Men of the Fighting Lady
| Men of the Fighting Lady | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Andrew Marton |
| Produced by | Henry Berman |
| Written by | Harry A. Burns |
| Starring |
Van Johnson Walter Pidgeon Keenan Wynn Dewey Martin Frank Lovejoy |
| Music by | Miklós Rózsa |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by | Gene Ruggiero |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $829,000 |
| Box office | $2,638,000 |
Men of the Fighting Lady (also known as Panther Squadron) is a 1954 Korean War drama film starring Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Keenan Wynn, and directed by Andrew Marton. The screenplay was written by U.S. Navy Commander Harry A. Burns, who had written a Saturday Evening Post article, "The Case of the Blinded Pilot", an account of a U.S. Navy pilot in the Korean War, who saves a blinded Navy pilot by talking him down to a successful landing. Men of the Fighting Lady was also inspired by another Saturday Evening Post article, "The Forgotten Heroes of Korea" by James A. Michener. The original music score was composed by Miklós Rózsa.
On board the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier in the Sea of Japan during the Korean War, author James A. Michener (Louis Calhern) meets Commander and flight surgeon Kent Dowling (Walter Pidgeon). Dowling relates a "Christmas story" of a near-miracle.
Ensign Kenneth Schecter (Dewey Martin) is one of VF 192 squadron pilots flying Grumman F9F Panther fighter-bombers who are forced to go back to destroy an enemy railroad that is rebuilt after each attack. Their leader, Lieutenant Commander Paul Grayson (Frank Lovejoy), is even shot down during one mission and rescued from the sea. Veteran pilot Lieutenant Commander Ted Dodson (Keenan Wynn) criticizes Grayson for flying too low and risking his life. Ironically, it is Dodson who loses his life in another mission when his damaged aircraft explodes on landing.
For their 27th mission against the enemy target, the squadron flies out on Christmas Day, and Schecter is hit by enemy fire and blinded. Lieutenant Thayer (Van Johnson) guides Schecter by radio to a safe landing on the deck of the carrier. The squadron celebrates his safe return, but also mourns the loss of good men like Dodson.
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Wikipedia