DEATH RACE aka STATE OF DIVISION – 1973
This is a made for television film with the leads being played by, Doug McClure, Lloyd Bridges, Roy Thinnes and Eric Braeden.
Doug McClure and Roy Thinnes are pilots serving in North Africa during the fight against the German Afrika Korps. They receive an assignment to bomb some possible German minefields. They take off in their P-40 Tomahawks to deal with said minefield.
On the return flight they see a German convoy driving through the desert. Veteran pilot, Thinnes, decide a bit of strafing would be in order. This however does not quite come off as planned. Thinnes is shot down by a German Officer, Lloyd Bridges, commanding a tank. Thinnes parachutes to safety not far from the German tank.
McClure, against his better judgement, lands nearby and bundles the wounded Thinnes into his own P-40. But before he can take off, the German tank puts a cannon shell through the wing of the aircraft. The plane will run, but it will not fly. McClure guns the aircraft for all it is worth and heads off over the desert.
The tank commander, Bridges, is not amused with the damage done to his convoy and sets out in pursuit. The film now become a cat and mouse chase with Bridges losing his cool as the pursuit continues. Tank crew member, Eric Braeden, suggests to Bridges they get back to the German lines as the tank is needed there. Bridges just growls and orders the chase to continue.
As the chase continues, Braeden can see that Bridges has gone right around the bend. Should he take command, or do as ordered. He decides on the latter course of action. That is till the tank catches the P-40. McClure helps the wounded Thinnes from the aircraft and waves a white flag to surrender. Bridges will have none of it, and opens fire with the top mounted machine gun killing Thinnes. Braeden has had enough of the battle crazy Bridges, and shoots him dead. He just won't mention to headquarters how Bridges bought it. Braeden then dismounts the tank and walks toward McClure as the camera pulls away.
I recall watching this the first time as a teenager, and being impressed with it. The use of real P-40's sure did not hurt. This low budget, but effective film is definitely worth a look for the war film buff.
This is a made for television film with the leads being played by, Doug McClure, Lloyd Bridges, Roy Thinnes and Eric Braeden.
Doug McClure and Roy Thinnes are pilots serving in North Africa during the fight against the German Afrika Korps. They receive an assignment to bomb some possible German minefields. They take off in their P-40 Tomahawks to deal with said minefield.
On the return flight they see a German convoy driving through the desert. Veteran pilot, Thinnes, decide a bit of strafing would be in order. This however does not quite come off as planned. Thinnes is shot down by a German Officer, Lloyd Bridges, commanding a tank. Thinnes parachutes to safety not far from the German tank.
McClure, against his better judgement, lands nearby and bundles the wounded Thinnes into his own P-40. But before he can take off, the German tank puts a cannon shell through the wing of the aircraft. The plane will run, but it will not fly. McClure guns the aircraft for all it is worth and heads off over the desert.
The tank commander, Bridges, is not amused with the damage done to his convoy and sets out in pursuit. The film now become a cat and mouse chase with Bridges losing his cool as the pursuit continues. Tank crew member, Eric Braeden, suggests to Bridges they get back to the German lines as the tank is needed there. Bridges just growls and orders the chase to continue.
As the chase continues, Braeden can see that Bridges has gone right around the bend. Should he take command, or do as ordered. He decides on the latter course of action. That is till the tank catches the P-40. McClure helps the wounded Thinnes from the aircraft and waves a white flag to surrender. Bridges will have none of it, and opens fire with the top mounted machine gun killing Thinnes. Braeden has had enough of the battle crazy Bridges, and shoots him dead. He just won't mention to headquarters how Bridges bought it. Braeden then dismounts the tank and walks toward McClure as the camera pulls away.
I recall watching this the first time as a teenager, and being impressed with it. The use of real P-40's sure did not hurt. This low budget, but effective film is definitely worth a look for the war film buff.