A Masterpiece!

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Weak script, and historically not very accurate. The battle scenes, mostly taken from actual WW2 battle footage, were certainly worth watching though.

Just saw this for the first time on TCM and I've got to say that this is one of the best war films I've ever scene. My late grandfather (Naval Academy class of '29) was on the Hornet in World War II and the attention to detail in this film is phenomenal. The action sequences are gripping, the actual archival footage is seamlessly integrated with the actor re-creations, and the film does quite a service to history by outlining the development of the US carrier force from the 1920's (the lead characters are all alumni of the Langley) through WW2 -- down to the fight the Navy had with Congress to get a new carrier fleet funded after Pearl Harbor. It manages to convey a huge quantity of information and do so factually without being a documentary - it's all action-packed drama with several strong human interest plots / subplots including a pretty good depiction of what Navy fliers wives went through. Having watch this on TCM this morning, I'm going to buy the video. This is a must-have! It's also really interesting how they switch suddenly at the end of the film from B&W to Technicolor. Odd, but it works and helps integrate the color archival footage into the film. Four stars in my book!

Gary Cooper and Jane Wyatt shine in this 1949 film about the history of aviation in warfare.The picture begins in 1922 when carriers were just getting started. The picture is at its best when we see the early American isolationism that evolved after World War 1.Gary Cooper is in fine form as the pilot who is banished to Panama for stepping on too many toes for his pro-carrier beliefs. Jane Wyatt plays a woman who loses her husband during a practice run and marries Cooper later on.The last 20 minutes of the film is shown in Technicolor under the admirable direction of Natalie Kalmus, a person used Technicolor so vibrantly in the films of the late 1930s and 1940s as well. The battle scenes are quite authentic and this picture serves well as a tribute to our fighting forces during World War 11.

I have just watched this on TCM,and thought it was a very good film.It was a lot more realistic than most 1940s war films,and i was convinced that they were using real archive footage,which was the reason why the film suddenly changes to colour.I thought this was a great idea as special effects back then couldn't have shown the effects of mass destruction that was caused on US Naval ships.And this being a very important film needs to put its point across,so real archive footage does engross the viewer more.Gary Cooper was a fine actor of his generation,very convincing in his portrayal of Scott,the captain.Although i did have a chuckle when they said Scottie is on the Enterprise,i kept expecting someone to say beam him up.In all a very well made film shame its not on sale in the UK.