Dive Bomber (1941)

50% of users liked it
(311 ratings)

Lieutenant Commander Joe Blake (Fred MacMurray), Lt. Tim Griffin (Regis Toomey), and Lt. Swede Larson (Louis Jean Heydt) are longtime US Navy flying buddies, about to be transferred to different posts when Larson suffers a blackout during high-altitude maneuvers and cracks up. Navy doctor Douglas… More Lieutenant Commander Joe Blake (Fred MacMurray), Lt. Tim Griffin (Regis Toomey), and Lt. Swede Larson (Louis Jean Heydt) are longtime US Navy flying buddies, about to be transferred to different posts when Larson suffers a blackout during high-altitude maneuvers and cracks up. Navy doctor Douglas Lee (Errol Flynn) insists on trying to save him with an immediate operation, and the mortally injured pilot dies on the table. This sets the stage for a long, lingering, and bitter hatred between Blake and Lee -- which is only exacerbated when Lee chooses to become a flight surgeon so he can help to find a solution to the problem of high altitude blackout. Lee is assigned to medical research with Lt. Cdr. Lance Rogers (Ralph Bellamy), a flight surgeon whose dedication to high-altitude research has left him unfit for further flying. Their work proceeds through small triumphs and terrible tragedy, and Lee and Blake keep crossing paths, unwillingly -- they not only don't like each other personally, but end up competing for the attentions of the same woman (Alexis Smith) at one point. But they're forced to work together for the good of the service, even after Lee grounds Tim Griffin as medically unfit to keep flying. A fresh tragedy shows Blake that Lee has always been looking out for the best interests of the pilots, and they begin working together in earnest, at last. Blake pushes his piloting skills to their limit and beyond, and he soon finds a purpose and dedication that he's never known before -- and then he learns that he may have to be grounded because of his own deteriorating medical condition. While Lee frets over having to give the news to his friend, the only question for Blake is whether he will be able to see the final test of Lee's high-altitude pressure suit through to the end. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 12, 1941 Wide
On DVD: Mar 27, 2007

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Though well-crafted, it seems more geared for aviation buffs than a general audience.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Cast

            Errol Flynn as Lieutenant Doug Lee

            Fred MacMurray as Cmdr. Joe Blake

            Ralph Bellamy as Dr. Lance Rogers

            Herbert Anderson as Chubby

            Louis Jean Heydt as Swede Larson

            Craig Stevens as John Thomas Anthony

            Robert Armstrong as Art Lyons

            Garrett Craig as Pilot

            Charles Drake as Pilot

            Allen Jenkins as 'Lucky Dice'

            Addison Richards as Senior Flight Surgeon

            Moroni Olsen as Senior Flight Surgeon

            Cliff Nazarro as Corps Man

            James Anderson
            
            Tod Andrews as Telephone Man

            Ann Doran as Helen

            William Forrest as Commander

            Sol (Saul) Gorss
            
            Creighton Hale as Hospital Attendant

            Howard Hickman as Admiral

            Russell Hicks as Admiral

            Max Hoffman Jr. as Squadron C.O.

            William Hopper as Pilot

            Harry Lewis as Flag Man

            Alexander Lockwood as Squadron Commander

            George Meeker as Commander

            David Newell
            
            Wedgewood Nowell as General

            Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton
            
            Jane Randolph as Singer

            Walter Sande as Blue Jacket

            Tom Seidel
            
            Alexis Smith as Linda Fisher

            Stanley Smith
            
            Alice Talton as Girl at Newsstand

            Regis Toomey as Tim Griffin

            Richard Travis as Commanding Officer

            Don Turner as Pilot

            Larry Williams as Pilot

            Charlotte Wynters as Hostess

            Gig Young as Pilot

            Alan Hale Jr. as Pilot

            Tom Dugan as Corps Man

            Owen King as Radio Man

            Lyle Moraine
            
            Tom Skinner
            
            Garland Smith
            
            Juanita Stark as Cigarette Girl

            Dennie Moore as Mrs. James

            Fred Mac Murray
            
See full cast

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