 ""What a rotten war." -- Flynn" | 2009-06-24 |
| - Reviewed By alanladd725704 |
"Gentlemen, keep the war going please. We are going out to roam in a few gutters." -- Flynn
During the first decade of sound films, it offered an opportunity to remake great silent films and some early talkies which were made before there was a firm grasp on this new medium. It usually proved to be a disappointment, however, as the magic captured so beautifully in one art form, or the beginning stages of another, rarely could be recaptured. Such is not the case with The Dawn Patrol. The great Howard Hawks had helmed the original 1930 version of John Monk Saunders' story starring Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. The 1938 version directed by Edmund Goulding for WB is quite fabulous on it's own terms, thanks in large part to the performances of Errol Flynn and David Niven, and the faithfulness shown to the original source material.
Seton I. Miller and Dan Totheroh stayed true to Saunders' story the first time around, and WB stayed true by reusing it. While this version of a beleaguered squadron during WWI and the camaraderie of its weary pilots doesn't have the majestic ariel footage of Wellman's silent masterpiece, Wings, it isn't far behind. Flynn and Niven are terrific as the veterans who keep watching younger and younger replacements to their squadron go down to Von Richter's more experienced pilots across enemy lines in 1915 France. Courtney (Flynn) knows it's suicide sending them up in ariel combat with only a few hours training under their belt but must follow orders. Their resentment for Brand (Basil Rathbone), who gives those orders, seethes. But neither know the heavy burden on Brand, who constantly argues with headquarters for more training time, but must also follow orders.
Flynn is solid as the quiet hero but Niven sparkles as the happy-go-lucky Scott. When Courtney and Scott make a daring but foolhardy raid on a German squadron, destroying them while they are still on the ground, it sets in motion a promotion which changes Courtney's perspective, who is now in Brand's shoes. When Scott's young brother shows up as one of the green replacements, Courtney can not show favoritism and in the fallout the two friends stop speaking. Goulding shows the camaraderie of the pilots, which runs so deep it even extends to the enemy. During better times, there are hilarious references to a wild night as Courtney and Scott paint the town red, related to Brand by the furious top brass.
A dire one pilot mission deep across enemy lines punctuates this film with a spectacular ariel battle. For those who haven't seen this, I cannot reveal who is involved or what transpires. This is a fine film which kept the atmosphere of its predecessor and makes for a very entertaining and quietly moving film about WWI and the toll it took on men who flew in planes shot up and patched together with whatever was available. It says a great deal about courage and male bonding, and war itself. A marvelous and worthy remake. |
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 "outstanding picture" | 2009-06-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A712WFQX7E4Z3 |
| "They dont make em like they usta",and maybe they do and maybe they dont, but this movie in my mind is a classic example of the great pictures of the 1930s.The movie makers and their audience were products of their time, and even if the makers/audience are different today, many movie fans can still recognize great pictures when they see one and the Dawn Patrol is certainly one of these. |
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| "Command Responsibility..." | 2009-05-26 |
| - Reviewed By thuds45 |
1938's "Dawn Patrol" captures a theme familiar to fans of the war movie genre: the awful responsibility of command amid the fearful attrition of combat. In "Dawn Patrol", Errol Flynn and David Niven portray veteran Royal Flying Corps pilots Courtney and Scott, grim survivors of aerial combat over the 1915 Western Front of World War I. The two men fly hair-raising missions each day in rickety aircraft and carouse drunkenly at night, while replacements show up and die before they can even unpack their bags. The commander of their 59th Flying Squadron, Major Brand (a superbly conflicted Basil Rathbone), wrestles with high command over impossible orders but resolutely sends the men out each day on mission.
When an opposing German flying squadron challenges the 59th by dropping a pair of trench boots on their aerodrome, Courtney and Scott defy orders to return the insult. In a thrilling flying sequence, the two men bomb and strafe the enemy aerodrome, then survive additional hazards on the return trip. The two pilots face court-martial, but in a twist of fate, Major Brand is promoted, leaving a stunned Captain Courtney to fill his shoes as squadron commander. Courtney soon discovers the terrible responsibility that comes with command, including the loss of his friendship with Scott. When a vitally important but almost certainly suicidal mission comes down, Courtenay faces a heart-breaking choice.
"Dawn Patrol" features entertaining repartee between real-life friends Flynn and Niven, a vision of fellowship amid dispair among the fliers, and some excellent flying sequences featuring World War I aircraft. The film offers its own take on a theme repeated in "Twelve O'Clock High" and "Command Decision" and is very highly recommended to fans of those movies.
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| "70 years between viewings" | 2009-04-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWQGGGUFB4FEK |
| I first saw this film when I was a boy - 70 years ago - always remembered it - the model airplanes I played with were all tri-wing Fokkers and Spads, etc. The film's dogfight scenes were great and it was fun to see Basil Rathbone as a young man - Errol Flynn was the same as ever - he never grew up. The quality of the film was remarkably good - excellent restoration. Acting was more basic then, a bit corny by today's standards, but a great film. |
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| "THE DAWN PATROL" | 2009-04-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2ZDR9VDTA4X2X |
The Dawn Patrol is very old movie and probably a little outdated but the acting and the story line holds up over time.
Errol Flynn, David Niven and Basil Rathbone make this war film a very enjoyable movie, The acting is first rate and the relationship between the three main players makes the story work.
Must watch. |
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| "Dawn Patrol" | 2009-04-14 |
| - Reviewed By john6952 |
I first saw this movie on tv when I was a kid back in the late 1950's. I really enjoyed the movie. It was one of the first movies I can remember which didn't make war fun and adventureous. The scenes where the flyers party and get drunk to wipe out the memories and help them sleep before going back out to fight was especially moving. I think it was the fact the flyers would go out to fight and then come back to the relative peace and safety of the base behind the lines which provided the stark contrast. I highly recommend this movie. I always like Errol Flynn in all of his movies.
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