A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941)

By CinemaSerf

Tyrone Power looks great but otherwise this is a rather procedural piece of semi-propaganda depicting the RAF efforts against the Nazis at the start of WWII. In order to preserve neutrality, the USA would deliver planes to the Canadian border where they would be rather unceremoniously towed across the frontier before being flown on to Britain. One such pilot is "Tim Baker" (Power) a man keen to get in on the action. Even more keen when he discovers that his ex-girlfriend "Carol" (Betty Grable) is also in the UK, and he determines to rekindle that relationship, too. She, on the other hand, has had enough of his wastrel ways and is sweet on his boss "Morley" (John Sutton) who lives in a stately pile in Kent (the oldest house in her hometown isn't 30 years old!). There is a bit of chemistry between the pair, and quite a fun supporting effort from Reginald Gardiner but the dialogue is too stodgy and Grable doesn't really get enough screen time in which to stamp her effervescent personality. Plenty of decent action photography - even if much of it is studio-shot, though, and Rathbone/Bruce "Sherlock Holmes" fans might spot an early short appearance from Dennis Hoey ("Lestrade"). Does it's job this, nothing more...