Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Dawn Patrol (1938)
The Dawn Patrol
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Dawn Patrol (1938) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 11 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   909 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Edmund Goulding
Writers:
Seton I. Miller (screenplay) and
Dan Totheroh (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Dawn Patrol on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 December 1938 (USA) more
Genre:
War | Drama more
Tagline:
They roared through the dawn . . . with death on their wings ! more
Plot:
British flying aces in World War I contend with the harsh realities of war. full summary | add synopsis
User Comments:
One of the very best of all war films more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Errol Flynn ... Captain Courtney
Basil Rathbone ... Major Brand

David Niven ... Lieutenant Scott
Donald Crisp ... Phipps
Melville Cooper ... Sergeant Watkins
Barry Fitzgerald ... Bott
Carl Esmond ... Von Mueller
Peter Willes ... Hollister
Morton Lowry ... Donnie Scott
Michael Brooke ... Captain Squires
James Burke ... Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
Stuart Hall ... Bentham
Herbert Evans ... Scott's Mechanic
Sidney Bracey ... Major Brand's Orderly (as Sidney Bracy)
Leo Nomis ... Aeronautic Supervisor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hal Brazeale ... Gregory (uncredited)
Tyrone Brereton ... Orderly (uncredited)
Richard Deane ... 'B' Flight Replacement (uncredited)
Burnett Fergrison ... Henry Burt (uncredited)
Fred Graham ... Running Man on Airfield (uncredited)
Douglas Henderson ... Orderly (uncredited)
Ivo Henderson ... Soldier (uncredited)
Tim Henning ... Orderly (uncredited)
Shep Houghton ... Young Recruit (uncredited)
George Kirby ... Orderly Kirby (uncredited)
Anthony Marsh ... Rutherford (uncredited)
John Meredith ... 'B' Flight Replacement (uncredited)
Wally Rairden ... Cleaver (uncredited)
Jack Richardson ... Mechanic (uncredited)
John Rodion ... Lieutenant Russell (uncredited)
Speirs Ruskell ... 'B' Flight Replacement (uncredited)
Tom Seidel ... Jones (uncredited)
John Sutton ... Adjutant (uncredited)
F. Philip Sylvestre ... 'B' Flight Replacement (uncredited)
Gordon Thorpe ... Smythe (uncredited)
Charles Waldron Jr. ... Lieutenant Billings (uncredited)
Gordon Wallace ... 'B' Flight Replacement (uncredited)
Norman Willis ... Von Richter (uncredited)
Gilbert Wilson ... Moorehead (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Edmund Goulding 
 
Writing credits
Seton I. Miller (screenplay) and
Dan Totheroh (screenplay)

John Monk Saunders (story)

Howard Hawks  story (uncredited)

Produced by
Robert Lord .... associate producer (uncredited)
Hal B. Wallis .... executive producer (uncredited)
Jack L. Warner .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Max Steiner 
 
Cinematography by
Tony Gaudio (photography by)
 
Film Editing by
Ralph Dawson 
 
Art Direction by
John Hughes 
 
Makeup Department
Bill Phillips .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Robert Ross .... unit manager (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Oren Haglund .... second assistant director (uncredited)
Frank Heath .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
William Kissell .... props (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
C.A. Riggs .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Edwin B. DuPar .... special effects (as Edwin A. DuPar)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Carl E. Guthrie .... second camera operator (uncredited)
Glen Harris .... grip (uncredited)
Vic Johnson .... gaffer (uncredited)
William Reinhold .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Bert Six .... still photographer (uncredited)
Claude Swanner .... best boy (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rene Wilson .... wardrobe (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Victor Kline Jr. .... assistant cutter (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Alfred Domett .... lyricist: "Stand to Your Glasses"
Leo F. Forbstein .... musical director
Hugo Friedhofer .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Capt.L.G.S. Scott .... technical advisor
Jean McNaughton .... script clerk (uncredited)
Jacques Swaab .... technical advisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | German
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4585)
Filming Locations:
Calabasas, California, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The filmmakers needed several shots of the planes taking off and landing. They assembled a squadron of 17 vintage WW1 aircraft, most of them Nieuports. Flying them proved just as hazardous as in WW1. By the time filming ended, stunt flyers had crashed 15 of them. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the beginning the planes shown landing and the planes that taxi up to the hangers. more
Quotes:
Capt. Courtney: [drunkenly] Gentlemen, keep the war going please. We're going to roll in a few gutters. more
Movie Connections:
Features The Dawn Patrol (1930) more
Soundtrack:
Plum and Apple more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 20 people found the following comment useful:-
One of the very best of all war films, 29 January 2002
10/10
Author: d1494 from San Francisco

The Dawn Patrol, one of Director Eddie Goulding's very finest, is as tense and tightly wound as the characters it portrays, who face the awful question, 'what is maximum effort', how much can a man give in combat before breaking? The story revolves around the vividly drawn characters of Lt. Scott,'Scotty', played by David Niven in one of his most genuine performances, and that of his chum, Captain Courtney, well played by Errol Flynn. Together the two friends face death each day in machines held together by 'spit and baling wire' and each night drink themselves into oblivion. Their antics contrast with the concern that is eating at their commanding officer, Major Brand, wonderfully portrayed by Basil Rathbone. Brand is visibly cracking under the strain, while the oblivious Courtney and Scott play at war, seemingly unconcerned by death or anything else. Paired with Brand is the unflappable Phipps, presented by stalwart character actor Donald Crisp. It is Crisp, who is finally made to express the film's underlying anti-war theme, questioning the point of sending all the fine young men to their deaths, "...and for what?", he asks though no answer is forthcoming. The tension is expertly broken by comic interludes of genuine hilarity as well as great scenes of World War air combat. One sees a reflection of Renoir's 'Rules of the Game', when a German pilot, who is thought to have killed Scotty, is brought in to meet Courtney, who shot him down and they show each other the mutual respect and chivalry that still crossed the no-mans land between the two sides. Like '12 0'Clock High'

its World War II counterpart, this film puts the viewer under the skins of these men as they face death. No phony posturing or heroics, no masks, just humanity faced with something which, ultimately is inhuman. This intelligent and questioning film is at the very top of my list of great war films, and is an absolute must see for new generations of movie goers.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Dawn Patrol (1938)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
any help with the name of a film? hotspur95
Pfalz D.XII greydragn
When does Dawn Patrol arrive in DVD? gj_davidson
von Richter, the Red Baron Rheli
Rathbone's medals verdun2
Song sung in the movie. gerimd
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Dawn Patrol Gone with the Wind Hell's Angels All Quiet on the Western Front The Eagle and the Hawk
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb War section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.