Darryl F. Zanuck paired his two superstars, Tyrone Power and Betty Grable together just once, and it was for "A Yank in the RAF." Power plays a cocky American know-it-all who, for money, flies a plane from Canada to the British forces and sticks around in the RAF after spotting his old girlfriend, played by Betty Grable.
No one could have played the role of Tim Baker except for Tyrone Power. The character is such a bounder and such a complete jerk that without those devastating good looks, that devilish smile, that way of taking a woman in from top to bottom with those eyes, and all that charm, he would have been unlikeable. It's easy to see why Grable is so crazy about him, but you can't help being angry with her nonetheless as she spurns handsome, kind, and gentlemanly John Sutton for this gum-chewing womanizer. Like the later Crash Dive, which Power made before going into the Marines, the third angle of the love triangle is again Power's boss. In the original film, Grable ends up with Sutton, but preview audiences objected fiercely, so it was changed.
The ferocious war does humble the Power character somewhat, though, particularly when his plane crash lands in Holland and they all realize the Germans are there, and his involvement in the Battle of Dunkirk. There are some exciting war scenes in the last forty minutes of the movie. Reginald Gardiner is a standout in the supporting cast, sparring with Sutton and Power with some of the best dialogue in the film.
It's always amazing how long our country managed to stay out of the fray. This is a propaganda film, of course, urging the U.S. to get into the war. A few months later, the U.S. had no choice.
No one could have played the role of Tim Baker except for Tyrone Power. The character is such a bounder and such a complete jerk that without those devastating good looks, that devilish smile, that way of taking a woman in from top to bottom with those eyes, and all that charm, he would have been unlikeable. It's easy to see why Grable is so crazy about him, but you can't help being angry with her nonetheless as she spurns handsome, kind, and gentlemanly John Sutton for this gum-chewing womanizer. Like the later Crash Dive, which Power made before going into the Marines, the third angle of the love triangle is again Power's boss. In the original film, Grable ends up with Sutton, but preview audiences objected fiercely, so it was changed.
The ferocious war does humble the Power character somewhat, though, particularly when his plane crash lands in Holland and they all realize the Germans are there, and his involvement in the Battle of Dunkirk. There are some exciting war scenes in the last forty minutes of the movie. Reginald Gardiner is a standout in the supporting cast, sparring with Sutton and Power with some of the best dialogue in the film.
It's always amazing how long our country managed to stay out of the fray. This is a propaganda film, of course, urging the U.S. to get into the war. A few months later, the U.S. had no choice.