GOD IS MY CO-PILOT
US, 1945, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Dennis Morgan, Dane Clark, Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, Andrea King, Craig Stevens, Mark Stevens, Richard Loo.
Directed by Robert Florey.
In many ways, this is a standard World War II film, coming in 1945 after Warner Brothers had made a considerable contribution to the war with film starring such actors as James Cagney, John Garfield, Errol Flynn…
This is based on a book by Robert Scott, outlining his love for flying, his boyhood, growing up, training, 10 years of service before the outbreak of war, his special mission, China, flying supplies over the Himalayas, becoming involved with the attack on Japan and the bombings.
Dennis Morgan is pleasantly genial, a decent man, as Robert Scott. Raymond Massey is the commander, Andrea King his wife. There are various character actors in the roles of pilots and officials.
The standout is Alan Hale as the American missionary priest in China for over 20 years, called Big Mike, seen as a robust and friendly priest in the Pat O’ Brien tradition, comfortable with the men, teaching the children hymns, doing Chaplain work and assisting the dying, but also a good listener and with sound advice to Scott about faith, God’s presence. This is recapitulated in the finale, along the lines of Pat O’ Brien as Father Duffy in The Fighting 69th, with big Mike quoting words of inspiration and morale.
Direction is by Robert Florey, a Frenchman in Hollywood in the 1920s who directed many small-budget films and for television
1. A World War II story of 1942? Asia and the Japanese war, China? Filmed in 1944 – released before the end of the war?
2. Black-and-white photography, Macon, Georgia? (And scenes where whites and blacks seem to be mixing easily).Homes and ordinary life, the streets, newspaper headlines?
3. China, the villages, the air force bases, the Flying Tigers?
4. The aerial photography, the battles in the air, bombings on Japan, crashes, heroism?
5. A true story, the real Robert Scott? The flashbacks to the boy trying to fly from the roof, the discussions with the black friend, the religious discussion about God’s presence? Growing up, accepted the training, his 10 years of service before the war? His skills, instructor?
6. Catherine, engaged, married, her devotion, family, free to let him go to war, the news of his death, his survival?
7. Scott as a person, the opening and his not being able to fly, older? The flashbacks, the interview and the special mission, flying to South America, to Africa, to Asia, the loss of the Philippines, the transfer to China? The Flying Tigers? Scott as Air Force? The presence of Claire Chanault? The training, the missions, flying over the Himalayas with supplies?
8. After Pearl Harbor, the raids, Scott and his skills, the single-handed victory, bombs and strafing? His talking to Big Mike after this, conscious of having killed people, trying to cope? Mike, his talk about war, lives being important, making the lives significant?
9. The portraits of the men, camaraderie, skills? Johnny and his crash, his death?
10. Big Mike, the American missionary, in China for more than 20 years? Big and burly? Teaching the children to sing hymns? Presence at the airbase, the touch of the Chaplain? His discussions with Mike, friendship, persuading him to fly him back to the parish, his apprehensiveness, talking about God – and coming out of the clouds? As a priest, his advice, attending to the sick? The importance of the discussions with Scott, Faith? The finale and his voice-over and morale boosting at the end?
11. Claire Chenault, his experience, command, friendship with Scott, orders for the men, allowing Scott to go with the last plane?
12. A contribution to the war effort – and morale boosting in the final months of World War II?
