The War Lover - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of The War Lover or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to The War Lover

[morris]

Three Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, restored to flying condition in World War II configurations, were used during filming. Clever camera work and multiple shots of the planes with different names painted on their noses were mixed with wartime footage to create the illusion of an entire Group of B-17 bombers. Noted aviation author and pilot Martin Caidin, who helped fly one of the B-17s from America to England, chronicled the restorations of the aircraft, their flight across the Atlantic, and their use in the film in his book "Everything But The Flak."

[russell]

Mike Reilly drowned after parachuting from 2000 feet into the English Channel, near Newhaven, during the filming of a stunt for the film. He was 29 years old, had more than 300 jumps, was British parachute champion and the first Chairman of the newly formed British Parachute Association.

[frederick]

The scene where Captain Rickson "buzzes" the tower is a recreation of a similar event that actually occurred at Bassingbourn, an actual U.S.A.A.F. base near London where the movie was filmed. The 323rd Squad commander Major John Bishop's crew completed their 25th combat mission on January 21, 1944. Returning to base, Major Bishop decided to tip his cap and buzz the tower. The group commander met him on the field as he disembarked his plane where the two drove away in his vehicle. They car stopped at the maintenance hangar, where in keeping with tradition, the ground crew "dunked" the pilot in a tub of water to celebrate his accomplishment.

[jim]

The last names of the main characters in the film were slightly different from the John Hersey novel. In the novel, "Buzz" Rickson's last name was Marrow, and "Bo's" was Bowman, not Boland.

[sophie]

The film utilizes an oft-used storyline of the war movie genre which has two soldiers in love with the same girl.

[francisco]

When they get back to her apartment, Daphne tells Bolland that he would not make a good thief after he steps on a creaky step. Six years later, Robert Wagner stars in It Takes a Thief (1968) as the thief Alexander Mundy.

[nora]

Although passed by the BBFC on August 3rd 1962 (with an X-certificate), The War Lover went unreleased in the UK until June 20th 1963 when it opened at the Plaza, Lower Regent St., the same day that The Great Escape has its World Premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square. The War Lover went on general release from July 2nd, two months before The Great Escape.

[jesus]

The scene where the B-17 pilot Woodman brings his aircraft in for a wheels-up landing, and navigator Marty Lynch is killed, comes from the film Twelve O'Clock High (1949).

[maureen]

Warren Beatty turned down the role of Rickson, possibly because he had recently caused the divorce between Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner, and the two men were not on speaking terms.

[ivan]

Steve McQueen had a stand up row with wardrobe mistress Wyn Keely after a blouse worn by Shirley Anne Field didn't rip during their kissing scene on the first take.

[bryan]

This film used three B-17's in the production of this film. Over fifty years after this film was made, there are only twelve B-17's in the world that are airworthy. There are thirty-three additional B-17's that are either on display in museums, restored and in storage or are being restored.

[lynn]

The nose art of the bombers is far simpler than was seen in reality, and with the exception of "The Body", does not feature elaborately painted pin-up cuties. Only three B-17s were available for the production, and the nose art was redone repeatedly to create the illusion of a larger force.