In plot outline pretty familiar stuff but War Lover somehow gives it an edge in all departments. As a US/UK co-production it's grimmer, grittier - more realistic than either country's usual output and lost the swagger of one and the cosiness of the other. Perhaps something that appealed to Steve McQueen. It's also somewhat pushes the psychological envelope too, the McQueen character is pretty screwed up, something the war only temporarily masks. The flying scenes are better than the average - very well shot externally and the internal scenes where damage and death happen in an instant in the midst of cordite smoke and the violent hammering of guns. The scenes appeared modelled on wartime film. Overall, I think it gave as realistic a picture of life as a bomber crew as I've seen. Shirley Anne Field was given a part of much more dramatic range than the stereotypical nice girl who was all set to get married - until she receives the news etc etc. Even the B17's came across as loyal sturdy war-horses for whom crews could have affection I'd never seen the film before, it is very rarely shown in the UK.
Review of The War Lover
