Late night weekend TV in the 1970’s had classics–film noir and such from the 1930s to the 1960s.  Among the movies seen were So Proudly We Hail, Bataan, A Night at The Opera, and Flying Tigers.

Flying Tigers is classic propaganda as classic history in film.  As a kid I saw it as gospel truth and right up to the 1990’s The American (Gothic) Myth was to be respected. not questioned.  Alas there is a whole litany of “ifs, ands, buts, and you would not believe” in this film.

Before getting out the machette, let me say that the film is cool, neat, and awesome now and way back when—a timeless example of guts and glory, both an inspiration and public manipulation.

The story, and the myth (for some still the truth), is about a ragtag bunch of mercenary American fliers defending poor, helpless China from the nasty Japs in the days before Pearl Harbor and America’s forced entry into World War 2.  Typically John Wayne is the lead leader.  There is the blond love interest and some reckless swashbuckling underlings.

First let’s blast the myth.  True the Flying Tigers did exist.  The Americans were the last of many nationalities (including Russians and Germans!!!) who over the years were “the Chinese air force” despite half a billion Chinese as a flight candidate pool—such were things in the Middle Kingdom.

Unhappily despite being trumpted as “fighting Japs before America got into war”, the Tigers were actually one of the last to get into the fray.  Not until December 20, 1941 were shots first fired.  That is just about a  full two weeks after Pearl Harbor.  To add to the blush, the Tigers were still organizing in Burma when the war came.  Lots of confusion resulted in lost equipment, further surprise attacks visited upon the Tigers, and not enough coordination with the ruling British who had been at war since 1939.

Were the Tigers an inspiration? Did they keep the hope alive in Asia?  Yes on both accounts.  Much portrayed did happen–like the ruthless bombing of citizens.  Unfortunately the Allies picked up such nasty habits.

Beyond the above I recently noticed the apparent similarity to another movie.  Picture a far off place with exotic names as exotic as Hong Kong, Rangoon, Kunming, and Lashio was for the folks in the 1940s.  Also picture a titanic struggle against an evil empire with a pitiful band of brave fliers.  Add such phrases as “attacking the bridge with bombers would get slaughtered, but with single fighters”.  Figure the hotshot loser comes back to save the day.  Smells lots like Star Wars.  Even the final scene has rousing music just like the final scene in Star Wars.  Yes, it is different—but more similar if you follow the logic. Give both movies a see.

This is gonna hurt. OTH is about movies that boggle. This movie boggles, bungles, and resides just ten miles beyond the definable. There are actors–real actors–James Mason, a young Jeff Bridges, and of course Burgess Meredith who fathered this bizzare platypus of a movies.  There is a storyline, several in fact, not all connected. Now Burgess Meredith comes across as an O.K. actor, never stellar, but a voice richly unique. But writing, producing, and directing…well Zeppelins over Lakehurst come to mind. No doubt he was trying to ride a wave of “hot” movies–spys, kung-fu, pyschadelia, perhaps spoofs.  The movie just cannot be categorized beyond OTH.  This movie would land on the Island of Misfit Movies if there ever were one.

There is some artistic mereit to the movie. A mixed up American kid hiding in Hong Kong to escape the draft (and Vietnam) gets mixed up in international intrigue and supernatural forces.  Gets sketchy from the get go. The elements of the film, heck the film itself, gets skewed. I don’t think Meredith planned viewers to finish watching the film dazed and confused. But if he did, he created a real bunkerbuster. Just mind the gaps.

Prior to writing this, I read many an online review. Reactions ranged from shocked bewilderment to the rare call for praise. The reviews were throughly entertaining as one by one the reviewers tried to tame this most undescribable beast.  Like Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster, this movie is best left to legend and lore.