 
  Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Michael Curtiz | 
|---|---|
| Writer: | Norman Reilly Raine, Arthur T. Horman, Roland Gillett, Richard Macaulay | 
| Staring: | 
| Inspired by Churchill's Dunkirk speech, brash, undisciplined Canadian bush pilot Brian MacLean and three friends enlist in the RCAF. | |
| Release Date: | Feb 12, 1942 | 
|---|---|
| Director: | Michael Curtiz | 
| Writer: | Norman Reilly Raine, Arthur T. Horman, Roland Gillett, Richard Macaulay | 
| Genres: | Action, War | 
| Keywords | raf (royal air force), canada, world war ii, pilot | 
| Production Companies | Warner Bros. Pictures | 
| Box Office | Revenue: $0 Budget: $0 | 
| Updates | Updated: Aug 03, 2024 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 | 
| Name | Character | 
|---|---|
| James Cagney | Brian MacLean (bush pilot) | 
| Dennis Morgan | Johnny Dutton (bush pilot) | 
| Brenda Marshall | Emily Foster | 
| Alan Hale | Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy (bush pilot) | 
| George Tobias | Blimp Lebec (bush pilot) | 
| Reginald Gardiner | Scrounger Harris (bush pilot) | 
| W.A. Bishop | Himself | 
| Reginald Denny | Commanding officer | 
| Russell Arms | Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss | 
| Paul Cavanagh | Group Captain | 
| Clem Bevans | Sam 'Store-Teeth' Morrison | 
| J.M. Kerrigan | Foster (storekeeper / Emily's father) | 
| J. Farrell MacDonald | Dr. Neville (from Churchtown) | 
| Patrick O'Moore | Fyffe | 
| Morton Lowry | Carmichael | 
| Pat Flaherty | Drill Sergeant | 
| Name | Job | 
|---|---|
| Michael Curtiz | Director | 
| Norman Reilly Raine | Screenplay | 
| Max Steiner | Original Music Composer | 
| Wilfrid M. Cline | Director of Photography | 
| Byron Haskin | Special Effects | 
| Rex Wimpy | Special Effects | 
| C.A. Riggs | Sound | 
| Leo F. Forbstein | Music Director | 
| Arthur T. Horman | Screenplay, Story | 
| Roland Gillett | Story | 
| Richard Macaulay | Screenplay | 
| George Amy | Editor | 
| Sol Polito | Director of Photography | 
| Ted Smith | Art Direction | 
| Howard Shoup | Costume Design | 
| Perc Westmore | Makeup Artist | 
| Name | Title | 
|---|---|
| Hal B. Wallis | Executive Producer | 
| William Cagney | Associate Producer | 
| Organization | Category | Person | 
|---|
Popularity History
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| 2024 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 
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| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 
Trending Position
It was a coincidence, this being Remembrance Day, that I threw on this selection from the James Cagney Signature Collection DVD boxed set, and it's weird that this Hollywood film came out as a tribute to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Really unique as a war film, and I loved Billy Bishop's cameo, in ... his full title, giving out 'wings' to those fortunate pilots who successfully passed RCAF training. Especially recommended for fans either of James Cagney or war films in general.
Wow, you got to see this on Blu-ray, fantastic photography, crisp and the colors just pop out. The obvious question is where were the fighter escorts that should have met them at the end. ...