NipPierce Wow, this is a REALLY bad movie!

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

TheLittleSongbird Being someone who likes Errol Flynn, David Niven and Basil Rathbone and who has liked/loved a good deal of the films of all three, 'The Dawn Patrol' is a must watch for anybody who likes either actor or all three and for anybody who likes war films.A remake of the 1930 Howard Hawks film, this is hardly inferior (quite the opposite). Even with scenes lifted from the earlier film, it's a good-looking film, is very nicely shot and has a good deal of authentic atmosphere. Edmund Goulding's direction is very much assured while pacing scenes in a methodical but never overly so way. Max Steiner's score is lushly orchestrated and stirring.'The Dawn Patrol' has a gripping script, making its points without veering into heavy-handedness while the story is ceaselessly compelling, perfectly conveying the futility and passion of war, the comrades' horrors and conflicts and showing grace even under pressure.Characters are not stereotypes in any way, instead compellingly real characters with human and relatable conflicts. The sterling supporting cast has Donald Crisp in particular standing out, but the three leads are what make 'The Dawn Patrol' particularly worth watching.Rathbone has rarely been more tortured and Niven epitomises innocent grace, but it's Flynn's film in a performance that's genuinely moving (proof that he could act and had more range than given credit for when allowed).In summary, a wonderful and powerful film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Spikeopath Having not seen the Howard Hawks original made in 1930, I obviously have no frame of reference as regards if this remake does that particular film justice, but the evidence here suggests this Errol Flynn led piece can justifiably hold its head up high.It's World War 1 and we are in the company of the 59th Squadron in France, these brave airmen are the dawn patrol, the men {boys} who fly the most dangerous missions at the crack of dawn, this squadron has a high mortality rate such is the perilous nature of their duty. Capt. Courtney, Lt. Scott, and Maj. Brand are the main characters of the piece, and all three men are faced with mounting tensions and perhaps the spectre of impending tragedy?This film is one of those pieces that drives home the harshness of war whilst pumping the blood at the bravery of those involved. Here we witness young men literally ecstatic at the chance to get up in the air and fight the enemy; and this with very few hours actual flight experience behind them. It becomes like a production line of cannon fodder, and this is not lost on the superior characters in the film. The film perfectly portrays the futility of it all by leaving us in no doubt about the insane approach from those sitting in their comfy chairs, barking orders with no care for the graveness that the squadron faces. The men while away their hours drinking and singing startlingly revealing songs, full of bravado and gusto for the war effort, and it's the courage and loyalty of these guys that drives the film's emotional heart.A wonderful cast lifts this piece to a very high standard, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven firmly grasp the characters essential points, and coupled with a very astute piece of pacing from director Edmund Goulding, the film plays out perfectly. It's got the derring-do flying sequences, where some of the overhead bomb drop shots are wonderful, but be under no allusion here, this film is about the characters who are tough in fortitude, to which the ending is as good as it gets for the genre because it jolts you back to the whole sorry point of it all. 8/10

Michael O'Keefe Exciting and equally dark, this remake of Howard Hawks's original(1930) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. This World War I drama finds Basil Rathbone as Major Brand, the ruthless commander of a squadron of British fliers. Capt. Courtney(Errol Flynn)and Lt. 'Scotty' Scott(David Niven)are hard drinking aces that beg Brand for more time to train new pilots. Brand doesn't like losing his fliers, but is forced by his own superiors to keep pushing the green pilots beyond their abilities. Brand turns his command over to Courtney. Will the camaraderie remain the same, or will Capt. Courtney become as disliked as Brand? Director Edmund Goulding makes extensive use of the breathtaking aerial combat scenes used in the original. Terrific movie. Flynn and Rathbone are dynamic together. Other players include: Barry Fitzgerald, Donald Crisp, Melville Cooper and Carl Esmond.

daustin912 My father was the pilot of the plane that flew directly at the blimp when it exploded (allegedly on impact).Dad was payed $1500 for the stunt, filmed in California or Florida using American pilots. The pilot was Gene Austin, stunt pilot, delayed jump record holder 1935 and member of the flying team, I think they were called Hell's Angels (title of another movie) in this picture. Hughes used the same sequence in 3 pictures marketed in 1933. The stunt placed a dynamite charge in the nose of the aircraft which had a delay to ignite to be activated as the pilot left the cockpit. As the story was later published, the charge exploded just as the pilot had his foot on the seat to exit, was blown out of the plane and luckily was awake enough to open his chute. Gene Austin's scrap book and other docs are in the SanDiego Aerospace Museum. Gene Austin was born 4/06/1900 and died 7/9/52 of a cerebral hemorrhage.