James Franco stars as fighter pilot Blaine Rawlings of the Lafayette Escadrille French squadron in 'Flyboys'.

Flyboys is the unforgettable and inspirational story about a group of heroic American men who volunteered fight in World War I despite the United States not being involved at the outset.

The war drama traces activities in the Great War which began in Europe in 1914. By 1917, the Allied powers of France, England, Italy and others were on the ropes against the German juggernaut. While millions of young men were dying overseas, arguing that the freedom of others was none of its business, America chose - at first - not to fight.

Some altruistic young Americans disagreed, however, and volunteered to fight alongside their counterparts in France; some in the infantry, some in the Ambulance Corps. A handful of others had a different idea: They decided to learn how to fly. The first of them - a squadron of only 38 - became known as the Lafayette Escadrille. In time, America joined their cause and the Escadrille pilots became legendary.

James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jennifer Decker and Jean Reno star in Flyboys, which was directed by Academy Award winner Tony Bill from screenplay by Blake Evans.