Flying Tigers (1942)
Tom Craig, a charming and capable man from Boston, sets off for Sacramento to start a pharmacy business. On the way, he encounters Lacey Miller, a dazzling dance-hall singer who is engaged to the influential Britt Dawson in Sacramento politics.
Britt is angry with Lacey's attraction to Tom and uses his political power to prevent anyone from renting store space to Tom. However, Lacey is drawn to Tom and offers to become his business partner, taking half of the profits in lieu of rent. When Britt learns of this, he is furious but Lacey convinces him that the arrangement was made solely for her financial gain.
Tom becomes well-liked in the community as he cures minor ailments and helps fill the gap of a missing physician. Despite Lacey's engagement to Britt, Tom keeps his distance and develops feelings for Ellen Sanford, a wealthy visitor from San Francisco. Lacey, feeling jealous, tries to keep Tom and Ellen apart but eventually realizes that Ellen only wants Tom for her own selfish goals. Tom eventually proposes to Ellen and she accepts.
When Tom discovers that Britt's wealth is from extorting neighboring ranchers, he leads the ranchers in a revolt, causing Britt to plot his downfall. Britt puts poison in Tom's tonic and a man named Whitey succumbs to the poison.
The American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, fight for China's freedom despite being outnumbered by the Japanese. Jim Gordon, the Squadron Leader, gains a new recruit named Woody Jason who joined the group for the money. However, Woody's egotistic and mercenary ways cause him to lose the respect of his fellow fliers. After causing a death in a crash and failing to show up for a regular flight, Woody is given another chance to redeem himself. He saves Jim's life by pushing him out of a burning plane and diving into a Japanese supply train.
Film programs
Books with substantial mentioning of Flying Tigers
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Fred Landesman The John Wayne Filmography Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 2004 |
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Mark Ricci, Boris Zmijewsky, Steve Zmijewsky The Complete Films of John Wayne New York, NY, 1995 |
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