. I didn't care a bit about Tab Hunter's character except to wish he'd get shot down. Clint Eastwood has a minor roll that mostly involves standing around in the background whenever there's a group of flyers.
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