The Dawn Patrol (1930)

Richard Barthelemess is the cocky airman “Dick” in this pioneering aviation drama set during the Great War. Using mono and biplanes that were made of little more than balso wood and glue, he is part of the Royal Flying Corps that is trying to combat the nasty Bosch for control of the skies. He’s always being critical of his boss “Brand” (Neil Hamilton) without really understanding that with that command goes the responsibility, all too often, of sending men barely out of their teens to their deaths. He does come to realise that, though, when he is promoted and asked by his best friend “Douglas” (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) to cut some corners to get his brother - who is greener than any corn - into the sky. With pressures growing between these friends, a realisation that their equipment is barely adequate and “Dick” coming to terms with the onerous burdens of his new rank, this war has just become much more real for all of these men. There’s some great aerial photography here as the scenarios play out and the characters are forced to grow into their roles. The gents at the top of the bill work well together exuding a sense of wartime camaraderie coupled with one of wartime naïveté as the writing doesn’t rose-cover the tragic nature of this conflict. It’s maybe a little too long and the story takes a bit to bed down, but once it’s up and running it’s a solid boy’s own adventure completely devoid of romantic clutter, and I enjoyed it.