The War Lover poster & wallpaper

Al Waxman, Gary Cockrell, Michael Crawford

Based on a novel by John Hersey, who also wrote the screenplay, this film examines the partnership between World War II B17 pilot Buzz Rickson (Steve McQueen) and his co-pilot, Bo Bolland (Robert Wagn...( read more  read more... )er), who are polar opposites: Buzz faces the enemy with ease but doesn't know how to fit into non-combat life, while Bo longs for war to end so he can settle down with his girlfriend (Shirley Ann Field). Can they survive the fighting, and each other?

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57% liked it

781 ratings

Unrated, 105 min.

Directed by: Philip Leacock

Release Date: October 25, 1962

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DVD Release Date: May 13, 2003

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Stats: 40 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40)

  • 339z
    August 2, 2009
    339z
    wow umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that steve mcqueen, shirley anne field, robert wagner, michael crawford, al waxman, gary cockrell play good roles/par...( read more)ts thorughout this movie.....i think that the director of this action/adventure/drama/war movie had done a great job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....i think that this is a good movie 2 watch n its an enjoyable war movie 2 watch
  • jjnxn
    March 22, 2009
    jjnxn
    Not bad study of differing pyschologies that make up a flight unit in WWII. McQueen and Wagner are well cast and work well together. Shirley Anne Field is a very classy leading lady and the romance is well presented and doesn't interfer with the main story. The ending is unfortun...( read more)ately abrupt and hurts the overall feeling of the film.
  • blacksnake2
    March 4, 2008
    blacksnake2
    Basically a remake of "Hell Is For Heroes" , this time in the air with the mighty U.S. 8th Air Force, McQueen playing a less admirable, morals lacking psychopath version of HIFH's "Reese" against clean and handsome Robert Wagner as they clash over the girl who can't decide betwe...( read more)en the Bad Boy and the Good Boy (Sounds like NYC or L.A. on a Saturday night, Eh?). Dumb requisite love story detracts from the action, but this is more psychological thriller than "War Is Hell" genre like "Hell Is For Heroes" or "Pork Chop/Hamburger Hill". A movie you can share popcorn with your Babe of choice, she gets the love story and you get to enjoy the heroic danger of the air action, not to mention the charisma of the great McQueen & Wagner...
  • stevefeary
    January 21, 2007
    stevefeary
    The Story

    Buzz Rickson (McQueen) is a brilliant but volatile US airforce pilot stationed in England during WWII. His intense personality and maverick attitude leads to tensions running high in his crew, but they respect his skills and trust him in battle more than any other pi...( read more)lot in the squadron. His co-pilot, Ed Bolland (Robert Wagner), also sticks by his side through it all, but the two ultimately find themselves at odds over one critical and devastating decision, and they enter into their own private war, as they develop combatative romantic interests in a beautiful English woman (Shirley Anne Field).

    Bolland and Rickson in the air.


    McQueen's Performance

    Steve McQueen was intense and commanding in this performance as an angry and dangerous young man on the edge. This role got him some good reviews early in his career.

    Trivia

    While filming in England McQueen was racing high performance cars on the countries well known racing tracks. The studio tried to put a stop to this by telling him that if he had an accident (which would have meant the end of the film) he would be sued the cost of the films production (3 Million dollars). This didn't stop McQueen. Not only did he continue racing on the local tracks, but he had a near death track accident, which luckily only resulted in a badly cut and restitched lip. The director filmed around the injury, allowing him to wear his pilots helmet in certain scenes to cover it up.

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