Flyboys (2006)

Introduction

Flyboys is a 2006 war drama, film set during World War I, starring James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison, Abdul Salis, Philip Winchester, and Tyler Labine.

It was directed by Tony Bill, a pilot and aviation enthusiast.

The screenplay about men in aerial combat was written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans and David S. Ward with the story by Blake T. Evans.

Themes of friendship, racial prejudice, revenge and love are also explored in the film.

The film follows the enlistment, training, and combat experiences of a group of young Americans who volunteer to become fighter pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The squadron consisted of five French officers and 38 American volunteers who wanted to fly and fight in World War I before the United States’ entry into the war in 1917.

The film ends with an epilogue that relates the fate of each American pilot to the real-life Lafayette Escadrille pilot upon whom his character was based.

Outline

In 1916, a group of young Americans go to France to serve in the French Air Service, L’Aéronautique militaire during World War I. The recruits are under the command of French Captain Georges Thenault, with veteran flying ace Reed Cassidy as their mentor.

The pilots struggle with the demands of flying, preparing for the aerial dogfights that dominate missions to the front lines. Pilot Blaine Rawlings courts a young woman named Lucienne, despite her hesitations about his risky profession.

On their first mission, escorting bombers to attack a German ammunition depot, the rookie pilots are ambushed by Germans. Two are killed in the air, and a third is forced to make an emergency landing, and is killed on the ground by ruthless German pilot “The Black Falcon”; the more chivalrous German pilot Franz Wolferd shakes his head in disapproval.

During a later battle, Rawlings’ machine gun jams; Wolferd – the pilot he was chasing – flies beside him and salutes before banking away, sparing his opponent’s life.

Rawlings kills Wolferd when the German dives after another American. Learning that German forces will invade Lucienne’s village, Rawlings single-handedly rescues Lucienne, her nephews, and niece. Returning to base, he is praised by the commander and awarded the Croix de Guerre medal for bravery.

Attacking a German Zeppelin, Reed Cassidy is mortally wounded by the Black Falcon, but crashes into the Zeppelin, destroying it. Rawlings reunites with Lucienne before she leaves for Paris. Rawlings’ plane is presented with an eagle, Cassidy’s insignia, and he is promoted to Squadron Leader.

After escorting another bomber run on the ammunition depot, Rawlings takes off to exact revenge on the Black Falcon. He is followed by Jensen, who saves Rawlings. Wounded and with his guns jammed, Rawlings evades his enemy and fatally shoots the Black Falcon with his pistol. Rawling, Jensen, Skinner, and Beagle survive the encounter and return to base.

Jensen flies for the rest of the war; returning to Nebraska, he receives a hero’s welcome. Skinner enlists in the US Army but is kept from flying due to his race; he later joins the Airmail Service. Beagle marries an Italian woman and starts a flying circus. Rawlings goes to Paris but does not find Lucienne. He builds one of the largest ranches in Texas, but never flies again.

Production & Filming Details

Director(s): Tony Bill
Producer(s): Dean Devlin and Marc Frydman.
Writer(s): Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, and David S. Ward.
Music: Trevor Rabion.
Cinematography: Henry Braham.
Editor(s): Chris Blunden and Ron Rosen.
Production: Ingenious Film Partners, Electric Entertainment, Skydance Productions, and MGM.
Distributor(s): MGM Distribution Co.
Release Date: 22 September 2006.
Running Time: 138 minutes.
Country: UK and US.
Language: English.