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By Amber Payne and Christina Caron
NBC News
More than two decades in the making, George Lucas’ passion project “Red Tails” hit theaters today after a long search to find a distributor that wanted to market an expensive film with an all-black cast.
Lucas spent $58 million of his own money to produce “Red Tails,” an action movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-African American aerial combat unit that paved the way for the integration of the U.S. armed services. It was a risky venture by Hollywood standards, and one that director Anthony Hemingway said carried enormous responsibility.
“I went to Tuskegee, Alabama and actually had the chance to look into the eyes of living history and when I looked into their eyes and connected with them it really it -- it registered and the weight of the world was on my shoulders at that point,” he said.
Hemingway told “Nightly News” it was “a struggle” to get the green light from a studio, but that didn’t come as a surprise.
“It’s not a shock that the system or Hollywood didn’t want to tell the story,” he said. “We’re thankful that George [Lucas] did what he did and had the passion to … help tell this story.”
Actor Terrence Howard, who plays Col. A.J. Bullard in the movie, told “Access Hollywood” “half” of the distribution studios rejected the movie, telling filmmakers, “No, we don’t know how to market it.”
“And it's like 'Why?'” he asked. “You just market it, it's an action movie. It’s an all black cast. And the white guys are the bad guys. And it's like, you market it. It's just a movie.”
Eventually 20th Century Fox signed on as a distributor. Writer and filmmaker Tyler Perry, best known for his top grossing movies “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Madea’s Family Reunion,” threw his support behind the film, posting a statement on his website that read, “Unfortunately, movies starring an all-African American cast are on the verge of becoming extinct. THAT’S RIGHT, EXTINCT!”
Perry saluted Lucas, writing, “George decided to take a huge risk by entirely funding the movie and releasing it himself. What a guy! For him to believe so strongly in this story is amazing.”
Although Perry raved about the film, saying he “loved it,” critics have blasted everything from the writing to the combat visuals. A review in the Christian Science Monitor called the movie “blatantly inauthentic” and a blog on the New York Times Magazine website said the film “starts off promisingly enough” but “the script seems afraid to just let the action do the work, instead filling every scene with macho banter and bluster of the most generic kind.”
But Nate Parker, who plays Marty 'Easy' Julian in the film, told “Nightly News” the fact that Lucas bankrolled the film “speaks to his understanding that everyone needs to tell their own stories.”
Parker added, “One of the things George[Lucas] told me, before we started filming, he said, ‘When I wanted to do ‘Star Wars,’ no one wanted to help’ …. and even when I finished people watched and they said, ‘It’s not going to work,’ and then it became Star Wars, he said, ‘You know, you’re doing something right when everyone tells you, ‘You can’t do it.’”
Before shooting on location in Europe, Hemingway and producer Rick McCallum put the actors through a rigorous boot camp to simulate preparation for war and build the brotherhood.
Parker joked about the bonding experience. "If you can imagine several African American men in the Czech Republic, you know, in the snow, in tents, in military garb, eating rations every day, no cell phones uh, it was -- I still haven't forgiven them for it," he said.
“Red Tails” certainly isn’t the first film about the famed Tuskegee Airmen, but according to Roscoe Brown, a former squadron commander in the 332nd Fighter Group, it’s the first to move beyond the well-told story of racism that led to the group’s formation, and focus instead on the combat mission,
“[George Lucas] takes us right to Ramitelli, Italy, where we did most of our flying,” Brown told “Nightly News.”
The former fighter pilot, now 89, served as a consultant on the film and can still recall war stories as though they happened yesterday.
The “penultimate mission” of the 15th Air Force, he said, was on March 24th, 1945: a 1600 mile round trip mission to Berlin and back to Italy to bomb a German factory that produced tank parts.
“When I got close to Berlin, I saw these jet planes coming up. And because of the instinctive work that we'd done in practice, I said, ‘Drop your tanks and follow me,’” he recalled. “I came away from the bombers, the jets were coming up here, and I then made a hard right turn and caught the jet-- in my lead with my electronic gunner, brr-- boom. And that was it. He bailed out-- that was the first jet that was shot down over Berlin, although some had been shot down before. So I'm very proud, I'm one of 15 pilots in the whole Air Force that shot down jets in World War II.”
“Red Tails” tells the real-life war stories of Brown and his squadron mates, as they battle the Nazis over Europe, and racism at home.
“In my generation, every day was a fight to prove yourself,” Brown said. “You had to strive for excellence every single day. I come from that generation where the black press would say, ‘First black to do this, first black to become a professor, first black to be in opera.’”
The filmmakers, like the real airmen, know what it’s like to want to prove their detractors wrong.: In this case, Hollywood and its doubts about a black action movie.
“We did everything we could have done to make this the best film that it can be,” Hemingway said. “We all want it to succeed but it’s in God’s hands at this point and we really hope everyone comes out and supports it.”
Leave a Comment:
It's a story that's been needed to be told for a long time. Kudos to Lucas and 20th Century Fox for financing and releasing it. It's bound to be a Classic Film.
Hollywood liberals are supreme hypocrites! I'm a conservative Republican and can't wait to see this film. My father and father-in-law both flew in WWII and always talked about the heroism and great character of the Tuskegee airmen who had such great success against the Nazis. It's about time this story was told. Yea to George Lucas for bringing it to the screen.
Sadiemae: I'm a conservative Democrat and I can't wait to see this film too. I was an Air Force officer during the Vietnam era and followed that with six years in special ops with the CIA all over the world. This is a story that needed to be told regardless of the color of the men who did the killing. I've seen the outtakes on the big screen and I plan to see it next week.
I don't adhere to any party. Like most Americans, I am either right of center or left of center, depending on how the shyt flies.
As an American, interested in American history, I cannot wait to see this film. Since the advent of film, the writers of history can no longer sell us one narrow minded story. Since the advent of social media, it is impossible for them to show us only one side of the coin. As long as they
cannotwill not censor us, we have a chance to be free.Having done extensive research on the Tuskegee Airmen many years ago after seeing another movie by that name or something close to it. When I first heard about Red Tails, I did not know the subject. That was about the time Lucas first started the project and little buzzes were coming out of the land of glitz and glamour. But, when I learned it was about Tuskegee, I was excited about seeing a more true-to-life version of the history of these incredible men and anxious for the day it would be completed and released.
While, sadly, not surprised that Hollywood, behind its facade of *hug, hug - kiss,kiss* it's still a bigoted land of, "Where's the money?" and quite certain it's not in a 'black movie' because it's ... well, a 'black movie'. Maybe Lucas and the cast and crew of this production have pushed the Hollywood Vidiots a bit farther into the background and allow more reasonable heads to rule. I hope everyone goes to see this movie and proves to those nay-sayers that quality does not just come in a pink-skinned package!
Timing makes all the difference. WW2 blacks had to ask to fight for our country and still discriminated. But as Patriots these brave men risk their lives for all Americans. They never turned away or skipped out but fought and saved fellow airmen. I say timing because we have two candidates who might be the Commander-in-Chief who dodged the draft when called to serve our country. One candidate would like to honor these brave men by bringing back the years of discrimination these Tuskegee Airmen had to deal with. We hear such degrading words of blacks on food stamps while while those who set back and watched others including minorities give their lives to protect America. Religious hate is growing and our pass is coming back by those who benefited from this country but would never protect. Mitt Romney even said would never allow his sons to join the Military but said he will send other young men/woman when he invades Iran based on fake information. I come from a Military Family and to think Americans think so little of the sacrifice minorities have done for the United States since the Civil Wars.
I grew up on the central Oregon Coast in the '60s, the only diversity we had was between the fishermen and the loggers. This movie, like "Glory", shows what true heroes look like. The Tuskegee Airmen, like the Mass. 54th broke so many racial barriers it was amazing. They gave their lives for a country that in some places would just as soon lynch them as go fishing. The most appalling thing to me was in the south where German POW's were housed, the Germans, who had killed Americans, had more rights than our returning black soldiers. I will see this movie!! Many thanks, George Lucas for telling this story.
WHAT?! Liberal Hollywood didn't want to make a movie with an all-black cast. Why doesn't this come as a surprise. Bloody hypocrites! As a conservative, I'd jump at the chance to make such a historic film (providing this 99%er had the money, of course).
I'll be pretty excited to see this. One things that worries me is the dogfight choreography. The Red Tails had amazing dogfights, and literally nothing has to be made up about them, you could script them exactly as happened, and it would be amazing. However, there's a clip that leads me to believe they just started stealing dogfights that were historic, that the airmen weren't involved in. Now, that's not to say directors don't do that all the time. But it would be fairly stupid given there is literally no need to be historically inaccurate.
What's with all the Liberal Hollywood crapola, just like you Conservatives like to tell us it's what makes money, and Capitalists witch the Hollywood studios are, were looking at the green, the money. This is an American movie, our history. Now that I got that off my chest, My husband and I can't wait to see the movie also!
It's just Lucas trying to make up for his racist Jar-Jar Binks character. The story has been told before, and, without even seeing yet another Lucas by-the-numbers CGI-fest, I can say: better.
this story should prove how racist hollywood is and why we need to stop buying any of their products period. I havent bought a DvD or even went to the movies in 10 years and guess what i havent missed out on anything special from the damn southern pigs that my ancestor beat the @!$%# out of 150 years ago. All they do anyways is suck up the artists and spit them out and rake in the millions for it. @!$%# Sopa and your 2000 year copyright laws. Art is Free and so is Education.
This comment is on the movie itself... its a piece of crap, I walked out 20 mins into it. Typical Tyler Perry cheese fest, I really tried... but it was relentless.
Hollywood has always been racist. They only started giving Oscars to great black actors when they were called on the carpet for not giving Oscars to great black actors! Now they give a "token" Oscar every few years and they think it is enough.
When a great movie has great actors doing great acting, they should give the Oscar, no matter what the race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. It is suppose to be about acting, not color of skin, belief or anything else!
Hollywood is the biggest hypocrites of all!!!!!!
If the movie is a piece of @!$%#, then it is a piece of @!$%#. If it is good, then it is good! Race should not be a factor in it!!!
Nevada: Hollywood didn't want to make it for fear of a backlash from people like yourself.
I want to see it, but the nearest theater showing it is over 40 miles away, and weather isn't conducive. Was hoping it would open in my town. We only have three screens, though, so I guess I'm not surprised.
enjoyed the HBO movie "tuskagee airmen" should enjoy this one as well. Not impressed by the action graphics I saw in "red tail" trailers but the storyline should easily make up for it.
Jackie,
You say we have 2 canidates that dodged serving their country? Do you have proof of this???? And when has Barack Hussein Obama served his country...oh right would that be Indonesia, Kenya or America Hmmmm!...You also realize that these airmen were proud to serve their country...proud to be an American...Unlike the first lady who said" For the first time in her adult life she is proud of her country" and Unlike the POTUS who spen 2 months on an apology tour....No Barack Obama is NOT a great American. he can not lace the boots of these Airmen. He has not balanced the budget in fact he has us further in debt, he has not created any jobs, he has us more dependent on foreign oil, he has our rating dropped, he has now split the country into a class warfare instead of trying to unite this country....We need someone in office who can save this country not find ways to destroy it. The Obama's are bitter people they hate this country,unlike these airmen, who loved their country. These Airmen saw virtue in defending and preserving their way of life where as the Obama's want to "FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE AMERICA"......If you want to vote for a real American and someone who truely loves their country and their countrymen...then do not vote for Obama!!!!!!
Jackie,
Please tell me what in the hell does the POTUS or his wife has to do with this movie? You freaking idiots never cease to amaze me. F**king plain A** stupid!!! "SMDH"
As an unrepentant Liberal (in the sense that "liberal" means "to be GENEROUS" - not stingy, or so afraid to spend money that it moulders in the wallet), I am anxious to see this movie. It is far past time that someone tell the story of what these men went through IN BATTLE.
The days of showing how the White Middle Class "Christian" Male was/is the ONLY type of person to ever do anything of any real importance are over.
For all you maroons out there who seem to always be harping on how so-and-so ain't a "Great American" because they never spent even one second in the Military: How about we just pass a law requiring ALL politicians to serve AT LEAST 5 years in the U.S. Military -- and candidates for President must serve AT LEAST 20 years in the U.S. Military AND be a Combat Veteran as well?
Guess what -- George W. Shrub NEVER saw combat, AND he skipped out on going to Viet Nam, too. Guess he ain't a Great American, either.
Well, here we go. We can't even talk about a movie without a bunch of political trolls stinking up the place.
exactly, Larry
It's the season!
Quacked, sounds good in practice but we can't afford that. See, if politicians had to serve 5 years in the military they would change the required retirement time to 5 years of service and out for life.
And before you conservatives start foaming at the mouth, let me point out that the article named two conservative news outlets, The Christian Science Monitor and The New York TImes, and they both criticized the movie. So there are conservatives who are quick to bash the movie.
“You just market it, it's an action movie. It’s an all black cast. And the white guys are the bad guys. And it's like, you market it. It's just a movie.”
While the story of the Tuskegee airmen is a great one, portraying the movie in such blatant racial terms may limit its success, especially with so much political 'class warfare' rhetoric from the White House.
I have known Dr Roscoe Brown and his two sons, Donald and Dennis, for over thirty years. He is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known and was a father figure/mentor to myself and hundreds of others while a coach for the Long Island Tomahawks football organization in the 60's and early 70's. There was tremendous racial turmoil in America at the time but never on the T-Hawks or around Dr. Brown, we were just Tomahawks. God help the person on another team who dared to utter the N-word around us (I am white).. there would be hell to pay from each of us. Dr Brown, after all he had endured, is a chamion not only for the rights of the African American race, but the rights of all to be Americans. We are a nation of immigrants of every race and religion and it is the perserverence and guts of people like Dr Brown and the rest of the Tuskeegee Airmen that have helped make America great. I applaud George Lucas for reminding America that people like this exist and continue to teach the young what American values and courage are all about.
UH James, I don't believe Jackie ever mentioned the word POTUS ...You might want to re-write your post??
As a 20 year Navy veteran (1974 - 1994) who proudly served with people of all races the racism crap surrounding this movie is bull....ridiculous. It's an all black cast...."How do we market this?" You market it as an action movie based on historical events. I'm a white Irish Catholic boy....I burn in the summer I don't tan, you don't get much more Caucasian then that. And I am highly anticipating this movie. In addition, I like a lot of very talented black actors as well as white, Terrance Howard is one of my favorite actors period. "It's an all white cast. And white guys were the bad guys." Guess what, TRUE. The Germans considered black, Jews, Catholics and a whole other spectrum of the human race inferior. In addition, there are accounts attesting to the bravery of the Tuskeegee Airman.
"The bomber pilots began to appreciate the Redtails. In Mustang Aces of the 9th and 15th Air Forces, one B-24 pilot recalled
Courage, integrity and talent knows no specific race, creed or religion. The sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can put aside this racism bull@!$%#...
So Hollywood doesn't like to make all black films?...Antwone Fisher, Big Momma's House(I think this is a franchise), Bad Boys, Ali, The Color Purple, Waiting to Exhale, Whats love got to do with it, Miss Eve's Boys, Friday, Next Friday, Soul Food,..etc
I am a producer in Hollywood, and there is always interest in movies with a diverse cast, or predominantly black cast because most people don't care about race when they go to See a movie. Just a good story with good acting. Incredible that so many feel for this article. I thought you guys were more savvy when it came to news propaganda.
One group you never hear about but who contributed 1000 times more to the war effort than the Tuskegee Airmen is the Red Ball Express drivers, without them our troops would have been throwing rocks at the Germans.
I hope everyone goes to see this movie and proves to those nay-sayers that quality does not just come in a pink-skinned package!
Wordsmith, explain to me how this comment isn't RACIST???? Hypocrite.
Well at least it is a positive role model film for young men.. Some of that crap that passes for black films is almost like watching a gang recruitment film.. So many young people of all races are being sucked in by a money making machine that feeds them garbage.. And by garbage I mean music and TV and movies that glorify drugs, rape, murder and gangs.. Thanks George for forcing them to break from their business as usual.. I have not seen the movie yet but once it hits the budget theater or disc I will.. No movie has perfect CGI, acting or screen flow.. The trick to making a top shelf film is the ease it lets you allow yourself to be absorbed into it..
Yakfit that is just the usual east and west coast attitude that everybody between the Appalachians and the Rockies is stupid and backward. No surprise here. I'm used to people from the coasts coming to the center of the country and telling us they know how to run our lives for us. At one time in Texas the most popular bumper sticker was You love NY take I 40 east. They know more about everything dontcha know. I just hope this broke senior can scrape up the $ for the movie. Really funny seeing the "liberal" Hollywood types afraid to tell a good story about brave men.
Roadrunner0, well said. Thank you. Until we, as a nation, can get past this racial, religious, and ethnic background seperation and distinction, and think of ourselves as AMERICAN, and appreciate ALL of the heroic effort put forth for this country, we are going to keep receding into the backwaters and ignomany of time, instead of advancing, as we are capable of.
The movie industry needs to get over itself, and start paying attention to the real world, as do all OUR elected servants, and stop glorifying hatred, violence, and crime.
Oh for the love of God, you people and your having to turn everything into a dumb political discussion. If you actually listen to any of George Lucas' interviews about why it took so long to produce, it comes down to the studios crunching the numbers on how well movies with an all black cast tend to do. Or, in terms you will understand, "letting the market decide."
I don't doubt Lucas will make money on his investment, but it doesn't sound like we have a Passion of the Christ on our hands here.
Its American History...glad Lucas got it on the big screen, looking forward to seeing it tomorrow.
Star Wars... A great story told badly.
I have a feeling that will also be the case with this movie.
You hit it right on, Mark. I just came back from seeing it. The original movie called The Tuskegee Airmen, was a much better movie. The best thing about this film was the action scenes that are helped along with today's computer technology and are in true Lucus fashion. It was great eye candy. But the script was a little cheesy and to me really didn't tell me the true story of the Tuskegee Airman, unlike the original which really catered to my hunger of knowledge regarding these brave men. Oh, and I have no clue why they even scripted a love interest in the movie. It made no sense to me and had nothing to do with the history part of the story. I guess it was for the wives and girlfriends that were undoubtly dragged to this movie by action hungry husbands and boyfriends.
Jay- Did you know that they had actual Tuskegee Airman, advising and helping with this movie?
Hummbird--technical advisers are regularly used for "street cred" and just as often ignored by the director. It can be quite amusing seeing the advisers give interviews and desperately try to find something good to say about the finished product.
Jay since when have you relied on a movie to tellyou the true story about anything if thats your opinion of movies you live in lala land. not even non fictional movies are accurate it doesnt take a genius to know that either. If you really want to learn the truth about anything you have to research it yourself and then base your opinions on research if not you are just believing in someone you trust. I mean you can read these articles produced by people who get payed to spout their opinions but you wont go research what you want to learn about? all i can say is wow no wonder americans are so ignorant.
I hope to go see the movie as I've had the honor of having met some of the Tuskeegee Airmen. As a historian I have always thought it a damned shame that social prejudices have kept certain parts of our history hidden or deemed it unimportant whilst whitewashing and glorifying other parts. We deserve to know ALL of history and indeed have an obligation as Americans to learn all of it. Hell, we should endeavor to know the history of the whole world because we're part of that as well.
Once upon a time there were academic grants from the Government which paid for people to seek out ordinary Americans and record their stories: how they lived their lives, their experiences and recollections of historical events, and so forth. There were stories from veterans, farmers, factory workers, housewives, teachers, physicians, people of all ages and colors and ranks and both genders, and on both sides of the law.
And let me tell you most of it is absolutely fascinating. There are stories that make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry that people should suffer such indignities at the hands of their fellow man, yet through it all runs hope that we human beings will some day see each other as brothers and sisters all made by the same hand of the same God, all made in His image, all loved equally by Him.
You can access these stories - begun as part of FDR's New Deal - through the Library of Congress. Heck, you can hit the archives of your local county and find stuff. Better yet, get out there and talk to folks, listen to their stories, and record them for others to hear as well. Talk to elders, be they kin to you or not. Even the homeless (1 out of 6 is a veteran) have stories worth listening to. Talk to kids, listen to their dreams, hopes, and fears and record those as well, because these kids are our future; they will live up or down to our expectations, and we most certainly DO shape their future with our attitudes towards them.
And here's the thing about these human stories...we might all hear the same thing with our ears or see the same thing with our eyes but every mind and heart will experience them differently. These stories need to be heard as they are, not gussied up for entertainment, because once we hear or read them we become part of them and we need to be grounded in the truth. The truly great story-tellers know that, and know that keeping the past alive for generations yet to come enables us to know who we are and where we came from so that we can better determine where we are going and how we can better ourselves along the way.
I am looking forward to seeing the movie...
Xant,
Ah, but is it ACCURATE American history? If it is, dandy. If it is not, then how does it help? If this is just more exaggeration the other direction, then we are no better off.
Tell it like it is and do not make MORE or LESS of it than is true.
Now, I have some research to do...
Jay 333 it's Hollywood. Acuracy is not their long suit. Batjac put the Alamo about 300 miles south of where it is on the wrong river. According to Hollywood it's in Laredo. They tell a story to entertain take any history sold in the film and look it up on your own. The only thing you can be sure of is they were pilots and they were black and they were also really good.
Great movie. Aerial combat scenes are awesome.
Glad to hear that. Another poster said they were a little cheesy ... Go figure. I plan on seeing the movie anyway.. A bad movie still beats a good day at work..??
I took my grandson to see the movie Friday night($50.00 later). There were cheesey moments in the film. I cannot give the movie stars because I am biased. I went to contact flight school at Ft. Steward 1967 and one of our flight instructors was a former Red Tail. I later met Col Crenshaw a former Red Tail. At that time, I had no idea what a Red Tail was or their contributions that allowed me to go to flight school. Later I visited T. I. in Alabama and met the Chief. I later became one of the original N.A.I. members, learned about the Red Tails and returned to Ozark, Alabama to talk with Col. Crenshaw and Mr. Wright(the contact flight instructor that I mentioned earlier) As of 1973, I had flown most of the aircraft in the U.S. Armies inventory and I tear up now and when I relive my experiance last night. If you are not going to live the movie, you can shoot holes in the acting the dialog even the authencity of the movie it's self. But to a man with 32 combat air medals, I teared up.
Watched it last night , liked it ,, the air to air was very good , good WW-2 fighter plane movie
Another reason Hollywood is falling behind, that story is so interesting, I want to watch it and I bet a lot of other people do, too. Just like the prejudice against historical films or bios that people don't want to watch those and that's just not true, if you do a good job of it (and that doesn't require a happy ending or a romance element with a woman 20 years younger than the guy or with a boob job) people will like it. I'd much rather watch a movie about the true story of the Nazi enigma code machine than that terrible piece of crap, U-571, a film about US marines boarding a German sub to get one, which never happened, or Disney doing Pocahontas as brainless adult supermodel romantically conflicted instead of the true life incredibly brave ten year old girl she really was. Hollywood, sometimes you SUCK!
German U-boats were captured by Americans! I have been in the U-505 in Chicago when I was a child in the early 1960s! The U-571 movie never claimed to be a true history and was based loosely on the capture of a U-boat to get an Enigma machine. The men who took the ship in the movie were Navy submariners with one Marine! However the movie Red Tails is a total hoax! The men who changed history? How did they change history? At best the so called Red Tails were a mediocre group of pilots! By the time they got into action the German Air Force was practically destroyed! They claim they never lost a bomber! They lost 25 bombers! They shot down some enemy planes however not one of them was ever an ace! The top three White pilots almost shot down more Germans than all of the Red Tails! They never sank a German destroyer (it was a PT type boat) and they maybe shot down 3 Messerschmitt jets! The jet was too fast even for a P51 Mustang to keep up with! George Lucas has created another fantasy movie like Star Wars! They make it look like less than 500 pilots from Tuskegee defeated the Axis powers by themselves! At best they are a footnote in history! Anyway the real war was in the East on the Russian front! The war in the West was a side show! However I am proud of the Americans who fought in WWII like my infantry Grandfather! A ground pounder who killed Germans with a rifle and hand grenades! That is no fantasy!
The film was financially successful and generally well received by critics in the USA[1] and won an Academy Award. The movie is U-571.
Here are real facts from Wikipedia!
The real U-571 was never involved in any such events, was not captured, and was in fact sunk in January 1944, off Ireland, by a Short Sunderland flying boat from No. 461 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. The real U-570 was captured almost intact by the Royal Navy in 1941, although not before her crew had destroyed almost all the secret materials on board.
U-505 is a German Type IXC U-boat built for service in the Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was captured on 4 June 1944 by United States Navy Task Group 22.3 (TG 22.3). Her codebooks, Enigma machine, and other secret materials found on board assisted Allied code breaking operations.[3]
All but one of U-505's crew were rescued by the Navy task group. The submarine was towed to Bermuda in secret, her crew was interned at a US prisoner of war camp where they were denied access to International Red Cross visits. The Navy classified the capture as top secret and prevented its discovery by the Germans.
In 1954, U-505 was donated to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois and is now a museum ship.
She is one of six U-boats that were captured by Allied forces during World War II, and one of four German World War II U-boats that survive as museum ships. She is the only Type IXC still in existence.
I have to agree that those in Hollywood s--k. Is that why almost all politicians think they're rock stars..Does Hollywood have that much clout? We need to know about all the brave acts of soldiers no matter what color they happen to be. At the rate things are going soon we won't have any of these brave souls left to tell what really happened in WWII. My Father was a tailgunner in a B-17 I miss talking to him. I miss our United States of America when everyone pulled together. This took guts. But no guts no glory I was always told. God Bless
they were not marines on in that one
Wolf53, while I honor your service to this country I am appalled at your apparent racism. My grandfather and other members of my family in that generation also fought in WWII and some of them knew the Tuskeegee Airmen...and had nothing but the utmost respect for them. And like blacks, my Native American relatives had to fight twice as hard to earn the grudging respect they were given by their white comrades, with actions that would have earned them medals had they been white. Hero or not, they were still treated lower than dirt when they got back home, and no matter how good-hearted or hard-working they were.
When my daughter joined the Marines back in 2001, the recruits were all told that in the Marines there is no white, black, red, yellow, or brown - everyone is green. And FYI, she was the best marksman out of all of the recruits - male as well as female - that cycle and a natural at logistics.
We are ALL Americans, regardless of race, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, religious or political beliefs, or socio-economic status. Its about time we treated each other that way, too, and give credit where credit is due.
Allison,
Wish I could vote you up more than once.
To Wolf53,
Who makes you such an authority on the military? WTF, Wikipedia. What a turd you are.
A far good number of Hollywierd movies are inaccurate to say the least.
Some decades ago, a professor from one of the more prestigious Pennsylvania, colleges refused to accept the fact the Tuskegee Airmen existed. Period.
Perhaps the Tuskegee Airmen didn’t contribute as the movie depicts. After all how can they outdo, “Saving Private Ryan”? Accurate to a “T”. Yeah Right! Platoon, and a number of other “Marine type movies”
If it were left up to people like you, and there are tens of thousands of you, only Whites would participate in any significant happening. Non Whites would be relegated to unimportant roles in whatever. You’d be the only heroes;……..You’d have and own everything of importance. Creators and Masters of the universe.
Just imagine, General Chappie James was a hoax. And I forgot, Frank Petersen.
Given the chance, any man or women can excel.
I must have had a dream….Dreamed I came from a family of 6 that served honorably in the US Military. 1 US Navy, 2 US Marines, 3 US Army.
We be from Ohio, We be Black.
Had the best Driller Instructor there was in Boot Camp. He was white. “In life, fight for what you think is right” Now, go to friggin hell, Wolf53.
Me, Crew Chief/Squad Leader. 2nd, 3rd MarDivs.
jujubi want to see a real U-boat go to Chicago Museum of science and you can tour one they even tell you how they got it in the museum and how it was captured. Wolf they came into bomber escort at a time when losses were unbelievable. They never lost a bomber they escorted and they shot down the first german jet fighters. They did their job like any other pilots with diligance. If what you say is true about the mustang you'd better be speaking german now. She wasn't faster but she turned tighter. Ask any CAF pilot they'll school you on the mustang.
A replay of the current administration in "those bad old white guys".
Thanks, I needed to read something really, farking, ignorant tonight.
So more propaganda to brainwash out youth of how perfect Black people are. The Obama syndrome in action. If you can't abide by the law you change the law to abide by them.
I will probably watch the movie when can get it free as I like most war movies. If the bull S$%T get too deep I will turn it off. I served in Korea with some black in all my out fits, They were square pegs trying to fit in round holes. That doesn't mean I didn't make friends with them. I grew up on a cotton farm, Lived on a farm next to a black farmer. As a kid played with their kids. I see the scope of all the propaganda aimed at making the USA another Africa. Supper rich Vs supper poor. My thought are they had 47,000 years to do something with Africa. Its the same cesspool as it was 47,000 years ago. Another good example is Haiti. What progress have they made over the 200 years. Don't blame me that their ancestors sold them into slavery. For many it was a move up. Europeans and Asians got the hell out as they evolved in the order of things. Beauty may be skin deep but ugly goes all the way to the bone. Truth hurts some times. A few other good examples are Detroit, Shreveport,LA, Memphis,TN, Union town AL. Questions Authority, has the right angle and probably bobaboey, hit the nail on the head. You have to remember this is not free press. Remember you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Another good example is you can put a 500 dollar saddle on a jackass but that doesn't make him a saddle horse.
@Seta...maybe it just that century old mentality, "if we make it, they will break it." There was a time when black people were making their own way, business, banks, homes, family and what happened...does Tulsa, Rosewood, etc sounds familiar. People like you just say things and have no clue, ancestors might have sold them into slavery, but does that give people the right to treat other people they way they did? If I give you drugs, does that mean you have to take them? It's just the treatment of another human being, slave or not, you have to look deep down in your soul and question the human race...it is just so sad. I remember that old commercial years ago, where the native american is looking over the country and tears are flowing from his eyes. That's the way I feel about our world today, so much hate, no love for each other...just for you info....
The Date Was June 1, 1921, "BLACK WALL
STREET"
The name fittingly given to one of the most affluent All-BLACK Communities in America,
was bombed from the air and Burned to the ground by mobs of envious Whites. In a
period spanning fewer than 12 hours, a once thriving Black Business District in northern
Tulsa lay smoldering -- a model Community destroyed and a major African-American
economic movement resoundingly defused. . The Night's Carnage left some 3,000 African
Americans Dead and over 600 Successful Businesses Lost. Among these were 21 Churches,
21 Restaurants, 30 Grocery Stores and 2 Movie Theaters, plus A Hospital, A Bank, a Post Office, Libraries, Schools, Law Offices, a half dozen Private Airplanes and even A Bus System.As could have been expected, the impetus behind it all was the infamous Ku Klux Klan.
What's the matter, ProAmerica and Seta? Afraid that black youth will see what they can accomplish and choose to do good, therefore threatening your false perception that blacks are inferior?
I would venture to guess that the influx of Tyler Perry movies and other African-American movies spoofs have done much to jade Hollywood. Now, when a movie such as this that deals with history (though admittedly more action than history) is to be made and released, there is an uphill battle to set itself apart from the aforementioned trash.
OK...Let's get off Tyler Perry for a bit. Some movies are just fluff... It's like argueing the nutritional value of cotton candy....even though we know it's crap, we still enjoy it.
However, this is not one of them. No matter how the story is told, it is still a part of our history.....and these men deserve recognition in any venue.
Regardless of whether folks might think it deserve an Academy Award, or a slot on the History channel...it pays respect to those who have died defending to this country.
Thank you, Tuskegee Airmen, thank you.
Ok here's something these right wingers that come on these boards need to understand. Hollywood has ALWAYS been about the MONEY.
To think that the press and holywood are liberal elites is simply untrue. All business is about making money. Because touchy feel good movies about liberal/progressive causees make money, that's why they're made, not because they have some kind of social agenda.
They didn't know how to market it because like all businesses they don't want to take a risk on losing money. Doesn't have anything to do with racism etc. I guarantee you if this movie does well at the box office, you're going to see a ton of all black cast movies come out.
I'll pass. I have read quite a bit about the air wars over Europe and this could have been a great story. Why they felt the need to put in a pre-game pep-chant into the movie is beyond me. These guys were flying off into battle - there was a good chance they would not be coming back. There was a briefing and then into the planes - not a cheer circle...
996 pilots were trained in Tuskegee from 1941 to 1946, approximately 445 were deployed overseas, and 150 Airmen lost their lives in accidents or combat. The casualty toll included 66 pilots killed in action or accidents
This movies was done already! It was called Tuskegee Airmen(1995). That movie was very good. Why does Hollywood think we need to see the same movie over and over and over and over...........again. Add more CGI and its better than the one before it. I.E. Star Wars! The original movies rocked then you went all CGI and f'ed them up. That's why I wait till everything goes to red box. I will not pay $40 to go to a movie when I can pay $1 and sit in my underwear and watch it. and for those of you out there, if it doesn't go to redbox, then I don't need to see it. Have a nice day!
nwo sucks "Tuskegee Airmen movie started from the beginning Red Tails picks it up in Italy...There was a lot of Bulls**t in the Tuskegee Airmen and it was not factual. Red Tails is factual. What movie do you go to that you have to pay 40 dollars. If you paid that they saw you coming. I guess there is is a spot at the Statue of Liberty you can buy.
You have a good handle, Madman. Get a kick out of attacking other posters while hiding behind your monitor?
"factual" according to whom? lucus is not known for being factual in anything, in the previews i've already seen, things that are in-fact, not facts.
Actually, the "Tuskegee Airmen" movie was a TV movie on HBO, not a general release movie in theaters.
I watched it on the History Channel, with follow-up interviews with actual pilots from the unit after the movie.
They were totally upfront about losing bombers to anti-aircraft, but quite clear that they never lost a bomber to the Luftwaffe, and politely indicated that, unlike the previous fighter escorts, they were trained not to go off chasing fighters and racking up kills when their mission was to protect the bombers at all costs. I'm sure "Red Tails" has a lot of Hollywood hype in the plot, but renting the "Tuskegee Airmen" movie would be a good counter to that.
Agreed
Hal, I watched the same HISTORY CHANNEL followup. Your points are valid, but, did yuou remember a couple of the pilots saying they ended up "returning to base" alone? They did venture off after a possible "easy kill."
I am not saying they were not taught to stay with their mission, as all fighter escorts were, even during later wars, but, in the heat of battle, lines become very misty.
As far as them being valiant pilots and proud representatives of the United States of America, of that, there is NO DOUBT.
Now, as to how Hollywood, or Disneyland, chooses to promote them, that is their option. Problem is, I agree with a lot of comments about how movie makers and politicians work hand-in-glove to get their money, simply by creating a make believe story into something close to the truth, yet not quite the real, and whole, truth. We, as the "buying" public, have to do a little, sometimes a lot, of our own research to reach the full and untarnished truth.
Again, I cannot reiterate enough, these pilots, as a group, were heroes, for ALL Americans. That is the main point of the movie, in my opinion.
I guess my point was misunderstood. Hollywood continually remakes movies, throwing huge budgets at them with actors that can sell the movie before it even hits the theaters. Throw in a crap load of CGI wrap it around a thin script and bang 200+ million dollars at the box office.
Personally I don't care if the movie is factual or not. Movies in my opinion should be able to entertain the audience without 2 hours of s@#t blowing up and 15 mins of acting. Don't get me wrong, love a good action flick. But enough is enough with the remakes. The art form in Hollywood has been lost.
A great blend of the before mentioned variables was seen in "The Hurt Locker". Great movie didn't do very well in the theaters because Brad Pit or Ice Cube wasn't starring in it.
My hats are off to the service men of the Tuskegee squad, They had a ton of adversity to go through just to be able to sit in the cockpit of an airplane.
P.S. yo Madman. 15 bucks a ticket, and yes I take a girl with me so that's 30 bucks, add in some popcorn and a coke.....$40... BertStare.... you mad bra..
Hollywood is on the second remake of some movies from my childhood. It sold once so stick a new actor in the lead and make it again. It's easier than creating something. Risk takers they are not.I will bet as this election goes on that the same Hollywood types that were afraid to make this movie will be endorsing liberal candidates and shooting their mouth off about how backwards the middle of the country is.
It's unusual when Hollywood even attempts to make to make worthwhile films. Haven't seen this movie yet, but I'll buy it on DVD. Some criticized Spielberg's Schindler's List, Munich, and Amistad , just as they're criticizing Lucas's Tuskegee Airmen movie. I'm just glad somebody still tries to make these.
If I was a non-Caucasian I would very angry with the Marketing of this film just to stuff Lucas's already bulging pockets. He and his Marketing Maggots have used just about every gambit they can think up to try and get people to go see the Movie from being a racist to being Un-American..How about supporting a Liberal Brother Demoncrat in Hollywood, haven't heard that one yet...But it all sort of sounds like Obama's current Political Campaign to me...
The airmen depicted in this Movie were truly hero's of the Second World War and have received the recognition they deserved from their co-pilots to the American people. And this you will find interesting, it was the Demoncrats who were against them, oh yeah Demoncrats were the powers behind the segregation and the slave movement in the South and with the propaganda machine of today you all probably thought it was the Republicans...And it was the Confederates who burned Atlanta themselves and not Sherman in an attempt to deprive Sherman's troops of forage for their horses and their Troops...Now where did I learn this information from..A certain Air Force Sergeant whom I was stationed with in Columbus Ohio a non-Caucasian. I, being ignorant of the South having been raise in one of the Norths most corrupt Political Capitol City, I asked him to educate me as to what was really going on down there and what his life was like growing up...
So if you go to see the movie, give deep thought and reverance to the sacrafices these air men made and not get caught up in the Marketing Hoopla.
@ Bob -- I suggest you read up on the real story. While no movie is totally FACT, this one is based on real, brave pilots who had a tremendous impact on WWII.
To Eddie -- go back to history class and learn about SOUTHERN Democrats (as opposed to the northern Democrats - and yes, there was a difference) before you keep spouting off. Most of them migrated to the Republican party during the civil rights movement. That's when the southern states became Republican.
Madman 53-3446879
Precisely what does Fox have to do with bobaboey's comments? It would be nice if all of you who support Obama could face the fact that the only honest news comes from fox since the main stream media is so stupid they say things like He gives them a tingle in their leg. What morons and such a putrid excuse for journalism we get from them.
I've seen other movies about these guys and they did a heroic job, much more than the nanny state whiners of today would ever do.
You mean THESE Nothern democrats? Just 20 years ahead of thier Southern Brothers?
Formal segregation also existed in the North. Some neighborhoods were restricted to blacks and job opportunities were denied them by unions in, for example, the skilled building trades. Blacks who moved to the North in the Great Migration after World War I might have been able to live without the same degree of oppression experienced in the South, however the elements of racism and discrimination still existed.
“
Despite the actions of abolitionists, life for free blacks was far from idyllic, due to northern racism. Most free blacks lived in racial enclaves in the major cities of the North: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati. There, poor living conditions led to disease and death. In a Philadelphia study in 1846, practically all poor black infants died shortly after birth. Even wealthy blacks were prohibited from living in white neighborhoods due to whites' fear of declining property values.[32]
”
The Chicago suburb of Cicero for example, was made famous when Civil Rights advocate Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a march advocating open (race-unbiased) housing.
“
Northern blacks were forced to live in a white man's democracy, and while not legally enslaved, subject to definition by their race. In their all-black communities, they continued to build their own churches and schools and to develop vigilance committees to protect members of the black community from hostility and violence.[32]
”
School segregation in the North was also a major issue.[34] In Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, towns near the Mason-Dixon line enforced school segregation, despite state laws outlawing the practice of it.[34] Indiana also required school segregation by state law.[34] During the 1940s, however, NAACP lawsuits quickly depleted segregation from the Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey southern areas.[34] In 1949, Indiana officially repealed its school segregation law as well.[34] The most common form of segregation in the northern states came from anti-miscegenation laws.[23]
.
HONEST news from Fox?? Thank you, madman - I needed a laugh today. Faux news? Really? LOL
Eddie, did you bother to read the article, or did you just scan it for something to whine about? "Lucas spent $58 million of his own money to produce Red Tails." Doesn't seem that he was "stuffing his already bulging pockets" by solely funding and releasing the movie! Did you read that an 89 year-old former fighter pilot was a consultant on the film? Why do you find it necessary to turn this into a political issue? Get a grip!
I had the pleasure of waiting on a group of these men in the late 90's. I was waiting tables in Branson during a college break and co-workers didn't want to wait on this table of black men for several stereotypical reasons. I took the table and walked out onto the floor to discover living history waiting for me. They were in town to ride in the Veteran's day parade I believe... or maybe Memorial day, one of those. It was the ONLY autograph I have ever asked for in my life and I will be digging them out to see if they are mentioned in the film. They were so gracious and amazing! Proud to have had that opportunity. Other people's ignorance was definitely my gain that day!
Mikki -- nice story, thanks for sharing! I never had the pleasure of meeting one of the TA, but I did have the opportunity of interviewing a pilot who was saved by them! Amazing story.
If it was not for a Republican congress and Republican leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights laws would never have been passed.
The Democrats were the ones that founded the KKK, and JFK voted AGAINST the Civil Rights amendment prior to becoming President, as did many Democratic Senators in 1964. Robert Byrd (KKK recruiter) even filibustered for 57+days to KILL the bill, but was over-ruled by vote. George Wallace (segregationist zealot), Lester Maddox (another segregationist) and Bull Connor (releasing his police dogs on protesting black people) were also vaunted Democrats.
A whopping 40% of the House Democrats VOTED AGAINST the Civil Rights Act, while 80% of Republicans SUPPORTED it. Democrat icons Wallace, Maddox, Connor, and Byrd remained staunch Democrats. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., remained staunch Republicans. Those are the facts.
eddie the Gop was born of the civil war and only in the north. And all those democrats changed to republicans with Reagan. And you'd better check who was president in 64 when the civil rights act was passed. One clue a democrat from Texas who signed it.
Don't get it. “No, we don’t know how to market it.” A war movie, drama, documentary... Or just follow the 1995 HBO version. Or could just be more of the weak storyline/character devlopment coming out of hollywood. Have to wait and see if Gooding does compared to role in HBO version.
On a side note Captain Brown is a good speaker and a better role model than any actor.
I look forward to watching it, I think it'll be a great film.
Awesome movie, awesome, awesome movie, some of you haters should go see it, you may learn something..It could be the beginning of your cure for hate.
Haters? Simply because they disagree with you. Get over the color of your skin or your liberal dementia whichever is your problem and grow a brain. The racist theme is brought up over and over and over by Obama and his thugocracy. This is precisely why many black generations have never gotten ahead. They buy into thier hopelessness and imagine themselves downtrodden while other people the same color flourish and do very well. The difference being whether they have self pride and self reliance or want someone to take care of them because they think they are owed something. White people don't hold black people down. Black people hold black people down.
obviously you're white. there is such a thing as institutional racism. When's the last time we had as much coverage on a missing minority girl as Natalee Holloway. How many presidents have we had of European background and how many of another background? If you look at the Senate and Congress, how many of them look like they came off the Mayflower? How many minority actors do you see on normal television? How many of those actors are leads in their shows? How many police departments are overwhelmingly of european descent? I think the reason black people don't succeed as much as other races is because they expect white people to do the right thing. The rest of us minorities accept the petty racism as a way of life and have to be twice as good to be considered even half the equal of "the white man".
sooo because you consider yourself different that means you need special treatment? so in order for us not to be racist we need to elect based on color and not on skill? so if we based all our decisions on color would that mean we are doing the "right thing"? if you think only whites are racist then your ignorant of reality. the evil of wanting to control other people is not bound by color, look at sub-saharan africa and see the black mans thirst for power or middle-east or south america or right here at home, anywhere else there are humans there will be the few that want to rule over the many and it has nothing to to with the color of ones skin.
when can we just be americas living in the united states of america? its the mentality that somehow someone is owed something for something that is perceived, that needs to stop.
Yup, it's a racist plot... That's why people don't want to go see the second movie dedicated to this story... Of course George Lucas has made so many awesome movies lately...
I don't like propaganda that comes out in an election year! The British started the destruction of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) in the Battle of Britain, then the Russians on the Eastern front, then the Americans! The Red Tails were latecomers to the war! Congress even investigated them for not being aggressive enough! They were nearly disbanded! They should be making a movie about the Battle of Britain! Men who were hanging on for dear life fighting for their country! Not some fantasy about some "super heroes" who never existed except as ordinary pilots who had a lot of gravy runs during the war! George Lucas should stick with Science Fiction!
Ok I have yet to see Red Tails yet,but I have know about the Tuskegee Airman all my life,for you see one of my great uncles served with the 477th Bomb Group,it's true they did'nt see action,and also true that it was'nt till late 1943-44 that the332nd fought.But the core squadron,the 99th started fighting in North Africa in April of 1943 with P-40F's with the 12th Air Force.The 99th was assinged to a white fighter group,the 33rd who made it quite clear that these black pilots were'nt wanted.Col William 'Spike' Momyer would not accept the salutes from the C.O. and X.O. of the 99th and later changed briefing times so the pilots of the 99th would arrive late or early and this was shown in the made for HBO movie. It was eight months later after the invasion that the 99th was transfered to another Fighter Group,the 78th under Col Earl Bates who treated the 99th's pilots as equals. So Wolf 53 these men,including my uncle were'nt just fighting for there country,but fighting for themselves and their families back in the states for respect and the right to be treated as Americans. And one last point,you mentioned they flew " gravy missions" one of the "complaints the Col Momyer listed that the 99th ran from German fighters,it's kind of hard to shoot down any enemy fighter when you are flying close air support missions for the infantry,shooting up the enemy planes on the ground(one of the best places to catch them) or the supply trains( both of these targets where tough nuts to crack,considering the the Germans tended to turn them into flack traps)
I agree 100%, Breakeven270. My grandfather served with the 332, and screw all you haters.
For Rhonda A Lincoln was dead 100 years before the 64 civil rights act was passed. And little historical fact the emancipation proclamation only freed the slaves in the confederacy which was currently in a shooting war with his government it did not free any slaves in union states and there were some. For jh since most cities in the US still are not an African American majority what do you want. Want to see a police force that is a minority force try Brownsville Tx which is close to 90% hispanic and which all of you accused of racism in the recent shooting of the hispanic kid at the school because you scream racism without ever checking facts..
Wolf53, you really need to research your history a little more.
Eleanor Roosevelt was the driving force behind the Tuskagee Airmen. Congress, nearly 100% white male, was still in that era of "Blacks are not capable of doing such difficult, and technical, jobs as piloting an airplane," and other (erroneous) ideas, therefore they were dead set against these gallant pilots succeeding. As such, the only way to ensure they didn't succeed, was to throw every obstacle and insult they could at them, including charge them with being cowards, which they weren't, dereliction of duty, which had NO basis or foundation in fact, and refusing orders of their superiors, again, which was untrue. There were, at that time, many senior officers in the military very anti-negro. And yet, they still did their job, very successfully, I might add, as evidenced by reports from some bomber groups requesting they be escorted by this group only. (At that particular time, allied bomber groups were losing as much as 25% of their planes and crews on each mission, most by Axis fighters.)
That war started before the US got involved in Europe, in 1939, by the Nazi's invading Belgium and Poland, then France. In 1940, they tried to bring the British to their knees, by bombing all the major cities in England, to their great loss. At the same time they were bombing Britain, they had a treaty with Stalin. But, Hitler messed up, and decided to go after Russia, before he was finished with the British. At the time he went after England, a lot of Canadian and American airmen decided to get in the act, as well as Polish, French, and Dutch airmen.
But during this Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, they were sending millions of soldiers, not airmen, to the Eastern Front. They retained most of their Luftwaffe in the western zone to attack the RAF, and later, the USAAC, (the forerunner of the USAF,) to try and stop the bombing raids.
Long before "D Day," these gentlemen of the 332nd Group were flying against some of the best pilots the Luftwaffe had, especially as those guys were protecting the bombers going up against some of the most heavily guarded fuel storage and refining areas in the AXIS areas. Granted, they were not alone in their efforts, but the service provided by such a small group, was and is noteworthy.
This information can be found in various history books, as well as by talking to people, (like my parents, both of who were actual participants in that war, as were a lot of my uncles, my mother's sister, and my maternal grandfather.)
Sir, by your denial of these fine airmen, and the service they provided, you do our entire nation a disservice.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE! BEEN We have not seen this movie yet...BUT...a GREAT movie called "Tuskegee Airmen" has already been done! And, Yes, with an all black cast...Lawrence Fishburn (sp)and Theo from the old Bill Cosby show...etc... and Many, Many other named actors were in this great movie done YEARS Ago. So trying to pass this one (RED TAILS) off as the first one or the greatest one on the subject is very unfair! We will see this version, but we suggest that everyone see the "ORIGINAL" Hollywood production as well. Thanks
Ah thank you Grayshadow19, many of us know about the other movie having seen it more than once. But the current PC BS liberals need to pretend until now there could not be a movie with an all black cast made. Just more propaganda to fool those who have been brought up in our liberal ruined education system.
@Shaking my head, I can' help but shake my head when I read your drivel. As a teacher here in Texas I've seen first-hand how the conservatives have ruined education: rewriting the history to exclude Tejanos from the Battle of the Alamo; remove the word "slavey" from the history books and replace it with "The Atlantic Triangular Trade"; lowered testing standards to the point that Texas is 47th in the country in standardized test scores. The only BS I see are from the conservatives fighing to deny the truth.
Michael they like the Hollywood version of history better. You know the one where the Alamo is on the Rio Grande, bet that surprises Laredo. They can't understand when someone tells them the only American citizens at the Alamo were the Tennesseans. To own land in Mexico to this day you have to be a Mexican citizen. Michael the slavery issue was real but don't think the triangular trade was fiction. Our New England brothers got rich on the backs of the same slaves. Here's a math question to use in school if a farmer gets a loan from a NY factor (banker) to plant and the factor controls the shipping, the mills, the commodities trade and the vending of merchandise back to the farmer how many seasons will it take for the farmer to pay the loan back. The answer is he'll never pay it back.
i think this movie was already done about 16 years ago. get over yourselves
Interesting that Lucas states "you just need to get someone to believe in it" When I send him a request to offer some advice for my book being made into a movie, only to have the question returned, unopened, saying Lucas Films does not read unsolicited mail. So be it. The book has been picked up, a trailer filmed and an L.A. Movie company ready to film the movie. Case closed George.
as a true warbird buff, I could care less about the color of the skin of the man piloting the plane, I just want to see some P-40's and P-51's!
Here Here! Another admitted WWII plane junkie!
I loved Pearl Harbor for that reason alone.
Bring on the War Birds!
Yeah WARBIRDS!!! LOL A good pilot is a good pilot, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic heritage. A good fighter pilot just has that little edge over a good pilot, with just a touch more bravado, and sometimes, recklessness.
Yes, I have been accused of that.
Frosty
All fighter jocks think they are supermen, just ask one.
Go to Midland Texas DooDooPaper they fly them in an airshow twice a year along with a B 17. Look up CAF airshow ( Conferderate Air Force )They recreate the attack on Pearl Harbor including Japanese planes. they also have the training and spotter planes of WWII. Want to save those planes I think it is about $2000 to join. You get to be a colonel and walk around in a flight suit.
Good topic, terrible movie. I just saw it and it's awful. It's as bad as Pearl Harbor. The combat scenes are short and not realistic enough to make up for the god awful dialogue of this film. Don't waste your money. Rent it from redbox later for a dollar. Too bad. It deserved better.
I also saw the movie Boulderdawg and I agree, it wasn't very good. I liked the original Tuskegee movie much better, it was more detailed and historical I believe. Anyway I agree it is a redbox viewer. Lucas just missed the mark on this one.
Thanks for that, Boulderdawg. I was going to see it when it opened in my area, but it sounds like people are either lovin' it or hatin' it, and I see that most people are hatin' it. I was actually looking forward to it. I love the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, but... Well George Lucas ain't on the top of my "Wowzer" list right now. So thanks for the comment, you put me off of spending six dollars that I can save for lunch one day :)
I was planning on renting this one from Redbox it looks like it's a little reliant on effects driven dog fight scenes. I'm gonna spend my money on the Gina Carano movie coming out.
I'm sorry but this film was already done on a grand scale in 1995
The Tuskegee Airmen staring Laurence Fishburne
just without the next gen cgi that GL prod. brings....which was the better story...well I know what my bet is on.
I think Ken Burn's Civil War series on PBS showed that people are interested in these types of historical films/programs. I would rather watch this movie than most things on the big screen or small screen.
Maybe the film just sucks? Couldn't be that, it's gotta be a racist plot eh? Also, wasn't this story already told in 1995? I mean ww2 was a big war, and we make 2 movies about this particular story? Read the reviews. The trailers make it look pretty lame.
There were hundreds, if not thousands of WWII films made. Many filled with fantasy, others much more realistic..People still flock to see them. Whenever ANY movie, news story or play comes out that presents African Amercans in a positive light is presented, racism and hatred raises it's uglyhead and the most outlandish and hateful comments are made.
A part of this movie presents some of the hate and racism these proud and brave Americans had to endure over 50 years ago. The bigoted and hate filled comments on this board proves beyond doubt that some things haven't changed at all.
@GD I agree it looks like it's to dependant on the Special effects in the air combat scenes so I'll wait for it to hit the redbox and spend a dollar before i watch it.
So if its just a race thing why isn't anyone flocking to make a new movie about the 442 regimental combat team. Last one was made with Van Johnson as the dumb white guy.
I was going to see the movie. I think there are hero's here that never received the publicity and awards they surely earned. The fact that it was an all black cast never bothered me one way or the other. Then half way through this story I read that the white guys are the bad guys. I may have to check this out alittle more before I invest my money in going and seeing it. I'm not a racist and I don't fund other racist's.
stupidhurts402 the white guys are ta da the German Airforce you know the Luftwaffe, get it NAZI's no you don't do you jeeeezzzz.
I read it as the Nazi "superior human" ideal was the bad guy as well. White people have a problem with that??
NOW I see why some of these posts here smack of a little too much sensitivity. Poor folks! And they weren't even talking about you!! LOL!!
The white guys are the racists in congress and yes the Army air corps who came up with some real stupid reasons not to let them fight. They weren't the only segregated unit in the army in WWII. The 442 was all japanese and fought just as hard for the right to fight for their country.
If the movie is good, people will watch it, no matter what. I plan to look for it online once "certain" people get it up
Thank you George!
I liked Pearl Harbor, and like it more each time I see it. It is hard for us to imagine how different this generation was. They were patriotic, naive, and gung ho. I am going to see that movie this weekend. This is a story that needed to be told.
Pearl Harbor was dung. If you want great WW2 film-making watch B o B, HBO Series.
Pearl Harbor was so full of historical mistakes it borders on being a cartoon.
I rent History Channel and PBS documentaries from the public library, read history books, and have had the good fortune to come from a family where most of us live to our late 90's (and making it to and over 100 isn't that rare). As a kid I listened to my older relatives talk about the Civil Rights struggle, WWII and the Korean war, the Great Depression, the Roaring 20's, the Stock Market Crashes of 1929 AND 1900, and the Spanish-American War (my great-great uncle Walter fought in it. I have his infantry issue Springfield rifle and bayonnet) from people who experienced these things first-hand. You learn way yonder more about history when you listen to the people who lived it. That's one reason I've made sure to pass these stories on to my kids and grandkids.
Hold onto that Springfield. If you can prove the bayonet was issued with the rifle, you have a piece of history that will be worth more and more each year.
I was born 2 years after WWII and every adult I knew was a vet, someone who worked in the factories producing war materials etc. It wasn't history to us it was just stories from our parents. When I neede a german family document translated mom got her friend the undercover OSS agent to do it. They were just the people we grew up with. The only story I ever heard from the "hero" 101st was about the motorcycle he commandeered from a german dispatch rider. The middle brother told me everything else.
I saw this movie today as I did the 1995 version on HBO. It was a history lesson to me the first time and I thought this one would be better with the Lucas connection. I was surprised when the screen credits started, it appeared to be a 1940's/50's movie with the cheap graphics and back ground music. The acting was for the most part just not that good.
Please understand I am not criticizing the the true story of these courageous airman, just the lack of good directing and acting in a lot of the scenes. There were some great scenes, but far too few.
This story should have and could have been done so much better. I fear that it may do more harm than good about this interesting part of WWII history.