Howard Hawks' Air Force (1943) has arrived on DVD in a good full-screen (1.33-to-1) transfer and with a full accompanying program, though no commentary track. The movie is a combination drama/propaganda film that has lost little of its impact across 60 years, most because of the strong performances, several powerful scenes, and Hawks' overall pacing, which makes it feel a lot shorter than its 124 minute running time. The black-and-white movie has been well preserved and looks great, although the quality of the transfer reveals some moments of under-cranking of the camera that this viewer never remembers noticing before, and which seem to be wholly unnecessary to preserving the film's pacing and suspense. The disc also includes a Technicolor short, Women At War, directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Faye Emerson (who has a small role in Air Force) and Robert Warwick, the wartime cartoons Fifth Column Mouse and Scrap Happy Daffy (the latter a Frank Tashlin-directed delight that includes his parody of the Max Fliescher Superman cartoons), plus a radio adaptation of Air Force with George Raft and Harry Carey Sr.; and the movie's theatrical trailer. The movie and related programs look great, but the audio on the main feature is a bit weak. The volume has been set at an extremely low level, which required this reviewer to double the volume level on his monitor. Additionally, the two-hour-and-four-minute movie has been given a mere 12 chapters, which is hardly adequate, given its extended episodic structure. On the positive side, the dual-layer menu is easy to access and maneuver around.
Customer Rating
5
Air Force
on April 11, 2008
Posted by: KGSDLS3
from Iowa
Great movie! It kept the suspense going all the way through! Wonderful view of WW II air craft. It told a great story of air crew relationships on B-17's. Good job of showing life during that incredible time.
What's great about it: Lots of action! Compelling drama! Lots of flying!