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The Tuskegee Airmen | 
 enlarge | Director: Robert Markowitz
Actors: Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, Andre Braugher
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $3.82
You Save: $6.16 (62%)
New (47) Used (24) Collectible (2) from $3.71
Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 3038
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 106
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.6
MPN: HBOD91285D
ISBN: 0783118147
UPC: 026359128523
EAN: 9780783118147
ASIN: B000053V7E
Theatrical Release Date: August 26, 1995
Release Date: January 23, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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Product Description
Fireballs of high speed air action explode off the screen in this exciting story of the fighting 99th the first squadron of black american pilots to be allowed to fight for their country. Courage knows no color and success is respect. A compelling true story of the 332nd fighter squadron. Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 08/30/2005 Starring: Laurence Fishburne Cuba Gooding Jr. Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
This true story of the black flyers who broke the color barrier in the U.S. Air Force during World War II is a well-intentioned film highlighted by an excellent cast. Proud, solemn, Iowa-born Laurence Fishburne and city-kid hipster Cuba Gooding Jr. are among the hopefuls who meet en route to Tuskegee Air Force Base, where they are among the recruits for an "experimental" program to "prove" the abilities of the black man in the U.S. armed services. Fighting prejudice from racist officers and government officials and held to a consistently higher level of performance than their white counterparts, these men prove themselves in training and in combat, many of them dying for their country in the process. Andre Braugher costars as a West Point graduate who takes charge of the unit in Africa and in Italy (where it's christened the 332nd). The film is rousing, if slow starting and episodic, but it's periodically grounded by a host of war movie cliches, notably the calculated demise of practically every trainee introduced in the opening scenes (ironic given the 332nd's real-life combat record--high casualties for the enemy, low casualties among themselves, and no losses among the bombers they escorted). Ultimately the Emmy-nominated performances by moral backbone Fishburne and the dedicated Braugher and the energy and cocky confidence of Gooding give their battles both on and off the battlefield the sweet taste of victory. --Sean Axmaker
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| Customer Reviews: Read 47 more reviews...
 American History at its very best November 17, 1999
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
The story of the magnificent 332nd Fighter Group is woven into a dramatic tapestry of the horror of war and the disjointed approach of many Americans to a difficult time and a situation many would have preferred to ignore. The performance of the pilots who graduated the Tuskegee Training Program (they NEVER lost an escorted bomber to enemy action!) unfolds against the backdrop of misunderstanding, racism and political machinations that nearly destroyed the entire enterprise. This film does a magnificent job of telling the tale without being melodramatic, preachy or snide, but does full justice to the accomplishments of the pilots and their eventual victory against both German pilots and their own nation's refusal to recognize their talents. For the student of World War II, this is a well-known and much-respected story. For the student of African-American History, it is a tale of pride which shines as brightly as the stars on the American Flag these men so courageously defended. Fishburn and Cuba Gooding are superior as men caught between their own humanity and the de-humanizing effects of war. If ever a film deserve a 5-Star rating, this one does.
"I'd like to have the 332nd take me to Berlin" October 18, 2005
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is an excellent story of real people. It is not PC BS where all whites are bad and all blacks are good. Instead, it is about a great and valiant group of men, the first black combat pilots during World War II. They are depicted as the heroes they were, not as supermen. They faced all of the challenges thrown at them to become pilots and they faced more challenges from their race. Some were primadonnas and some were modest. Some failed and some succeeded. Some were serious and some were jocular. Their humanity made them heroes even when others didn't want to admit their worth. They were regular guys called upon to do a difficult job and they did so with aplomb and dignity. They also did so magnificently.
The story takes a group of the airmen from their pilot training in Alabama through the North African campaign where they were relegated to important but unglamorous work against ground targets. We see them mature into professionals and develop their skills, all while being denied an opportunity to prove those skills. Finally, they are moved to Europe where they face more discrimination. Even though they do a great job, no one wants to admit that they have done so. Even redneck bomber crews who have their bacon saved are reluctant to give thanks when they learn they have been saved by black men. Still, the men of the 332nd persevere.
Finally, comes the push to Berlin. The bomber crews know its going to be tough. For me, the climax comes when one of the rednecks tells his CO, "If its all the same to you, I'd like the 332nd to take me to Berlin". This is the same guy who would not even acknowledge they could fly earlier. While flying bomber escort, the 332nd never lost a single bomber to enemy fire. They were magnificent.
That is the story and it is no secret. I'm not giving away anything not already in the history books. What makes this film so much more than docu-drama are the characterizations of the men who lived the story. They are real American heroes and they are played with greatness. They fought the Germans and they fought their own chain of command and they prevailed.
Bravo!
Proud of these heroes February 8, 2003
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
I'm a white 64 year old Air Force veteran. Watching these heroes of WWII in dedicated, valorous performance, who never lost a bomber to the Nazis, brought tears and pride from me for them. For those still on the ground and for those still "On Patrol", thank you!
Outstanding July 30, 2001
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This movie not only addresses the tragedy and patriotism of those of served our country in WWII, but in brings to light the discrimination that was also a very real part of the existence of our black american heroes. This movie is not what I originally feared it would be, a typical portrayl of the oppresive white man keeping the black man down. It showed the courage and tenacity of a group of Americans (in the case African Americans) who fought and died for their country in the war to end all wars. The storyline follows a group of black pilots who not only bring honor and pride to themselves, but their country. They lived the motto, "My country, right or wrong, my country." It didn't matter that these men were discriminated against because they were black, they did the job that had to be done and they did it well. What more can we ask of any American? Watch this movie for the accurate history it portrays, not only in the struggle for equality in our country, but for all the guts and glory of those fighting men we owe our very freedom to today. God bless America.
The acting is startling. October 29, 1999
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Fishburne and Gooding, Jr. are phenomenal, especially in scenes together. The story needs to be told, yes, but it is this particular presentation which is amazing. The fine cast, the wonderful writing and the shocking cinemotography are what make this a fine movie. The colors of the film, the saturated colors in the air scenes, the darkness in appropraite spots, make it an intense experience.
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