AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . but Warner Bros. was hardly subtle in 1938 with this ode to Pacifism. Rather than foreshadowing Warner's CAPTAINS OF THE CLOUDS (micromanaged by War-time censors four years later), DAWN PATROL could be more aptly titled DEAD DUCKS DOWN. As mid-level officers grouse amongst themselves, the Royal Air Force sends a constant stream of fresh meat (in the form of teenagers with LESS than 10 hours of flight time) to the front lines, oblivious to the fact that 75% of them are dying on their first combat mission. No doubt a source of inspiration a few years later for the Japanese Kamikazi pilots of WWII, this "Lost Generation" is figuratively marched off a cliff, abetted by a virtual news vacuum in the Pre-Twitter days. Thanks to American heroes such as Zuckerberg and Snowden, a Western government would be hard put to stampede its Youth like mindless lemmings running off cliffs nowadays. Furthermore, since the U.S. was in a De Facto state of war with Japan in 1941, it's hard to view DAWN PATROL's two "heroic" sneak attacks on military ground targets as some sort of moral high ground above Pearl Harbor. If the post-Kitty Hawk military has any true heroes left, it's surely the folks on the ground who keep soldiering away despite knowing that sneaky aerial attacks can occur at any time.

utgard14 Terrific war drama about RFC flyers in WWI France and the dangers and hardships they faced. Excellent cast led by the trio of Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, and David Niven. Some of the best performances from each man's career. Some fine support by the likes of Donald Crisp and Barry Fitzgerald. One thing you can always count on from Warner Bros. in the '30s and '40s is their exceptional stable of actors. The plot may seem a bit familiar but it's helped by great performances, a quality script, and good direction from Edmund Goulding. It's a remake of a 1930 film that I haven't seen yet so I can't compare the two but I can definitely recommend you see this one.

krishkmenon The Dawn Patrol stands out as my personal favourite of all WW1 films and also the best in Air warfare films. The plot is at once appealing and filled with wartime adventure. Two classmates from England enlist in the RFC and grow up in a short span (unusually a long period during the early years of the Great War) to become flying aces. Their daredevil aerobatics are admired and envied secretly by their stern commander Basil Rathbone who the duo nick-name as Killer brand as his duties are generally limited to send raw pilots against the war seasoned German Air Force. the plot is not far from depicting actual events of that period as one may read about the actions of pilots in the real RFC or Lafayette Escadrille and also the Red Baron. The stress of command thrust upon one of the friends strains and later destroys the friendship. It later is bonded in the untimely death of the Flight Commander who tricks his pal to undertake a suicide mission. Errol Flynn as the hero plays the part of the happy-go-lucky and later highly stressed commander with perfection. David Niven is adequate as the pal but it is Basil Rathbone who walks away with top honours as the original Flight Commander who envies the daredevil pilots while hating himself for sending raw pilots to their death. The scene where he hands over command to Flynn is excellent. Another actor worth mentioning here would be Donal Crisp who has the last word about the futility of war and the loss of valuable lives - certainly a line that does not age as it is relevant even today. This film is one of the rare ones that is entirely male and only hints at females but does not show them on screen. Edmund Gouldings direction is far superior to that of the earlier version but then he is helped by Errols strong charisma. On my list of the 100 movies one should see in his/her lifetime

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