Main Cast: Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Louis Calhern, Dewey Martin, Keenan Wynn
Release Year: 1954
Country: US
Run Time: 81 minutes
Plot
Leave it to MGM to turn the Korean War into a splashy, big-budget, all-star extravaganza. Men of the Fighting Lady is set on the US aircraft career of the same name. Van Johnson stars as Lt. Howard Thayer, while other MGM stalwarts in the cast include Walter Pidgeon, Kennan Wynn and Louis Calhern. The film's highlight is the famous fact-based scene wherein Lt. Thayer "talks in" blinded pilot Kenneth Schechter (Dewey Martin), assuring a safe landing for the incapacitated flyer. As a novelty, no concessions are made to the "love stuff" addicts in the audience: there is no contrived romantic subplot in the film, nor are there any women in the cast. Men of the Fighting Lady was based on two literary works: "The Case of the Blinded Pilot" by Cmdr. Harry A. Burns, and "The Forgotten Heroes of Korea" by James A. Michener (who is impersonated in the film by Louis Calhern). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Andrew Marton - Director, Gene Ruggiero - Editor, Miklos Rozsa - Composer (Music Score), George Folsey - Cinematographer, Henry Berman - Producer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, Art Cohn - Screenwriter, Cmdr. Harry A. Burns - Book Author, James Michener - Short Story Author, Cmdr. Harry A. Burns - Short Story Author
The film was based on the novels The Case of the Blinded Pilot by Cmdr. Harry A. Burns and James A. Michener's The Forgotten Heroes of Korea and details life aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. The film's high point is the factually depicted scene where Thayer (Johnson) talks in a blinded Navy F9F Panther pilot for a landing (played by Dewey Martin).
