The War Lover (1962)
Genre: Drama / War
Duration: 105 minuten
Alternative title: De Man Die Doorvocht
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Philip Leacock
Stars: Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner and Shirley Anne Field
IMDb score:
6,6 (2.530)
Releasedate: 25 October 1962
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The War Lover plot
"The men of the flying forts whose bravery became a legend"
Buzz Rickson (Steve McQueen) is a World War II daredevil and fighter pilot. He fails at anything non-flying and only lives for the most dangerous missions...
Actors and actresses
Capt. Buzz Rickson
1st Lt. Ed Bolland
Daphne Caldwell
2nd Lt. Marty Lynch
Sgt. Junior Sailen
Air Crewman
Brindt: Crew of 'The Body'
Lamb: Crew of 'The Body'
Handown: Crew of 'The Body'
Prien: Crew of 'The Body'
Reviews & comments
Lovelyboy
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- 4107 messages
- 3078 votes
And so, on to the next war film, which led to a mini movie marathon on Monday afternoon. I had already re-watched The Man with the Iron Heart, and the next step was this Steve McQueen with his The War Lover. And although this film has good elements, it was mostly a major disappointment.
The story is simple, featuring American bombing runs on German industry, with the focus primarily on Captain Buzz, who lives life full throttle, and his second-in-command, Ed Bolland, who is much more reserved and quieter. Initially, it appears to be an interesting film with a specific premise regarding bombing missions and Buzz's difficult character, who likes to go his own way and occasionally ignores orders and breaks rules. As expected, Buzz lives for this kind of life, and ordinary life after the war will hold little challenge for him—for, well, there are people who thrive under such circumstances and finally find challenge and purpose in life.
However, nothing or hardly anything is subsequently done with that, and the focus of the story shifts to romantic entanglements where Bolland hooks up with a lady and Buzz struggles not to interfere, resulting in a love triangle with the usual tensions. Something that adds nothing and comes across as particularly perfunctory. Unfortunately, for me, the film completely collapsed halfway through and became totally uninteresting. The film recovers somewhat towards the end, where the final mission is very strong and well-filmed, and the ending is reminiscent of Memphis Belle, but unfortunately, it cannot save the film from a failing grade.
So, The War Lover, where we ultimately don't see all that much war, and the War Lover idea also gets lost amidst cliché elements. And that is a shame, because much more could have been made of this.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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