Flight Command (1940)

A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Wells Root (screen play), Harvey S. Haislip (screen play),

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Ruth Hussey, Walter Pidgeon

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Taylor	...	Ensign Alan Drake
Ruth Hussey	...	Lorna Gary
Walter Pidgeon	...	Squadron Cmdr. Billy Gary
Paul Kelly	...	Lieut. Cmdr. 'Dusty' Rhodes
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Lieut. Jerry Banning
Red Skelton	...	Lieut. 'Mugger' Martin
Nat Pendleton	...	C.P.O. 'Spike' Knowles
Dick Purcell	...	Lieut. 'Stichy' Payne
William Tannen	...	Lieut. Freddy Townsend
William Stelling	...	Lieut. Bush
Stanley Smith	...	Lieut. Frost
Addison Richards	...	Vice Admiral
Donald Douglas	...	1st Duty Officer
Pat Flaherty	...	2nd Duty Officer
Forbes Murray	...	Captain

Storyline

A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first day on the job, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyways but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.

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Plot Keywords:

fog | marital separation | brother sister relationship | military officer | aviation | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 December 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asas nas Trevas

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The squadron is based at Naval Air Station North Island, which still exists today in San Diego, CA.

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Goofs

Wires are clearly visible on most of the miniature aircraft.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood: Style Center of the World (1940)

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Soundtracks

"Anchors Aweigh"
(1906) (uncredited)
Written by Charles A. Zimmerman, Alfred Hart Miles and R. Lovell
Played as part of the score in the Pensacola sequence

User Reviews

Self-assured new recruit joins tight-knit group of Hellcat Fighters...there's gonna be trouble!

Lots of fun. Wells Root and Commander Harvey Haislip penned this screenplay from an original story Haislip also co-authored about an eager Naval Flight School cadet (Robert Taylor) in Pensacola flying solo out to Southern California to join Hellcat Fighters who have just lost one of their beloved teammates; he makes a colorful entrance (having to ditch his plane and parachute into the ocean because of fog!) and finds an early friend in a somewhat-emotional woman...the Skipper's wife! Camaraderie between the pilots on the ground is enjoyably written and played, with Taylor's charming self-assurance an interesting dynamic within the group (he isn't cocky, he's careful--though anxious to fit in). Subplot with Ruth Hussey's lonesome wife is soapy yet surprisingly skillful, while the aerial maneuvers are nicely photographed. An extra bonus: Red Skelton as a joshing lieutenant...and Walter Pidgeon looking younger than I have ever seen him. **1/2 from ****