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Wing and a Prayer

  • 19441944
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Don Ameche, Dana Andrews, Charles Bickford, and William Eythe in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
In WW2, an American aircraft carrier sails around the Pacific on a decoy mission until it joins the battle of Midway against the Japanese forces.
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
20 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • War

In WW2, an American aircraft carrier sails around the Pacific on a decoy mission until it joins the battle of Midway against the Japanese forces.In WW2, an American aircraft carrier sails around the Pacific on a decoy mission until it joins the battle of Midway against the Japanese forces.In WW2, an American aircraft carrier sails around the Pacific on a decoy mission until it joins the battle of Midway against the Japanese forces.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Henry Hathaway
  • Writers
    • Jerome Cady(story)
    • Mortimer Braus(contributor to screenplay construction)
    • Jo Swerling(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Don Ameche
    • Dana Andrews
    • William Eythe
Top credits
  • Director
    • Henry Hathaway
  • Writers
    • Jerome Cady(story)
    • Mortimer Braus(contributor to screenplay construction)
    • Jo Swerling(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Don Ameche
    • Dana Andrews
    • William Eythe
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Trailer

    Photos20

    William Eythe in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Richard Jaeckel and Murray Alper in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Don Ameche in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Dana Andrews in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Richard Crane and George Offerman Jr. in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Don Ameche and Dana Andrews in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Robert Bailey in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Richard Jaeckel, Murray Alper, Richard Crane, William Eythe, Kevin O'Shea, and Dave Willock in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    William Eythe in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Don Ameche, Dana Andrews, Charles Bickford, and William Eythe in Wing and a Prayer (1944)
    Wing and a Prayer (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Don Ameche
    Don Ameche
    • Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harperas Flight Cmdr. Bingo Harper
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Lt. Cmdr. Edward Moultonas Lt. Cmdr. Edward Moulton
    William Eythe
    William Eythe
    • Ens. Hallam 'Oscar' Scottas Ens. Hallam 'Oscar' Scott
    Charles Bickford
    Charles Bickford
    • Capt. Waddellas Capt. Waddell
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Admiralas Admiral
    • (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
    Kevin O'Shea
    • Ens. Charles 'Cookie' Cunninghamas Ens. Charles 'Cookie' Cunningham
    Richard Jaeckel
    Richard Jaeckel
    • Beezy Bessemeras Beezy Bessemer
    Harry Morgan
    Harry Morgan
    • Ens. Malcolm Brainardas Ens. Malcolm Brainard
    • (as Henry Morgan)
    Richard Crane
    Richard Crane
    • Ens. Gus Chisholmas Ens. Gus Chisholm
    Glenn Langan
    Glenn Langan
    • Executive Officeras Executive Officer
    Renny McEvoy
    Renny McEvoy
    • Ens. Cliff Haleas Ens. Cliff Hale
    Robert Bailey
    Robert Bailey
    • Ens. Paducah Hollowayas Ens. Paducah Holloway
    Reed Hadley
    Reed Hadley
    • Cmdr. O'Donnellas Cmdr. O'Donnell
    George Mathews
    George Mathews
    • Dooleyas Dooley
    B.S. Pully
    • Flat Topas Flat Top
    Dave Willock
    Dave Willock
    • Ens. Hans Jacobsonas Ens. Hans Jacobson
    Murray Alper
    Murray Alper
    • Benjamin K. 'Benny 'O'Neillas Benjamin K. 'Benny 'O'Neill
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Pharmacist's Mateas Pharmacist's Mate
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Henry Hathaway
    • Writers
      • Jerome Cady(story) (screenplay)
      • Mortimer Braus(contributor to screenplay construction) (uncredited)
      • Jo Swerling(contributing writer) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    An aircraft carrier is sent on a decoy mission around the Pacific, with orders to avoid combat, thus lulling Japanese alertness before the battle of Midway. All the men have their individual worries and concerns, but become increasingly frustrated at their avoidance of combat, for reasons unknown to them. But in the end, all get their chance to fight. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
    • aerial shot
    • reference to betty grable
    • reference to greta garbo
    • reference to hollywood
    • reference to superman
    • 9 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • MIGHTY DRAMA OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER X (original ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When former American President Ronald Reagan famously once said, "We'll bring this one down together", he was actually quoting from this movie.
    • Goofs
      The film takes place in the months leading up to the Battle of Midway in June, 1942, and the pilots in it fly Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers. The TBF was not introduced until just prior to Midway and saw its first operational flights at the battle. During the period in which the film takes place, the pilots would actually be flying Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers instead.
    • Quotes

      Capt. Waddell: The trap has been sprung. Believing us scattered all over the ocean, the main Jap fleet is headed for Midway. They're going in for the kill and so are we. We're through pulling punches. We're through running away. Our mission is accomplished and from here on in, we fight!

    • Connections
      Edited into All This and World War II (1976)
    • Soundtracks
      Anchors Aweigh
      (uncredited)

      Music by Charles A. Zimmerman

      Played often throughout the picture

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    A Very Different View Of Midway
    If you want to see the actual story of the battle of Midway than definitely see the film that came out in the Seventies. If you can fast forward through the fictional plot involving Charlton Heston and his family problems you will see a very good documentary about the battle and how close run it was.

    Wing and a Prayer came out two years after and there were restrictions placed on the details, probably due to the fact that one of the reasons we won it was because we had broken the Japanese naval code. Still some of the restrictions were a bit ridiculous.

    Whose idea was it to cast Sir Cedric Hardwicke as an American Admiral, presumably the Chief of Naval Operations who gave us an overview of the film we were about to see in a prologue. The Chief of Naval Operations at that time was one Ernest J. King who was a rather profane man given to using universally understood words in his normal conversations. He must have had one good laugh at the very prim and proper Cedric Hardwicke playing him, in on a pass from the Royal Navy.

    The aircraft carrier where the story takes place is unnamed, but I think we can assume it's the Enterprise. In charge is Admiral Charles Bickford playing most probably Raymond Spruance who had tactical command of the task force at Midway.

    The plot of Wing and a Prayer centers around a conflict between Dana Andrews head of a torpedo squadron assigned to the carrier and Don Ameche, a stern by the book Naval commander in charge of the airplanes and their crews. Ameche and Andrews have conflicts similar to what Ameche had with Tyrone Power in films like In Old Chicago. If Power hadn't been in the Marines at the time serving in the real war in the Pacific, I'm sure he would have had Andrews's part.

    The usual wartime clichés and characters abound in Wing and a Prayer. One unusual part is that played by William Eythe, a Hollywood actor enlisted in the service and who's one of Andrews's pilots. This might have been Darryl F. Zanuck's idea of a tribute to his main star who as I said was actually serving.

    Wing and a Prayer is not a bad film, but with Midway out there it's just not the best film on the subject.
    helpful•17
    21
    • bkoganbing
    • Aug 16, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 11, 1945 (Argentina)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Queen of the Flat Tops
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,250,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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