Movies - The Starfighters

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	Movies - The Starfighters

The Starfighters is a light-toned film about training in the Air Force released in 1964. It was written and directed by Will Zens starring Bob Dornan. The film has a light and relaxing tone throughout and romanticizes the Air Force. It is in color and runs for 84 minutes.

Synopsis

The film starts with Lt. John Witkowski and his buddy arriving at a U.S. Air Force base somewhere in the Southwest United States. He and his buddies train to be able to fly the F-104 Starfighter. Witkowski's Congressman dad frequently calls him concerned about the safety of fighter aircraft and wants his son to be in the Bomber wing like he was himself in World War II. Witkowski tries to nail the complicated mid-air refueling manuever in the beginning and is introduced to a girl from Iowa by his buddy's girlfriend as they go on relaxing drives. Witkowski impresses his senior officer at how quickly adept he is in handling the Starfighter. Later, one of his buddies loses a Starfighter during maneuvers and is rescued in the desert. The film ends with Witkowski finally being accepted to a Starfighter unit in Europe.

Analysis

The atmosphere and mood of the film is very easy-going. It has a nice tonality to it with relaxing Jazzy tunes. When not in training the characters drive in hoodless cars and socialize at the base bar. The film reflects the care-free mood of the time. The sleekness and "hot-shot" manner of the training excercises romanticizes the Air Force at the time when the Cold War was at its hottest point.

The light-tone of the training portions also reflects the care-free mood at the time. Training of using nose-fitted Miniguns, rockets, and dropping Napalm bombs on targets with the easy-going Jazz playing in the background exudes an alarming mirror to the period when the United States would one year later officially enter the Vietnam War and the weaponry would gain notoriety.

Bob Dornan would later become a Republican Congressman and vehemently supported the B-52 Bomber program. The film maintains a Republican overtone throughout such as Wynorski's girlfriend from Iowa who is attractive in a Republican way and the easy willingness of the deadly aircraft being flown and weapon-tested.

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