Complete credited cast: | |||
Errol Flynn | ... | Courtney | |
Basil Rathbone | ... | Major Brand | |
David Niven | ... | Scott | |
Donald Crisp | ... | Phipps | |
Melville Cooper | ... | Sgt. Watkins | |
Barry Fitzgerald | ... | Bott | |
Carl Esmond | ... | Hauptmann Von Mueller | |
Peter Willes | ... | Hollister | |
Morton Lowry | ... | Donnie Scott | |
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Michael Brooke | ... | Capt. Squires |
James Burke | ... | Flaherty | |
Stuart Hall | ... | Bentham | |
Herbert Evans | ... | Mechanic | |
Sidney Bracey | ... | Major Brand's Orderly (as Sidney Bracy) | |
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Leo Nomis | ... | Aeronautic Supervisor |
In 1915 France, Major Brand commands the 39th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The young airmen go up in bullet-riddled "crates" and the casualty rate is appalling, but Brand can't make the "brass hats" at headquarters see reason. Insubordinate air ace Captain Courtney is another thorn in Brand's side...but finds the smile wiped from his face when he rises to command the squadron himself. Everyone keeps a stiff upper lip. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Great WW1 flying drama.
A remake of Howard Hawks' "The Dawn Patrol" (1930) (sometimes known as "Flight Commander"). Not sure why it needed to be remade - it was great as it was.
This version doesn't add anything. Plot is almost to-the-letter identical to the original. Flying sequences and cinematography here are about as good, even though this movie was made 8 years later.
Not that there's anything wrong with this movie. Still a very gritty and accurate look at life, and death, in a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) fighter squadron. Details fairly well the burden of command, of sending pilots to almost certain death.
One area where this version trumps the original is in the performances. The original's performances weren't bad, but weren't great either. Here the performances are superb, especially from Errol Flynn, David Niven and Basil Rathbone.
As said, not sure why this was (re)made, but a great movie nevertheless.