Thunderbirds ** (1952, John Derek, John Barrymore Jr, Mona Freeman, Ward Bond, Gene Evans, Eileen Christy, Barton MacLane, Wally Cassell) – Classic Movie Review 12,107

Producer-director John H Auer’s 1952 Republic Pictures war film Thunderbirds stars John Derek, John Barrymore Jr, Mona Freeman, Ward Bond, Gene Evans, Eileen Christy, Barton MacLane, Wally Cassell.

Thunderbirds is unexceptional World War Two airborne flagwaving in this tale of flight instructors getting young men ready for action.

Young John Derek and John Barrymore Jr are lusty as Oklahoma National Guard rookies called up for the war and sent to Italy in 1940, Ward Bond beefs things up as leathery Sgt Logan, while one-time teen star Mona Freeman takes care of the ordinary love interest.

Stock film of planes helps out the Republic Pictures low budget, but it still looks cheap and unconvincing.

It features the exploits of the 45th Infantry Division in the Italian campaign of World War Two.

Some sequences are shot at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Mary McCall Jr’s screenplay is based on a story by Kenneth Gamet.

Reggie Lanning shoots in black and white.

Also in the cast are Ben Cooper, Robert Neil, Slim Pickens, Armando Silvestre, Benny Baker, Norman Budd, Mae Clarke.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,107

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