The Tuskegee Airmen

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Based on a true story, The Tuskegee Airmen chronicles the experiences of the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Using Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne) as a focal point, the movie follows the airmen from their initial training at Tuskegee, Alabama, through their combat assignments during World War II. Featuring fascinating vintage military planes and exciting air-combat footage, the film also depicts the racism encountered by the pilots. In one example, the airmen are forced to give their seats on a crowded train to German prisoners of war. Even after the airmen complete their training, the military brass is reluctant to trust them in battle. But First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt publicizes their plight by going to Tuskegee and having one of the African-American pilots take her for a plane ride, and shortly thereafter the airmen are assigned a combat role. Eventually they join with other African-American pilots in the 332nd Fighter Group where their skill in protecting bombers from enemy fighters finally earns them the respect they deserve. The screen story was co-authored by Robert Williams, one of the pilots trained at Tuskegee. ~ Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Subtitle: Eng/Fre/Spa
• Features:
  • cc
  • Cast & Crew Bios

AWARDS

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made - 1995 (Laurence Fishburne)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Andre Braugher - Benjamin O. Davis
       Janet MacLachlan - Hannibal's Mother
       Malcolm - Jamal Warner - Leroy Cappy
       Bennet Guillory - Hannibal's Father
       Rosemary Murphy - Eleanor Roosevelt
       Daniel Hugh Kelly - Col. Rogers
       Johnny Judkins - White Pilot #2
       William Earl Ray - Tank
       John Lithgow - Senator Conyers
       Eddie Braun - Tail Gunner
       Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Billy Roberts
       Perry Moore - Reggie Newton
       Rick Snyder - Chairman Cassidy
       Brett Jones - Right Waist Gunner
       Marco Perella - Col. Sirca
       Ed Lauter - General Stevenson
       Ned Vaughn - Capt. Butler (B-17)
       Laurence Fishburne - Hannibal Lee
       Willie Minor - Black Prisoner
       Vivica A. Fox - Charlene
       David Harrod - White Pilot #1
       Allen Payne - Walter Peoples
       Christopher McDonald - Major Joy
       Tim Kelleher - Lt. Wesley (B17)
       Courtney Vance - Lt. Glenn

• Director:

  Robert Markowitz

• Producer:

  Bill Carraro

• Screenwriter:

  Ron Hutchinson, Paris Qualles, Trey Ellis

• Screen Story:

  Robert Williams, T.S. Cook

• Cinematographer:

  Ron Orieux

• Composer (Music Score):

  Lee Holdridge

• Editor:

  David Beatty

• Production Designer:

  Christian Wagener

• Art Director:

  Russell J. Smith

• Co-producer:

  Carol Bahoric

• Executive Producer:

  Frank Price, Robert Williams

• Set Designer:

  Sue Savage

• Costume Designer:

  Ileane Meltzer

• First Assistant Director:

  Bruce A. Simon

• Casting:

  Robi Reed-Humes