Dive Bomber (1941)
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51% of users liked it
(322 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
- Directed By
- Michael Curtiz
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 12, 1941 Wide
- On DVD
- Mar 27, 2007
- Studio
- WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Though well-crafted, it seems more geared for aviation buffs than a general audience.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Errol Flynn
as Lieutenant Doug Lee
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Fred MacMurray
as Cmdr. Joe Blake
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Ralph Bellamy
as Dr. Lance Rogers
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Herbert Anderson
as Chubby
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Louis Jean Heydt
as Swede Larson
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Craig Stevens
as John Thomas Anthony
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Robert Armstrong
as Art Lyons
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Garrett Craig
as Pilot
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Charles Drake
as Pilot
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Allen Jenkins
as 'Lucky Dice'
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Addison Richards
as Senior Flight Surgeon
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Moroni Olsen
as Senior Flight Surgeon
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Cliff Nazarro
as Corps Man
- James Anderson
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Tod Andrews
as Telephone Man
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Ann Doran
as Helen
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William Forrest
as Commander
- Sol (Saul) Gorss
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Creighton Hale
as Hospital Attendant
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Howard Hickman
as Admiral
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Russell Hicks
as Admiral
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Max Hoffman Jr.
as Squadron C.O.
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William Hopper
as Pilot
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Harry Lewis
as Flag Man
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Alexander Lockwood
as Squadron Commander
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George Meeker
as Commander
- David Newell
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Wedgewood Nowell
as General
- Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton
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Jane Randolph
as Singer
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Walter Sande
as Blue Jacket
- Tom Seidel
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Alexis Smith
as Linda Fisher
- Stanley Smith
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Alice Talton
as Girl at Newsstand
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Regis Toomey
as Tim Griffin
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Richard Travis
as Commanding Officer
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Don Turner
as Pilot
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Larry Williams
as Pilot
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Charlotte Wynters
as Hostess
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Gig Young
as Pilot
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Alan Hale Jr.
as Pilot
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Tom Dugan
as Corps Man
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Owen King
as Radio Man
- Lyle Moraine
- Tom Skinner
- Garland Smith
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Juanita Stark
as Cigarette Girl
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Dennie Moore
as Mrs. James
- Fred Mac Murray
