Review of The Dawn Patrol (1938) by Filmgrinder S — 09 Jul 2011

[80/B] This is an excellent war drama that focuses on the camraderie, emotional politics, and perseverance of a hard-drinking, stiff-upper-lipped squadron of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, where routine patrols and daily low-flying sorties against German troop deployments mean the loss of many young, inexperienced fighter pilots, and the the grim accounting of those who survive them.

It's all rather dialogue-rich stuff, built on the banter of indomitable friends (and rueful commanders) between missions, snatching merriment where they can before going back up again against bad odds, with measures of cheerful determination and the customary "war is hell" platitudes somewhat staidly presented. It nevertheless sails along very well upon the sturdy wheels of a solid script and pro acting by Rathbone, Niven, and especially Flynn, in fine form and perfectly cast to embody the chipper heroics of these aces.

Includes a lot of nifty dogfight footage, and some evocative location cinematography. Well worth your time.