The War Lover

The pilot (Steve McQueen) and co-pilot (Robert Wagner) of a bomber plane clash over the war and a woman (Shirley Anne Field) in World War II England.

The War Lover doesn’t start well. The military action sequences aren’t well done, splicing in grainy footage that doesn’t mesh with the otherwise crisp black and white photography, and lacking any real “wow” factor. That, combined with stilted dialog might have you reconsidering your investment, but if you hang in there, you’ll be rewarded by a terrific performance from lead Steve McQueen.

McQueen is the only thing going for the film. His co-stars, Robert Wagner and Shirley Anne Field, look like they’re sleepwalking next to McQueen’s arresting turn, especially Field, whose monotone inflection and stoic expression render her utterly ineffective.

As the film goes on, the action effects don’t get any better, but McQueen does, portraying a daredevil pilot hooked on the adrenaline/testosterone rush that makes him feel invincible. It’s a dark character, and McQueen embraces it, never going over the top, but all the while exuding an ultra alpha-male quality that makes him so believable.

With a better supporting cast, and a bigger effects budget, The War Lover might have been a great film, but as is it’s definitely a must-see for McQueen fans, as this ranks among his top performances.