An effective and absorbing war film

Before the iconic 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers, HBO produced several made-for-television war films during the 1990s. In addition to A Bright Shining Lie and the brilliant When Trumpets Fade, there was 1995's The Tuskegee Airmen, which tells the story of the first African-American combat pilots to serve in the United States Army Air Corps, who fought in the Second World War. It's a relevant and appropriate story that deserves feature film exploration, with the squadron overcoming intense racism, criticism and prejudice for the opportunity to prove their worth by fighting for their country. Real-life WWII combat pilot Captain Robert W. Williams (one of the real Tuskegee Airmen) actually contributed to the teleplay, working with screenwriter T. S. Cook to develop a movie that mixes fact and fiction to tell this story earnestly and faithfully. Although imperfect, The Tuskegee Airmen is an effective and absorbing war movie with impressive combat scenes and sturdy performances, while the story carries significant emotional weight.


During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps establishes a program to train African-American pilots to fight in combat. Seeking to put his life on the line to serve his country, Hannibal Lee (Laurence Fishburne) boards a train to Tuskegee, Alabama, joining fellow flight cadet candidates Billy Roberts (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Walter Peoples (Allen Payne) and Lewis Johns (Mekhi Phifer). Upon arrival at the air base, they encounter the racist director of training, Major Sherman Joy (Christopher McDonald), and their liaison officer, Second Lieutenant Glenn (Courtney B. Vance), who hopes to see the cadets prove the naysayers wrong by finishing the training and going on to serve in the war. Almost immediately, the cadets encounter racist opposition, with continuous obstacles in the form of bureaucrats who doubt their competence in combat. Even after many cadets finish their training, the Army is reluctant to give them important assignments, with prejudicial views continuing to hinder them as they strive to prove themselves.

Although the Tuskegee Airmen were an actual unit, most of the characters here are fictitious composite characters, except for Colonel Davis, who was a real person and is depicted accurately here. Despite a brisk 106-minute running time, The Tuskegee Airmen covers ample content, tracking the team from their arrival at basic training to getting their wings and flying dangerous missions while bureaucrats continually attempt to ground the squadron for good. Director Robert Markowitz (a television veteran) maintains a robust pace throughout the movie, with engaging storytelling whether the squadron is in the air or on the ground. The exceptional cast is an enormous help in this respect, with Laurence Fishburne emanating gravitas and charisma as the fictitious Hannibal Lee. Alongside him, actors like Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, Allen Payne and the superb late Andre Braugher provide fantastic support, giving personality and life to their respective roles. Additionally, John Lithgow and Christopher McDonald are equally excellent in more antagonistic roles, while Ed Lauter also makes a positive impression as a United States General. Lithgow is especially notable, as he plays a vile senator whose reports rely on exaggeration and lies to discredit the Tuskegee Airmen. Admittedly, particularly with Ronald Orieux's cinematography lacking in dynamicity, some scenes feel too stagy and feature pedestrian dialogue, but the slower moments are thankfully infrequent.


HBO clearly spared no expense in bringing The Tuskegee Airmen to screens, with an estimated $8.5 million budget that is abnormally high for a television movie. For the most part, the technical execution is incredibly impressive, with the production design, sets and costumes recreating the 1940s with a commendable attention to detail. Even the soundtrack choices reflect the era, while award-winning composer Lee Holdridge provides an exciting, stirring, militaristic score. During the aerial action scenes, editor David Beatty splices in several rough-looking archival shots of planes and explosions that exhibit chunkier grain and pronounced print damage, making them stand out all the more amid the crisp material shot during production. Although their inclusion ostensibly assists the production's sense of verisimilitude, the archival footage stands out like dogs' balls. Nevertheless, the action scenes are fluid and rousing, and despite the movie's PG rating, the violence does not feel overly tame or neutered. With the increased reliance on digital effects in 2024, it is satisfying to see practical special effects, sets, and location filming here, and, especially with Orieux capturing the movie on 35mm film, nothing reeks of artificiality.

The Tuskegee Airmen sensitively deals with inflammatory topics. As a result, the movie is edifying and dramatically satisfying, presenting the reality of the story without striving to drive home an unsubtle agenda. The movie delivers several powerful scenes, from an impromptu landing in front of a chain gang to Davis's heartfelt testimony when the House Armed Services Committee considers whether to disband the Tuskegee Airmen. Admittedly, a fully-fledged miniseries focusing on the real airmen would be the ideal way to tell this story with all its intricacies and political machinations (Masters of the Air briefly includes the Tuskegee Airmen), but this telemovie remains a terrific dramatisation. With compelling performances, exciting action scenes, impressive special effects and competent storytelling, The Tuskegee Airmen is worth your attention.

7.6/10