Wing and a Prayer (1944)

43% of users liked it
(1,196 ratings)

Former president Ronald Reagan may have genuinely believed that he was referring to a real-life act of selfless wartime bravery whenever repeating his "We'll bring this one down together" anecdote. In fact, he was merely quoting a scene from the above-average World War 2 drama A Wing and a Prayer.… More Former president Ronald Reagan may have genuinely believed that he was referring to a real-life act of selfless wartime bravery whenever repeating his "We'll bring this one down together" anecdote. In fact, he was merely quoting a scene from the above-average World War 2 drama A Wing and a Prayer. The setting is an American aircraft carrier, overseen by tough, unserving flight officer Don Ameche. When casualties begin piling up, the pilots blame Ameche, accusing him of being an indiscriminate butcher. Only when the tide of battle turns in favor of the Allies do the pilots realize that Ameche has been right all along. Director Henry Hathaway spent several weeks aboard an actual aircraft carrier, filming genuine combat scenes. Many of these authentic sequences appear as background footage in A Wing and a Prayer; sometimes the process work is convincing, sometimes it isn't, but please remember that this film was made long, long before the advent of computer technology. Dana Andrews, William Eythe, Richard Jaeckel, Harry Morgan (billed as 'Henry Morgan' here), Richard Crane, Glenn Langan, Reed Hadley and Bob Bailey are among the ready, willing and able Fox contractees appearing in A Wing and a Prayer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Henry Hathaway
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Jul 24, 1944 Wide
On DVD: Nov 6, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
Feels tougher and more focused as it continues, and it editorializes much less obviously than most movies of its genre and period do about who on screen is to be admired and who is to be regarded with unresolved ambivalence.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
An anthropological record of the features Hollywood produces when it's at war, yes, but a good flick--no.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A manifest-protected foolhardy was more important to champion than cool consideration and calculated risk.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Morale boosting little gem that flies under the radar (pun intended) of most combat connoisseurs. Gotta love Don Ameche!
AJ V

I found this movie boring, boring, and boring, but if you like war movies, maybe you'll have a higher opinion of all the flying scenes. I only rated it higher because of the good actors.

Cast

            Don Ameche as Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper

            Dana Andrews as Sqdn. Cmdr. Edward Moulton

            William Eythe as Hallam 'Oscar' Scott

            Charles Bickford as Capt. Waddell

            Cedric Hardwicke as Admiral

            Kevin O'Shea as Cookie Cunningham

            Richard Jaeckel as Beezy Bessemer

            Henry Morgan as Malcolm Brainard

            Richard Crane as Ensign Gus Chisholm

            Glenn Langan as Executive Officer

            Reed Hadley as Cmdr. O'Donnell

            Eddie Acuff
            
            Murray Alper as Benny O'Neill

            Stanley Andrews as Marine General

            Irving Bacon as Sailor

            Robert Bailey as Ens. Paducah Holloway

            George Chandler
            
            Jimmie Dodd
            
            Joe Haworth as Murphy

            Selmar Jackson
            
            John Kellogg as Assistant Air Officer

            Frank Marlowe
            
            George Mathews as Dooley

            Renny McEvoy as Ensign Cliff Hale

            Matt McHugh
            
            Frank McLure as Admiral

            Jack Mower
            
            B.S. Pully as Flat Top

            Terrance Ray
            
            Raymond Roe as Gunner

            Robin Short
            
            Charles Smith as Alfalfa

            Ray Teal as Exec. Officer

            Charles Trowbridge as Medical Officer

            Edward Van Sloan
            
            Jay Ward as Orderly

            Pierre Watkin
            
            Crane Whitley
            
            Dave Willock as Ens. Hans Jacobson

            Frederic Worlock
            
            Blake Edwards
            
            John Kelly as Lew

            John Miles as Ens. "Lovebug" Markham

            William Manning
            
            Chet Brandenburg
            
            Mike Kilian as Pilot

            Billy Lechner as Anti-Aircraft Gunner

            Carl Knowles as Marine Orderly

            Mel Schubert
            
            Jerry Shane as Foley

            Charles Lang as Ens. Chuck White

            Larry Thompson as Sam Cooper

            Harry Morgan
            
See full cast