[.ca] Flying Tigers 50th (ISBN 6302320461)

From Amazon.com:
John Wayne plays the tough commander of Flying Tigers, the famous fighter squadron that fought to save China from the Japanese. Wayne finds he is fighting a war on two fronts: he's taking on the enemy with only a handful of inexperienced men and patched-up planes while keeping a cocky new pilot from stealing his girl. The story has little in common with real history, and lots of classic post-Pearl Harbor propaganda fills the script. Regardless, the movie is all Wayne's, and Wayne fans will enjoy seeing the prototype for what would become the Duke's trademark portrayal of the military fighting man. Although the pressure of making life-and-death decisions in wartime may be more maturely explored in Twelve O'Clock High, Flying Tigers still has enough characterization and action to keep the viewer's attention (not to mention special effects by the pioneering Howard Lydecker). --Mark Savary

The Duke - The Flying Tigers:
OK - we all know that the men of the AVG disowned this movie version of their exploits. We know The Duke plays a fictional role here - but he still does the Tigers proud, in my opinion. Regretably, there is no other movie (that I know of) made of the AVG. Looking at it through today's prism, the movie is corny. The "Chinese" actors are cliche' and the scenes on the ground are trite. However, the movie was made a long time ago, and designed for movie goers of another generation. The story is still a good one, and gives a small glimpse of some hardships endured by the real Tigers of Chennault's AVG. I'm happy to have it as part of my collection of works devoted to this high-spirited group of fine American men (and Olga). Mike McCaffrey Department of State/Foreign Service - Retired

Good Story and Cast:
This is a good film about the Flying Tigers stationed in China. With John Wayne at the helm of the volunteers they dogfight their way to victory one plane at a time against the Japanese aggressors in W.W.II. before America entered the war. The film plays like a soap opera at times but good flying sequences and a script that explores the camaraderie of these men make the film very entertaining and rewarding.

Fly high with "The Duke":
A stirring performance by The Duke in this fictionalized account of the American Volunteer Group, better known as The Flying Tigers. It's typical of the period, a story of American gallantry in the face of the enemy and a side character whose bad deeds are redeemed in a heroic act that ends in death, but for fans of the War Movie genre, John Wayne or just airplanes in general, I have to recommend it as an entertaining flick. The AVG was important to America in the dark times after Pearl Harbor and the methods learned in the skies over China proved crucial for the thousands of airman who were to fly in the war in the South Pacific. Some truly fascinating, behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this movie can be found in a book called "Celluloid Wings," by James Farmer, which is also a must-read for aviation-film fans.

Duke's first war movie...A Great One!!:
I think the aspect that I enjoyed most about this movie is that even though it is a John Wayne movie, we see a lot of character development from the other actors as well. In 1942, John Wayne was not yet a top 10 movie actor, so the director did not have to have the whole movie spin around him (not that there's anything wrong with that!). But this movie gives us insight into a number of men the Duke have under his command, and the movie is a much richer experience for it. As for the transfer to DVD, it varies from good to excellent. Certainly not as good as Republic's 50th anniversary version, released on Laserdisc. But the DVD has behind the scenes information on the cast members, after the movie finishes. All in all, a great John Wayne movie that no fan should be without!

Could someone post the DVD aspect ratio:
Question for someone who has already bought this DVD: is the DVD formatted for widescreen or fullscreen aspect ratio? Thanks!