Aerial Gunner (1943): A Blast from the Past!

Wow, folks, taking a look at “Aerial Gunner” is like stepping into a time machine right into the heart of World War II. You know, when I was a kid, my granddad used to spin tales of his days in the Swedish Air Force, and watching this film sort of takes me back to those cozy evenings by the fireplace, listening to his stories. Nostalgia’s a funny thing, huh?

Directed by the prolific William H. Pine—who had a knack for doing things on a shoestring budget but still clouting a punch—this flick doesn’t stray from the formula of the time. Richard Arlen and Chester Morris are the heart of it, and yeah, their on-screen rivalry is like watching two cats in a sack.

The whole film’s oozing with this palpable sense of camaraderie and danger, diving you right into the air battles; it’s pretty gripping stuff. There was a moment I swear, like I could almost feel the vibration of those propeller engines in me bones.

Now, here’s a funny bit. I remember when I first watched this at a retro film club back in the ’90s. The projector broke halfway through. We all sat there in the dark, someone cracking jokes about how at least we weren’t shot down with Arlen. Classic, ain’t it?

Truth be told, it’s not without its bumps. Some scenes feel like you’re on a rocky flight, and the script, well, let’s just say it’s not Shakespeare. But the spirit of it—oh, that’s the hook. It’s a window into a specific time, quirks and all.

So, if you’re into golden oldies with a bit of wartime zest, grab a fika, sit back, and let this one take you on a bumpy ride through the clouds.

watch the full movie on CinemaOneMovies on YouTube – if you are from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark