John Wayne plays the tough commander of Flying Tigers, the famousfighter squadron that fought to save China from the Japanese. Wayne finds he isfighting a war on two fronts: he's taking on the enemy with only a handful ofinexperienced men and patched-up planes while keeping a cocky new pilot fromstealing his girl. The story has little in common with real history, and lots ofclassic post-Pearl Harbor propaganda fills the script. Regardless, the movie isall Wayne's, and Wayne fans will enjoy seeing the prototype for what wouldbecome the Duke's trademark portrayal of the military fighting man.

Although the pressure of making life-and-death decisions in wartime may be morematurely explored in Twelve O'Clock High, Flying Tigers still hasenough characterization and action to keep the viewer's attention (not tomention special effects by the pioneering Howard Lydecker). --Mark Savary