The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(4,468 ratings)

Based on a true story, The Tuskegee Airmen chronicles the experiences of the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Using Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne) as a focal point, the movie follows the airmen from their initial training at Tuskegee, Alabama, through their combat… More Based on a true story, The Tuskegee Airmen chronicles the experiences of the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Using Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne) as a focal point, the movie follows the airmen from their initial training at Tuskegee, Alabama, through their combat assignments during World War II. Featuring fascinating vintage military planes and exciting air-combat footage, the film also depicts the racism encountered by the pilots. In one example, the airmen are forced to give their seats on a crowded train to German prisoners of war. Even after the airmen complete their training, the military brass is reluctant to trust them in battle. But First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt publicizes their plight by going to Tuskegee and having one of the African-American pilots take her for a plane ride, and shortly thereafter the airmen are assigned a combat role. Eventually they join with other African-American pilots in the 332nd Fighter Group where their skill in protecting bombers from enemy fighters finally earns them the respect they deserve. The screen story was co-authored by Robert Williams, one of the pilots trained at Tuskegee. ~ Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Robert Markowitz
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Aug 26, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jan 23, 2001
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The script's familiar, since air combat isn't a new genre by a long shot, but the additional mission of the men proving themselves gives telepic its extra dimension.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
The script has a weak structure and the characters are fairly superficial, but the film is still moving as all get out.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A superbly crafted production featuring outstanding aerial sequences.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Too self-important, too cliched, and too dismissive of the talent at its disposal.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

A good film that could have benefited from a larger budget.
Chris B

Based on a true story, "The Tuskegee Airmen" tells the story of a group of African American pilots and their challenges in becoming airmen for the United States to help fight for their country. The film includes many clips of actual footage of various missions being carried… More
Based on a true story, "The Tuskegee Airmen" tells the story of a group of African American pilots and their challenges in becoming airmen for the United States to help fight for their country. The film includes many clips of actual footage of various missions being carried out mixed in with the rest of the acted material. The film is a simple but effective look into the troubled and corrupt world that blacks were forced to be part of during times of segregation. There were moments you could feel the pain and loss through their eyes and there were several times I connected with these men and their struggles. Overall this was a wonderful film that HBO made for television and is much more correlated with a theatrical film then a television movie. This is a solid watch no matter the color of your skin and is a great story of acceptance in the most basic of ways.
Lesley N

Ackackack go the enemy fighters, swoonswoonswoon go the soundtrack violins... Well, you could do worse than watch Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr , Andre Braugher and more swoop stylishly through the air and stride fetchingly around in pilots jackets for ninety minutes , but both… More
Ackackack go the enemy fighters, swoonswoonswoon go the soundtrack violins... Well, you could do worse than watch Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr , Andre Braugher and more swoop stylishly through the air and stride fetchingly around in pilots jackets for ninety minutes , but both the calibre of acting and the true story of an elite squad of black US pilots fighting racism and Germans are let down by the made-for-HBO-tv overdramatics .
Andrew F

Boring. Laurence Fishburne is so terribly wrong for the part.

Cast

            Andre Braugher as Benjamin O. Davis

            Laurence Fishburne as Hannibal Lee

            Cuba Gooding Jr. as Billy Roberts

            Bennet Guillory as Hannibal's Father

            David Harrod as White Pilot #1

            Brett Jones as Right Waist Gunner

            Johnny Judkins as White Pilot #2

            Tim Kelleher as Lt. Wesley (B17)

            Ed Lauter as General Stevenson

            John Lithgow as Senator Conyers

            Janet MacLachlan as Hannibal's Mother

            Christopher McDonald as Major Joy

            Willie Minor as Black Prisoner

            Perry Moore as Reggie Newton

            Rosemary Murphy as Eleanor Roosevelt

            Allen Payne as Walter Peoples

            Marco Perella as Col. Sirca

            William Earl Ray as Tank

            Courtney B. Vance as Lt. Glenn

            Ned Vaughn as Capt. Butler (B-17)

            Eddie Braun as Tail Gunner

            Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Leroy Cappy

            Vivica A. Fox as Charlene

            Rick Snyder as Chairman Cassidy

            Daniel Hugh Kelly as Col. Rogers
See full cast