What does it mean to serve? Right off the bat, we think of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who put everything on the line to protect our freedoms—and rightfully so. However, there are ways to serve that do not require taking an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This includes the film industry. Before you turn your attention, consider the impact of the movie industry on the military over the past half century and how many people have been drafted after watching band of brothersAnd the BetterAnd the Tuskegee AirmenAnd the save private ryan, And the Zero Dark Thirty. You can now add loyalty to that list.
While military films are a powerful recruiting tool, a subset of the genre plays a vital role in the American psyche and shapes how we see ourselves. Films based on actual military events remind us that there is a huge cost to ensuring the experience of freedom for every generation. American history is full of ordinary men and women accomplishing extraordinary things. Thanks in part to the actors and actresses who portray them, we learn their stories and learn their names.
Glen Powell, an actor who has appeared in over 30 films and TV shows, including Hidden charactersAnd the Sand castleAnd the Better:
MaverickJoin us for the latest episode of The men’s magazine The Daily Warrior Podcast. The Talking series usually focuses on conversations with guests, but this week we’re looking at Powell’s latest film, loyalty And the amazing story that inspired it.
Two very different movies
Did you dream of being a fighter pilot as a kid? If so, you are not alone. In 2022, those who haven’t given up on that childhood dream have two amazing movies to watch, both starring Powell. In May, 36 years and 11 days later Better Introducing the world to the Navy fighter pilots Maverick and Snowman, Paramount Pictures has released its highly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: MaverickK.
Then, on November 23, Black Label Media was launched loyaltyan amazing biography based on the book by Adam Makos, Devotion: An epic story of heroism, friendship, and sacrifice. Both films are about Navy pilots, but that’s where the similarities end. “[They focus] In different eras of naval aviation, different planes, and telling very different stories,” Powell says. “While they are two different genres of film, they are both beautiful testaments to our men and women in uniform.”
keeping promises
beautifully photographed, loyalty is the true story of the most notable wings of the Korean War, elite Navy fighter pilots Jesse Brown, played by Jonathan Majors and Tom Hudner, played by Powell. While delivering stunning aerial sequences that audiences are sure to love, the foundation of the film is built on phenomenal acting, well-developed characters, and an unwavering willingness to portray the realities of war.
Telling a true story of friendship and courage, Powell explains, carries an added responsibility that must be done right by those involved. “I sat down with Tom Hudner on Memorial Day in 2017… and promised him and his family to tell his story properly,” says Powell. “He died a few months later,” he adds.
Incredible story
Jesse Brown joined the Navy Reserve after seeing a recruiting poster for the Naval Aviation Program. Despite being told he would never fly because of his race, Brown became the first black pilot to complete basic Navy flight training.
In December 1950, the Brown Ensign crashed against the side of a snow-covered mountain after being shot down behind enemy lines. His plane, Lieutenant Thomas Hudner, ignored a direct order from his commander and deliberately crashed his plane into the side of the downed plane. Finding him seriously wounded and cornered, Hudner makes a distress call. After attempts to free him failed, it became clear that they no longer had any choice. Unable to bring home Brown’s remains, his colleagues honored him with a warrior’s funeral.
Ensign Brown was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. Lieutenant Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor “for an act of exceptional gallantry and selfless devotion to a fellow ship.”
Friendship above all
After five years in development, Powell was excited to share a film that would mean so much to him and a grateful audience would get to know these fine men. “Hudner was a man of color in the lines…so it’s interesting that this was the moment that defined his life,” says Powell.
The movie has several themes, but friendship and service stand out. It is inspiring that during apartheid, two men of different races chose friendship above all else. “It’s not like he was trying to be anything [except] good friend. I can’t wait for people to see this because I feel like it says all the right things about friendship,” says Powell.
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