Bat 21

Adapted from the true story of Air Force Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton, this solid action film stars Gene Hackman (Hambleton) and Danny Glover (as Capt. Dennis Clark) as two Vietnam soldiers who establish a life-and-death bond, when Hambleton is shot down over enemy territory, and must rely on airborne "spotter" Clark to guide him to safety. While certainly not in the league of The Deer Hunter or Apocalypse Now, Bat 21 (Hambleton's code name) is not an exploitation film. Action propels the film, but doesn't define it. In one memorable sequence, the members of a downed plane are executed, while Hambleton, on a handmade crutch, wobbles in impotent frustration just out of sight. The scene is a picture of anguished guilt, since Hambleton is partially responsible in that he vetoed an earlier rescue, and planned his own escape route using an ingenious code system based on golf terminology. Not a great film, but a good one, Bat 21 is recommended for larger collections. (R. Pitman)