Wing and a Prayer (1944)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Jerome Cady (story)
Jerome Cady (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 July 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

MIGHTY DRAMA OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER X (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

An aircraft carrier is sent on a decoy mission around the Pacific, with orders to avoid combat, thus...

Plot Keywords:

Decoy | Aircraft Carrier | Navy | Oscar Statuette | Urban Legend Vector

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Don Ameche	...	Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper
Dana Andrews	...	Lt. Cmdr. Edward Moulton
William Eythe	...	Ensign Hallam 'Oscar' Scott
Charles Bickford	...	Capt. Waddell
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Admiral (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Kevin O'Shea	...	Ens. Charles 'Cookie' Cunningham
Richard Jaeckel	...	Beezy Bessemer
Harry Morgan	...	Ensign Malcolm Brainard (as Henry Morgan)
Richard Crane	...	Ensign Gus Chisholm
Glenn Langan	...	Executive Officer
Renny McEvoy	...	Ens. Cliff Hale
Robert Bailey	...	Ens. Paducah Holloway
Reed Hadley	...	Cmdr. O'Donnell
George Mathews	...	Dooley
B.S. Pully	...	Flat Top

Also Known As:

Wing and a Prayer: The Story of Carrier X (USA) (long title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Netherlands:12 | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

When Gus Chisholm is strafed in the water, the various Japanese aircraft shown are American F4F Grumman "Wildcats" and American Douglas SBD "Dauntless" Divebombers

Goofs:

Factual errors: Curtiss SB2C Helldivers are shown in use alongside the Grumman TBF Avengers just prior to and during the Midway portions of the film. The Helldiver was not employed at Midway or prior to it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Boston Legal: A Whiff and a Prayer (#2.4)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

You Say the Sweetest Things (Baby)

Excellent Cinematography

The best characteristic of this film is the fine quality of the film in terms of cinematic depth-of-field and clarity. There is excellent camera work, especially in the complicated action scenes. Each scene is balanced and seemingly well-edited. The theme of the movie is somewhat weak relative to the fight/no fight stance of the U.S. Navy, and it is overpowered by the many action scenes which resemble a "Victory at Sea" format. The facts of the battle at Midway Island as presented in this movie are somewhat questionable. The superior forces of the Japanese Imperial Navy could best any navy in early June of 1942. That good fortune played a role in the American fleet's victory is not in question, that poor planning and accident forced the Japanese Imperial Navy's tactics is also accepted. Beyond these general facts it is difficult to accept the overstatement that the position of the U.S. Navy was that "This is the battle we've been praying for." There is also some question in the film as to the accuracy of the reports concerning the U.S. torpedo planes' success. In essence, the Battle of Midway was decisive, and very lucky for the Americans. To present the battle and victory as well planned and well coordinated is misleading. A word on acting: Don Ameche as Commander Bingo Harper is outstanding. His performance is solid in terms of the classic dramatic hero. As commander, he never wavers from his responsibility, he does what must be done, and he understands both how much victory means and what price must be paid.