The Dawn Patrol

1938 • 102 minutes

About this movie

Errol Flynn ("The Adventures of Robin Hood"), Oscar and Golden Globe-winner David Niven ("The Pink Panther") and Oscar-nominee Nigel Rathbone ("Romeo and Juliet") star in this gripping WWI drama about a flight commander in France who almost cracks under the pressure of sending men to their deaths. Features great dogfight action. Co-starring Oscar-winner Donald Crisp ("How Green Was My Valley").

Ratings and reviews

A bit dated but good acting by Errol Flynn, David Niven, and Basil Rathbone, the story highlights the period of the war when the British pilots were considered "Fokker fodder" with an average life expectancy of three weeks at the Front. Some footage from Howard Hughes's "Hell's Angels" is used.

I've probably seen this 15 times. It's been a favorite since I was a child. Basil Rathbone, Errol Flynn, and David Niven? How can you go wrong?