Captains of the Clouds (1942)

Inspired by Churcill's Dunkirk speech, brash, undisciplined bush pilot Brian MacLean and three friends enlist in the RCAF but are deemed too old to be fliers.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Arthur T. Horman (story), Roland Gillett (story),

Stars:

James Cagney, Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Cagney	...	Brian MacLean
Dennis Morgan	...	Johnny Dutton
Brenda Marshall	...	Emily Foster
Alan Hale	...	'Tiny' Murphy
George Tobias	...	Blimp Lebec
Reginald Gardiner	...	Scrounger Harris
W.A. Bishop	...	Himself (as Air Marshal W.A. Bishop)
Reginald Denny	...	Commanding Officer
Russell Arms	...	Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss
Paul Cavanagh	...	Group Captain
Clem Bevans	...	Sam 'Store-Teeth' Morrison
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Foster
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Dr. Neville (as J. Farrell Macdonald)
Patrick O'Moore	...	Fyffe
Morton Lowry	...	Carmichael

Storyline

Brian McLean is a ruthless bush-pilot in Canada. He offers some other pilots an opportunity of earning a lot of money, but he marries the girl-friend of one of them. After listening to Churchill's famous "Blood, Sweat and tears" radio address he and some other pilots decide to join the RCAF - and his superior is always the pilot who's girlfriend he has married. Due to this and the fact, that McLean doesn't like to obey he gets troubles.

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Plot Keywords:

bush pilot | speech | canada | enlistment | asian stereotype | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corsários das Nuvens

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min 113 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The graduation scene was an actual graduation ceremony of the R.C.A.F. with W.A. Bishop in attendance. He also attended the New York opening along with 200 R.C.A.F. cadets and other officials.

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Goofs

When the bombers are being ferried to England and MacLean spots the enemy aircraft high on the port side and flying against the group. A following shot shows the Messerschmidt on the starboard side and flying in the same direction as the group.

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Quotes

Emily Foster: Hey! What brought you back?
Brian MacLean: A whim.
Emily Foster: Well you can keep on going.
Brian MacLean: Oh you don't know me. I have a whim of iron!

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Crazy Credits

Sincere appreciation is expressed to Major the Honorable C.G. Power P.C., M.C., Minister of National Defence for Air (Canada) and to Air Marshal L.S. Breadner D.S.C., Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Canadian Air Force, without whose authority and generous co-operation this picture would not have been brought to its splendid conclusion. We also wish to express our thanks to Air Marshal Bishop, V.C. and other officers and men of the R.C.A.F. who, in the making of the picture, are portrayed in the actual performance of their regular duties.

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Soundtracks

"Bless 'em All"
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Godfrey (1917)
Revised lyrics by Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake (1940)
Additional lyrics by Albert Stillman (1941)
Played on piano by Harry Seymour and sung by him, James Cagney, Alan Hale and others
Danced by James Cagney and Alan Hale
Reprised a cappella by Alan Hale

User Reviews

The setting of part of this movie

• Having grown up in North Bay Ontario Canada, I would like to point

out that the first part of Captains of the Clouds was set on Trout Lake near North Bay . The Actors stayed at The Empire Hotel in North Bay.

All of the people of North Bay were excited about this movie and many of us crowded around the entrance to the Hotel and every other place the Stars were sighted. It was certainly a memorable time for the residents of North Bay!! There are more details I would love to add but at this point I would like to ask if there are any reviews that include ALL the areas where Captains of the Clouds was set? Thank you.

Patricia Kennedy