Western Front Association - U.S. Branch - Movie Review of the Dawn Patrol

THE DAWN PATROL, a critical U.S. Branch, WFA movie review (reviewed in 2004). This movie is a 1938 remake of Howard Hawks 1930 classic British wartime flying film. This NTSC VHS format (ASIN 6302682584) was released in March 1993, and is available at Amazon.com for $9.50. The director was Edmund Goulding ("Grand Hotel") and the stars were Errol Flynn (his busiest year), David Niven, and Basil Rathbone. The reviewers are military historian Steve Leavenworth, who rated the film

, and Jim Minnoch who rated the movie

(out of five stars) for students of the Great War. They can be reached at jemcam@comcast.net.

This movie, about a British flying unit, is superb entertainment. It is a "must see" action account of an overworked and carefree squadron that observers young flyers being up-graded to tough administrative mission assignments as the war progresses. It is not a new theme, but the magnificent acting keeps one's eyes on the screen. There is a lot of drinking and camaraderie for the young, barely trained, pilots until they begin to realize the high rate of losses in the squadron. There is, by the way, not a single woman in the movie. As usual, the reviewers looked for even the slightest inaccuracy in the settings, uniforms, and anything else that might not appear genuine - but found nothing out of place. The handsome flying ace Flynn was at his acting peak when this movie was made, and it is a delight to see him, and the others, in action. The combat flying scenes are wonderful action (Steve was once a bomber navigator, Jim is a licensed pilot), and they put you right in the cockpit. Again, everything appears copasetic.

Some of the Stars of Dawn Patrol

The film is 50% entertainment and 50% military history, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as the viewer is aware. For the student, there are lessons to be learned from this movie, especially on how the many scattered tiny air bases operated, and the flying. We especially liked the real sounds of the rough idling of aircraft engines, for example. It does not come much better than this. We recommend Dawn Patrol, without reservation.

Created: 20 March 2004