Fighter Squadron (Warner Bros.) (1948)

(Advance) New Air Force Film, ‘Fighter Squadron’ Warner Bros.’ smashing Technicolor action film, “Fighter Squadron”, with Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack and John Rodney plus a host of rising sereen luminaries, is announced as the next attraction at the Strand Theatre. “Fighter Squadron”, one of the most important films to come out of Hollywood in months, and in Warner Bros.’ high tradition along with ‘‘Destination Tokyo”, “Objective Burma”, “Action In The North Atlantic”, “Dive Bomber”, “Dawn Patrol” and “Air Force”, is the story of a devil-may-care fighter command in England during the late war. It is the story of life and duty as the Army Air Forces struggled for supremacy in the air over Europe in the months before D-Day. It tells the story of one squadron and its valiant group of men who attacked one by one as they kept pressing the fight against the enemy. Seton I. Miller, who produced and wrote the film for Warner Bros., completed the first draft of the script after months of intensive research both in California and in the Pentagon in Washington. He read hundreds of records of combat experiences and saw nearly a million feet of combat camera footage before sifting down the material to form his story. Raoul Walsh directed “Fighter Squadron”. Edmond O’Brien, who takes the role of Major and later Lt. Col. Ed Hardin, makes his Warner debut in this saga of the Army Air Forces. He hails from the stage and excelled in Shakespearean roles with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. He was in the Army during the war and later appeared in “Winged Victory” on the stage. Technicolor Film Has Tom D’Andrea Tom D’Andrea, cast in an important part in Warner Bros.’ thrill-packed Technicolor saga, “Fighter Squadron”, now finished and coming soon to the Strand Theatre, wrote most of his own lines for the film. He originally broke into Hollywood as a writer-producer-actor. He essays the role of Master Sgt. Dolan in “Fighter Squadron”, a part embellished with typical D’Andrea quips. EDMOND O'BRIEN Still 705-654 Mat 705-1A DEVIL-MAY-CARE. Edmond O'Brien plays a daredevil pilot in Warner Bros.’ sweeping Technicolor film of the air force, ‘Fighter Squadron’, due Friday at the Strand. Robert Stack and John Rodney share stellar honors. Still 705-24 Mat 705-26 The Cast Edmond O’Brien........... Robert Stack John Rodney Tom D’Andrea Benry Mal es ee James Holden Walter Reed Sheppard Strudwick Arthur Space Jack Larson William McLean Mickey McCardle Edmond O’Brien playing Major Ed Hardin, a former Flying Tiger, now assigned to the European theatre of operations, disobeys orders and is about to be court-martialed until Henry Hull, as his superior officer, exonerates him because of past feats of bravery, Later to lieutenant colonel, when the squadron commander, played by John Rodney, takes over a new command. Robert Stack, the outfit, wants to return to the states and get married, but this is frowned upon in the squad ron. In an ensuing engagement, O’Brien is shot down over enemy territory and bails out. Stack makes a quick landing and saves him just in oe *‘Major Ed Hardin” RaES “Capt. Stu Hamilton” Siete “Col. Bill Brickley” ic Rid ASO oN “Sergeant Dolan” “Brig. Genl. Mike McCready” ig ea oe meee eae “Tennessee” Pee “Capt. Duke Chappell” ee ae “Brig. Genl. M. Gilbert’ The Story O’Brien is upped a fighter pilot in Credits Written and Produced by Seton I. Miller. Directed by Raoul Walsh. Additional Dialogue by Martin Rackin. Photographed by Sid Hickox, A.S.C, and Wilfred M. Cline, A.S.C. Art Director, Ted Smith. Film Editor, Christian Nyby. Sound by Leslie G. Hewitt. Dialogue Director, Eugene Busch, Set Decorator, Lyle B. Reifsnider. Special Effects by Roy Davidson, Director; H. F. Koenekamp, A.S.C. John Helden, Art Director. Technical Adviser, Ma}. Joseph Perry USAF.; Makeup Artist, Pere Westmore,. Technicolor Color Director, Natalie Kalmus; Associate: Robert Brower. Music by Max Steiner. Orchestrations, Murray Cutter. Unit Manager, Chuck Hansen. Assistant Director, Russell Saunders. time. O’Brien insists that Stack remain in England, but the pilot leaves anyway. A month later Stack is back and asks for just one more mission before joining another group. In a dogfight, he engages in close combat and is shot down, D-Day looms and the men are on edge awaiting final orders. O’Brien moves in with the invasion armada and provides good cover until he is struck by enemy flak and his plane spirals down to earth in flames. Back at the field, the outfit is saddened, but many think O’Brien is still alive somewhere and will return, Orders come through for the next D-Day mission, the intrepid Thunderbolts, re-armed and refueled, roar into the skies, prepared for whatever comes, Edmond O’Brien In Warner Film To get a realistic parachute jump for Warner Bros.’ Technicolor air saga, “Fighter Squadron”, which opens next Friday at the Strand, Director Raoul Walsh shot half the leap in Oscoda, Mich. and half on the back lot of Burbank. The shot of Edmond O’Brien’s leap from a burning plane was lensed from a companion ship over the location airfield at Oscoda. Returning to the studio Walsh had a jump platform constructed 35 feet high and a special camera boom rigged for the extra 10 feet over average boom length. The last 35 feet of the leap was shot from the special boom in closeup with O’Brien floating to the ground. ROBERT STACK Still 705-625 Mat 705-1B Robert Stack Due In Air Thriller Robert Stack took an afternoon off from “Fighter Squadron” filming at Warner Bros. and knocked down a total of 50 out of 50 clay pigeons at a local skeet shooting range. Stack performed this difficult feat with a 410 shotgun and could have won the recent southern California championship with such a performance had he been able to compete. The former national champion, who held the world’s record of 348 straight hits, has not entered competition since he won the southern California championship last year due to the press of motion picture commitments. Stack served a stretch in the Navy during the war. (Advance) Warner Bros.’ AdventureFilm In Technicolor Thrills and excitement zooming across the screen, accent Warner Bros.’ new Technicolor production, “Fighter Squadron”, starring Edmond O’Brien, Robert Stack and John Rodney, which comes to the Strand Theatre next Friday as a special attraction. This magnificent thrill-packed film is done in the exciting tempo of “Destination Tokyo”, “Objective Burma”, “Action In The North Atlantic’, “Air Force” and other outstanding action films which have carried the Warner banner. Through the added magic of Technicolor, “Fighter Squadron” assumes wider scope as an action film. This is the powerful saga of the Army Air force struggle for supremacy in the air over Europe in the months before D-Day. Seton I. Miller, who produced and wrote this stunning action film, conducted extensive research in Hollywood and in Washington, before sifting the material down to a dramatic treatment. It is considered one of the finest scripts ever turned out in Hollywood. A veteran in the Hollywood frame, Miller scripted both of the famous ‘‘Dawn Patrol” films, and other Warner credits include “Kid Galahad”, “Adventures of Robin Hood” “Valley of the Giants” and “The Sea Hawk”, all winners. Raoul Walsh, famed far and wide for “What Price Glory”, and “They Died With Their Boots On”, “Objective Burma” and “Silver River”, directed “Fighter Squadron”. John Rodney Wins Stardom In Films When John Rodney was grooming himself for bigger and better parts on the stage, he appeared for two seasons at the Westchester Playhouse and the Westport Country Playhouse. Later he joined the Michael Chekhov Group of players. Now looming on the Hollywood scene as an up-and-coming personality to watch, he appears next in Warner Bros.’ thrilling Technicolor air saga, “Fighter Squadron”, which is announced as the new attraction at the Strand Theatre starting on Friday. JOHN RODNEY Still 705-348 Mat 705-1C J