Shady Lady
  • Release Date: Nov 2, 2012
Shady Lady Image
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User Score
9.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

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  • Summary: This film is the story of the USAAF 5th Air Force, B-24 Liberator aircraft called 'Shady Lady' that set off from Darwin on Friday, 13 August 1943 on what was at that time the world's longest ever aeroplane bombing mission in aviation history to the oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo. Shortly before running out of fuel, on the return journey 'Shady Lady' was crash landed on a remote salt pan in Northern Western Australia after flying for 16 hours and 35 minutes. With help from the Aboriginal Community, 'Shady Lady'amazingly flew again. … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Simon Abrams
    Nov 8, 2012
    50
    Too many Wiki-worthy info dumps and not enough character-enriching detail stops Shady Lady, a docudrama about a team of World War II Australian bombardiers, from cohering into a compelling fiction-documentary hybrid.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Andy Webster
    Nov 30, 2012
    40
    It comes as no surprise that the director, Tristan Loraine, comes from a background as an airline captain and a documentarian. Perhaps those jobs make best use of his skills.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Gary Goldstein
    Nov 8, 2012
    30
    The worthy, potentially exciting subject matter would certainly have lent itself to either a straight-on documentary or a seriously budgeted narrative feature. Instead, producer-director-editor Tristan Loraine (he also cowrote the dreadful script with Viv Young) clumsily tries to meld the two approaches - minus the big bucks.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. PeterRyan
    10
    I highly recommend this film. It will make you proud to be an American. As others have said, the budget was small, but the filmmakers were super creative and smart with their spending. How often do you get to see a real, operational B24 bomber flying over the ocean?! To be able to use the real deal increases the realism and makes you really appreciate the attention to detail. This film was clearly made with care. Don't miss it!… Expand
  2. PeterJones
    10
    I love history doco drama films and this one is a cracker. Reminds of Das Boot. For an indie doco this gives Hollywood a run for its money. I felt part of the mission. It's films like this that make me realise that films and Director's should be reviewed based not just on the film content but also on the budget, because this film for its budget is 11/10. A flight you will never forget.… Expand
  3. Captn71
    10
    Mr Abrams,

    I found your review to be as full of "unqualified descriptions..." as you accuse the film of having. I saw this film in the com    pany of the original 380th BG vets who were there when those missions were flown, and their opinions of the film were extremely enthusiastic and supportive. As for "Wiki-worthy info dumps...", isn't a documentary (or docudrama) supposed to present facts and vintage photos ? Nothing--I repeat--Nothing in this film was fictionalized or presented as "unqualified descriptions" of events or dialogue. Your comment "fictionalized Unsolved Mysteries… Expand
  4. LouisaAndrews
    8
    This film has been compared to Das Boot, the 1981 piece of mastery by Wolfgang Petersen. She I can see the common thread but its important to remember Das Boot even in 1981 had a US$14 million budget, probably US$20 million at least in today';s money. Shady Lady according to IMDb is US$1.4 million, 1/10 Das Boot budget of 1981 or about 1/20 in today's money. With a fraction the budget the Shady Lady producers have created an incredible film for such a low budget, yes the actors are unknowns but the story is very powerful and well presented. Its 8/10 for me which for 1/20 the budget is incredible. Shady Lady made me feel proud to be American.… Expand

See all 16 User Reviews

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