Fritz Bauer Institut · Cinematography of the Holocaust


Captains of the Clouds. D: Curtiz [US, 1942]

ID

FBW000974      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1942

Original Title

Captains of the Clouds

Other Title(s)

Shadows of Their Wings [AT]

Directed by

Michael Curtiz

Produced by

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., Burbank, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Executive producer: Hal B. Wallis; Associate producer: William Cagney; Dialoge direction: Hugh MacMullan; Assistent director: Frank S. Heath; Script: Arthur T. Horman, Richard Macaulay, Norman Reilly Raine; Based on: Arthur T. Horman, Roland Gillette; Camera: Sol Polito; Cameraman: Wilfrid M. Cline; Special optical effects: Byron Haskin, Rex Wimpy; Aerial photography: Elmer Dyer, Charles Marshall, Winton C. Hoch; Color consultant: Natalie Kalmus (Technicolor Consultant), Henri Jaffa (Associate Technicolor Consultant); Editing: George Amy; Sound: C.A. Riggs (Recording supervisor); Art direction: Ted Smith; Technical consultant: Owen Cathcart-Jones (Squadron Leader); Set decoration: Casey Roberts; Costumes: Howard Shoup; Makeup: Perc Westmore; Music: Max Steiner; Musical direction: Leo F. Forbstein; Songs: Harold Arlen (Title Song); Lyrics: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer (Titel Song); Participation: Frank Clarke (Warner's Chief Pilot); Stunts: Paul Mantz (Stunt Pilot), Harvey Parry

Cast

James Cagney (Brian MacLean); Dennis Morgan (Johnny Dutton); Brenda Marshall (Emily Foster); Alan Hale, Jr. (Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy); George Tobias (Blimp Lebec); Reginald Gardiner (Scrounger Harris); W.A. Bishop (Himself, Air Marshall); Reginald Denny (Commanding Officer); Russell Arms (Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss); Paul Cavanagh (Group Captain); Clem Bevans (Sam 'Store-Teeth' Morrison); J.M. Kerrigan (Foster, Emily's Father); J. Farrel MacDonald (Dr. Neville from Churchtown); Patrick O'Moore (Fyffo); Morton Lowry (Carmichael); Owen Cathcart-Jones (Flying Instructor); Frederick Worlock (President of Court Martial); Roland Drew (Officer); Lucia Carroll (Blonde); George Meeker (Playboy); Benny Baker (Popcorn Kearns, Brush Pilot); Hardie Albright (Kingsley); Ray Walker (Mason); Charles Halton (Superintendant Noland, Port Wilson Mining); Louis Jean Heydt (Provost Marshal); Byron Barr (Student Pilot); Tod Andrews (als: Michael Ames) (Student Pilot); Willie Fung (Willie); Carl Harbord (Blake); Gig Young (als: Byron Barr) (Student Pilot); Anthony Marsh (Officer); James Stevens (Indian); Billy Wilkerson (Indian); Frank Lackteen (Indian at Foster's); Edward McNamara (Dog Man); Charles Smith (Chateau Laurier Bellboy, Ottawa); Emmett Vogan (Chateau Laurier Desk Clerk); Miles Mander (Winston S. Churchill's Voice); Pat Flaherty (Drill Sergeant); George Offerman, Jr. (Mechanic); Tom Dugan (Bartender); Gavin Muir (Orderly); Sam Ault (Texan); [Herr] Green (Squadron Leader); [Herr] Brian (Wing Commander); [Herr] Evans (Flying Officer); Gerald Fielding (Holt); John Gallaudet (Colby); John Hartley (Cranbrook); Tony Hughes (Hunter); James Bush (Sergeant Pilot); Barry Bernard (Gilbert); Ellis Irving (Chief Ground Instructor); Lane Allan (Canadian); Charles de Ravenne (French Canadian); Leslie Denison (Flight Lieutenant); Winifred Harris (Woman); Harry Lewis (Burton); Herbert Gunn (Aircraftsman); John Kellogg (Aircraftsman Lawrence); Ray Montgomery (Aircraftsman Hodges); Charles Irwin (Chief Ground Instructor); P.G. Abercrombie (Flying Instructor); Will Morgan (Flying Instructor); Larry Williams (Duty Officer); Walter Brooke (Duty Officer); Donald Dillaway (Instructor); James Craven (Instructor); George Ovey (News Vendor); [Herr] Spratt (Sergeant-Major); Dave Duncan (Sergeant-Major); Rafael Storm (Playboy); Billy Wayne (Mechanic); Frank Wilcox (Adjutant); [Herr] Willis (Liaison Officer); Tom Hamilton; Joe Carr; Jack Hyde

Length

3113,5 m / 113'48''

Format

35mm/farbe (Technicolor)/1:1,37

Dates

- 00 Jul 1941-00 Oct 1941: Shooting period
- 12 Feb 1942: Premiere, New York, NY
- 21 Feb 1942: US release date
- 21 Feb 1942: Copyright LP11086

Further Remarks

- Tonsystem: RCA
- Außenaufnahmen: North Bay, Ontario and Canadian RCAF bases. Aircraft: Fleet 16D Finch, Lockheed Hudson, Norduyn Norseman, North American Harvard, Waco Cabin.

Abstract

A group of Canadians in training for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during WWII. Brian MacLean is one of several bush pilots, who is fiercely independent and brash, the kind of guy who swoops in to steal his competition's jobs and women. He is induced into the RCAF and now must adjust to a team effort. Naturally, he rankles at the limitations put on him by military discipline. He washes out of the service but eventually proves himself when, as a civilian pilot ferrying a bomber to England, he crashes his plane into an attacking German squadron.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US)

Bibliography

- , in: Variety, 21.01.1942
- , in: Motion Picture Herald (New York, NY), Vol. 146, Nr. 4, 24.01.1942
- , in: Cinema, Vol.58, Nr. 4684, 11.02.1942
- , in: Kinematograph Weekly (London), Nr. 1817, 12.02.1942
- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987