RED FLAG: THE ULTIMATE GAME
US, 1981, 100 minutes, Colour.
Barry Bostwick, William Devane, Joan Van Ark.
Directed by Don Taylor.
Red Flag: The Ultimate Game is a film about top fighter pilots and their training, especially realistically simulated air combat games in the Nevada Desert. The film focuses on their flights, manoeuvres, dangers and crashes. It also focuses on the characters, the types who want to become top pilots and top guns. The script, by T. S. Cook, goes below the surface of the ‘aerial jocks' and shows the effect of their competitiveness and aggressiveness on themselves, their marriages. Barry Bostwick and William Devane are the arch rivals. Joan Van Ark has a good role as the hero's wife.
The film can be seen in the light of attitudes towards the Soviet Union in the '70s and '80s, the readiness of the American Air Force for aerial combat (including having games in which one team is Soviet). Comparisons might be made with the box office success of 1986, Top Gun. Direction is by former actor Don Taylor, a director, continuously from the '60s to the '80s of many films and telemovies.
1. Interesting drama? Based on fact? The background of the American Air Force and their manoeuvres and games? Human drama? Pro- or anti-war?
2. Nevada locations, aerial and combat photography? The background of as Vegas? Musical score?
3. The title and the focus on the game, the focus on the American Soviet attitudes? The nature of war games? How seriously should war games be taken?
4. The need for this kind of war game? Readiness for combat? Testing of the men and the machines? The manoeuvres? The dangers inherent in the game? The effect on the controllers and their playing games with people's lives? The effect on the participants, competitiveness and aggressiveness?
5. Jay and his years in Vietnam, friendship with Phil, friendship with Frank? The strength of his marriage with Marie? In the games with Frank and Frank's mistake? His growing competitiveness, the offer of a civilian job and his not wanting it? Comparisons with Phil and his wanting to outdo him? Phil's provocativeness? Marie and her plain talking, love for her husband, trying to tell him the truth? Their fights? His going with Phil, the gambling, drinking, insult to Frank? The flights, the evading techniques? Using them with Phil and Phil's death? Coming to his senses? The inquiry, his wanting to take responsibility, Phil’s girlfriend, his mother, Marie saving the day at the funeral? His asking Marie her opinion, his deciding to resign, his seeing the new pilots, his continuing to help them? The exploration of his character in this situation?
6. Marie and her love for her husband, the time at Las Vegas, trying to tell him the truth, Frank's accident, support of Elaine, her dislike of Phil? The visit to the doctor and the understanding about aggression? The fights with Jay? Going to the control room and Phil's death? Her stepping in at the funeral? Sharing his final decision? Phil as the daredevil, years in Vietnam, top pilot, his divorce, happy-go-lucky, competitive with Jay, Heinz and the rumour about his giving in, the final competitiveness and his death? His girlfriend and her bitterness? His mother and her friendship with Jay?
7. Frank and Elaine, marriage, Las Vegas, Frank and his computer knowledge, the mistake? The crash and his bailing out? Injury? Spurned by Jay, Jay reckless on the road with Elaine? Talking over things at the end?
8. The doctor and his comments about aggression? Explaining what was happening to the pilots?
10. Colonel Anderson and his friendship with Jay, his advice, using the manoeuvre, sitting in on the investigation?
11. The investigating panel, facts and figures, personal responsibility? Jay and the effect of wanting to take the responsibility?
12. An interesting drama, about the American forces, insight into armed forces and their training, the repercussions on their personal lives?
