Hellcats VS-44 in film on Prime Video

[JohnB]

Not a lot going on here lately, so I thought I'd bring this to your attention.

The Gallant Hours is a 1960 film that doesn't get the attention and isn't seen as widely as other WWII films of the '60s. I hadn't seen it for decades, when local TV stations broadcast films late at night.

James Cagney stars in the biography of Admiral William Halsey, Commander of the South Pacific area, and Commander of the Third Fleet.
The film focuses on the period during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Unlike most Hollywood biographies, this is fairly accurate, most notably, and it's a war film without combat sequences, instead focusing on his leadership style and challenges.
So, it's has parts of 12 o'clock High, Patton and In Harm's Way.

The script downplays Halsey's confrontational public persona which was famous for quips like, "Before we're through with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in Hell". Surprisingly it presents a very even handed portrayal of the Japanese naval forces, particularly, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, something that wouldn't be seen for another decade in Tora. Tora, Tora. The credits even list a Japanese historical advisor.
By focusing on Guadalcanal, producers can sidestep the Halsey's controversial role in two later actions, namely the Battle off Samar and him directing the Third Fleet into Hurricane Cobra in late 1944.

One of the plots featured are the plans to intercept Yamamoto, though in real life his death came months after Guadalcanal.

Throughout the film, a narrator introduces characters, giving a bit of history about them or their fates.
We are introduced to Army pilot Thomas Lanphier, who will go onto get credit for shooting down Yamamoto and Marine Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss (later governor of South Dakota and Commissioner of the then American Football league. As a kid I recall a ANG recruiting commercial with Foss taxiing SD ANG F-102.

Getting to aircraft, Hellcats are used in lieu of Wildcats. We only see them in ground scenes, but what WIXers will find interesting is they are F6F-5K drones...look for the wing tip failings. The film was supported by the Navy, so these might be some of the last photos of He'll cat drones.
Predictabllyi, you also see NMF and Camouflage R4Ds...the camo ships are probably in Navy wartime film.
Haley's Consolidated PB2Y Coronado is portrayed by the only large 4 engine flying boat available in 1960, the Sikorsky VS-44, then used by Catalina airlines in California. The producers gave it a basic Navy scheme. Happily, the Excambian survives at the at the New England Air Museum.

So, if you have Prime video, you might enjoy the film and its WWII and aviation content.

[Chris Brame]

Wonder if they approached Howard Hughes about loaning out his Coronado?

[Stoney]

years ago i had lunch with the man that shot down Yamamoto, Rex Barber.