Darroch Greer and Ron King's documentary follows a group of well-to-do Yale undergraduates who formed a flying unit that became the founding squadron of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve when America entered World War I in 1917. Combining archival footage and stills, excerpts from the men's letters and journals read by actors, newly-shot scenes of replica planes in the air, and narration that carefully lays out the varied fates of the squad members (including the later careers of those who survived), The Millionaires' Unit celebrates the spirit and dedication of a committed band of volunteers who chose to put their lives on the line in search not merely of excitement but of service to high ideals. The men overcame numerous obstacles—including demanding flying tests—in order to be commissioned as military aviators, and they undertook incredibly dangerous missions (to sink German U-boats, for example) that did not always have happy outcomes. Actor Bruce Dern's familial connection to one member of the squad does not entirely compensate for his occasionally overripe delivery. But overall this offers a worthwhile introduction to a little-known episode in American military history. Extras include a "making-of" featurette, as well as featurettes on the evolution of the strategic use of air power, tactics involved in hunting a U-boat, and the famed Sopwith Camel. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
The Millionaires' Unit
(2015) 120 min. DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95. Humanus Documentary Films (avail. from www.millionairesunit.org). Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 2
The Millionaires' Unit
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