DIVE BOMBER
US, 1941, 132 minutes. Colour.
Errol Flynn, Fred Mac Murray, Ralph Bellamy, Alexis Smith, Robert Armstrong, Regis Toomey, Allen Jenkins, Craig Stevens, Moroni Olsen, Louis Jean Heydt.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Audiences looking at Dive Bomber in later years would imagine that it was made as America entered World War Two after Pearl Harbour. In fact, it was made and released before the bombing of Pearl Harbour.
The film was written by Frank Wead, former navy man who encouraged the American government in its development of aviation after World War One. He wrote a number of screenplays, sometimes focusing on aviation including I Wanted Wings, They Were Expendable, The Beginning of the End. He was the subject of John Ford’s biography, The Wings of Eagles, 1957, with John Wayne, Maureen O’ Hara and Dan Dailey.
One of the significant features of this film is its colour photography, its portrayal of test flights, especially over San Diego and southern California. The use of Technicolor and the highlighting of the technology at the time of its development is quite striking. In this way it contributes to popular understanding of the development of aviation and the preparation of the dive bombers for action in World War Two, especially in the Pacific.
Fred Mac Murray plays a pilot, the kind of role that Errol Flynn usually played. However, Errol Flynn plays a doctor who becomes a test for the development of a suit to cope with the altitudes and the sudden descents in dive bombing. Ralph Bellamy is also a doctor and an officer. There was a light romantic rivalry with Alexis Smith (who met her future husband of many decades, Craig Stevens, during the filming).
The film is conventional in many ways. However, it is important in movie history of war films and aviation. It was directed by the prolific Michael Curtiz who directed Errol Flynn in many films including Captain Blood, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Virginia City and The Sea Hawk. Curtiz was soon to win an Oscar for directing Casablanca.
1. The significance of the film in portraying American aviation history? Filmed before the attack on Pearl Harbour? The US military, navy, air force? The status in 1940-41?
2. The production values, entertainment and propaganda? The contribution of Frank Wead? His experience in the field? The work of Michael Curtiz? The colour photography? The cooperation of the authorities? Musical score?
3. A film of personalities, the tests, the trials, the clash of personalities, rivalry in love?
4. The stars, their status – and the effect of the reversed kind of roles for Fred MacMurray? and Errol Flynn?
5. The dive bombers, their capacities? The Technicolor photography, the aerial sequences? The diving? Aeronautics, the pilots, their skills, the dives the blackouts? The development of the suits and the medical background for such aviation? The musical score giving moods for each of the characters, for the drama?
6. The details of flight, daredevil and daring? Blackouts? Risks? Skills and success? Deaths?
7. The navy, the USS Enterprise – and its future involvement in World War Two?
8. The expected dialogue, characterisations? The doctors, the staff, the technical experts? Rivalry? The comic relief?
9. Errol Flynn and his screen presence, his look, the way he spoke? Medical? The flights? The risks, his skills? People not liking him? His studies? The impact of the deaths? The various clashes? With Joe Blake? With Lance Rogers? The relationship with Linda? His being proved right at the end?
10. Joe Blake, character, serious, flights, skills, the clash with Doug Lee, the collaboration, morale?
11. Lance Rogers, his role in flight, medicine? Tests? With Doug? Their clashes? Collaboration?
12. Linda Fisher, her relationship with the two men? The military background? The light touch romance?
13. How well did the film work as a drama, the tests, success? Propaganda as America moved into World War Two?
