Flight Nurse (1953)

So much average

Expected more

Don't Believe the Hype

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

In "Hollywood Canteen", a fictional soldier fell in love with a fictional version of Joan Leslie, a young rising leading lady who still lived at home, with mom. It's nine years later, and not looking a day older, she's starring in one of the rare films about the undeclared, but U.S. involved Korean war, aiding hospital helicopter pilots picking up the wounded. She's in love with the handsome Arthur Franz who gets a knock on the head with a pan when he sneaks up to surprise her.Reminding audiences only eight years after the end of what was supposed to be the last war that we're fighting for so much when wars are declared, this is a good natured mixture of romance and comedy as Leslie struggles with the realities of war and the real tragedy of war, which she explains is the children as they cannot fight back. Newsreel footage is seen over Leslie's narration, revealing the fear she undergoes when Franz is declared M.I.A. Sincere performances and a decent, believable script makes this a pleasing look at what women were doing in service to their country. Veteran actress Jeff Donnell plays Leslie's cheery pal, with Forrest Tucker the heroic pilot who gets into a few nail biting scrapes. This isn't much different than air missions for all those films that came out during World War II. This never gets too technical but does teach the viewer a few important facts about military life and how every cog in the wheel is necessary both in times of war and peace.

The story is based on the service of CPT Lillian Kinkella Keil, USAF, who flew casualty evacuation flights during WWII and Korea. Back in those days servicewomen were not allowed to remain on active duty if they became pregnant and had a child, even if married. So she was discharged from the USAF. She went on to work for Pam Am Airlines although I'm not sure if it was before or after the Korean War.She became a fixture at the local VFW and American Legion events many times sharing beers with the same men she cared for as a nurse. When she died in 2005, her son called my dad to arrange for a military ceremony at her funeral. The USAF had told the family they do not provide this service anymore to servicemen unless they are retired or on active duty. So it is up to former servicemen like my dad to arrange for and provide the honor guards and firing squads at such funerals.So my dad called the state director of the VFW for California and advised him of the significance of CPT Keil's service and the USAF's refusal to participate. He was told to standby for a phone call. Several hours later, the USAF called my dad and told him to stand down, that they would handle everything from here on. CPT Keil had a full honor guard, firing squad and bugler to sound taps for her ceremony.She was truly an angel.

Although it runs no less than 90 minutes, this is a very disappointing grade "B" movie. Allan Dwan seems to have directed this one in his sleep – and who will blame him? The script is embarrassingly jejune and was obviously conceived on a level of naïve patriotism with flags flying in every line. Admittedly, a plane crash into the sea is not badly done, but any rational viewer will have switched channels long before that event. The acting, alas, is as bad as the script, and the photography as dull as the action. Maybe the 83 minutes version is slightly more entertaining, but I doubt it. Definitely not one of Republic's best movies!

This film brings back memories. I grew up in Fullerton, California, and most of the films I saw in the 1950s played our local Fox theater. I suspect that's where I saw "Flight Nurse." Haven't seen it since, but I do remember it. As I recall, it was the second film on a double bill."Flight Nurse" was a low budget effort, to be sure. As with many such productions, its low budget did not mean low quality. The cast was certainly competent and the script okay if not exceptional.One scene stands out in my mind, a bit of comic relief. As I recall, several of the film's characters found themselves next to a base ammo dump. One of them was doing something not considered safe practice, perhaps getting ready to throw away a lighted match. Anyway, one of the other characters criticizes the match-thrower and points to a sign posted next to a pile of bombs. The sign says "We want this ammo to explode, just not here!" The setting of this film, Korean War medical evacuations, is an interesting one. Your time won't be wasted if you watch this film, especially if you do not expect it to be another "Sands of Iwo Jima" or "Sgt. York."