Cheap The Dawn Patrol (Video) (Edmund Goulding) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Dawn Patrol

Not a Swashbuckler, but a very good drama about war's futility and the burden of command
A change of pace for Flynn. This 1938 antiwar movie has him as a pilot with the Royal Air Force in France during World War I. Basil Rathbone plays the squadron commander who is tormented with guilt at having to send his men to their deaths in a futile struggle. Flynn castigates Rathbone as a heartless butcher until he takes over the job after Rathbone is promoted. Then it is he who feels the full burden of command, who has to send the brother of his best friend (played by David Niven) on a suicide mission that he knows will fail. An interesting departure from most of Flynn's movies in the 1930's. No swashbuckling here (at least not much), but an intelligent drama about the futility of war and the burden of command.

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very moving film
This movie is very inspiring. "The Dawn Patrol," is very war related, as it takes place during the war and the patrol's of the flying aces dropping bombs and fighting the Germans. Errol Flynn is the very heroic flyer and loves his country and honors his duty in the service. It's really inspiring, especially his relationship between his good friend in the movie and in real life David Nivan they are true friends, their friendship is broken up for awhile by something Errol has to do it being his job and duty. It's a real moving film at the same time, inspiring, patriotic , truthful and sad. It shows what being in the air patrol during the war really was like a very true and relastic account of it. A very moving film. I think it was really well done, especially the flying scenes.

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Grim WW1 based anti-war flick
Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven star in the sobering 1938 film "The Dawn Patrol" which undoubtedly served as the model for the WW2 classic "Twelve O'Clock High". They are all members of the 59th fighter squadron of the Royal Flying Corps based in France in 1915. A somber Basil Rathbone playing Major Brand is the squadron leader. Day after day he depressingly orders his pilots on dangerous missions which create a high mortality rate. Ace pilot Capt. Courtney played by Flynn and his able wingman Lt. Scott played by Niven continously marshal replacement pilots with little combat experience into the skies to face almost certain death. Flynn despises Rathbone for the missions of death he orders them on. <
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>The tables are turned when Rathbone gets promoted due to a daring and succeesful mission flown by Flynn and Niven. Flynn becomes squadron commander and must order his pilots on those deadly missions lead now by Niven. He now realizes the plight that was driving Rathbone mad. <
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>Niven and Flynn have a falling out when Nivens baby brother turns up as one of the green replacement pilots. He is immediately shot down on his first mission. <
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>Flynn is ordered to ask for a volunteer to fly a suicidal mission behind enemy lines. When Niven opts to fly the mission, Flynn gets him intoxicated and heroically flies in his stead. <
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>While the aviation dogfights in this well acted flick are nothing spectacular, the plot and performances rendered by the solid cast get the director's message across loud and clear.