Captains of the Clouds (1942)
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- Approved
- 1h 54min
- Action, Drama
- 21 Feb 1942 (USA)
- Movie
Inspired by Churchill's Dunkirk speech, brash, undisciplined bush pilot Brian MacLean and three friends enlist in the RCAF but are deemed too old to be fliers.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Cagney | ... |
Brian MacLean
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| Dennis Morgan | ... |
Johnny Dutton
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| Brenda Marshall | ... |
Emily Foster
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| Alan Hale | ... |
Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy
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| George Tobias | ... |
Blimp Lebec
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| Reginald Gardiner | ... |
Scrounger Harris
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W.A. Bishop | ... |
Air Marshal W. A. Bishop
(as Air Marshal W.A. Bishop)
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| Reginald Denny | ... |
Commanding Officer
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| Russell Arms | ... |
Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss
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| Paul Cavanagh | ... |
Group Captain
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| Clem Bevans | ... |
Sam 'Store-Teeth' Morrison
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| J.M. Kerrigan | ... |
Foster
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| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... |
Dr. Neville
(as J. Farrell Macdonald)
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| Patrick O'Moore | ... |
Fyffe
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| Morton Lowry | ... |
Carmichael
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Owen Cathcart-Jones | ... |
Chief Flying Instructor
(as S/L O. Cathcart-Jones)
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| Frederick Worlock | ... |
President of Court-Martial
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| Roland Drew | ... |
Officer
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| Lucia Carroll | ... |
Blonde
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| George Meeker | ... |
Playboy
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| Benny Baker | ... |
Popcorn Kearns
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| Hardie Albright | ... |
Kingsley
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| Ray Walker | ... |
Mason
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| Charles Halton | ... |
Supintendent Nolan
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| Louis Jean Heydt | ... |
Provost Marshal
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| Gig Young | ... |
Student Pilot
(as Byron Barr)
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| Tod Andrews | ... |
Student Pilot
(as Michael Ames)
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| Willie Fung | ... |
Willie
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Carl Harbord | ... |
Blake
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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P.G. Abercrombie | ... |
Flying Instructor (uncredited)
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| Rafael Alcayde | ... |
Playboy (uncredited)
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| Lane Allan | ... |
Canadian (uncredited)
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Sam Ault | ... |
L.A.C. Grove - Texan (uncredited)
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Barry Bernard | ... |
Gilbert (uncredited)
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Wing Commander Brian | ... |
Wing Commander (uncredited)
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| Walter Brooke | ... |
Duty Officer (uncredited)
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| James Bush | ... |
Sergeant Pilot (uncredited)
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Joseph Carr | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| James Craven | ... |
Instructor (uncredited)
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Charles De Ravenne | ... |
French Canadian (uncredited)
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| Leslie Denison | ... |
Flight Lieutenant (uncredited)
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| Don Dillaway | ... |
Instructor (uncredited)
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| Tom Dugan | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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Dave Duncan | ... |
Sergeant-Major (uncredited)
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Flying Officer Evans | ... |
Flying Officer (uncredited)
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Gerald Fielding | ... |
Flight Lt. Holt (uncredited)
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| Pat Flaherty | ... |
Drill Sergeant (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Red Cross Collector (uncredited)
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| John Gallaudet | ... |
Colby (uncredited)
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Squadron Leader Greene | ... |
Squadron Leader (uncredited)
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| Herbert Gunn | ... |
Aircraftsman (uncredited)
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Robert Haines | ... |
Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
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Tom Hamilton | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| Winifred Harris | ... |
Red Cross Collector (uncredited)
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| John Hartley | ... |
Cranbrook (uncredited)
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| Stuart Holmes | ... |
Man Entering Hotel (uncredited)
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J. Anthony Hughes | ... |
Hunter - RCAF Applicant (uncredited)
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Jack Hyde | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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Ellis Irving | ... |
Commanding Officer (uncredited)
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| Charles Irwin | ... |
Chief Ground Instructor (uncredited)
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| John Kellogg | ... |
Aircraftsman Lawrence (uncredited)
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| Frank Lackteen | ... |
Indian at Foster's (uncredited)
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| Harry Lewis | ... |
Mr. Burton - RCAF Applicant (uncredited)
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| Miles Mander | ... |
Winston S. Churchill (uncredited) (voice)
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| Anthony Marsh | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Edward McNamara | ... |
Man Buying Dog Team (uncredited)
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| Harold Miller | ... |
Officer at Court-Martial Board (uncredited)
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| Ray Montgomery | ... |
Aircraftsman Hodges (uncredited)
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Will Morgan | ... |
Flying Instructor (uncredited)
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| Gavin Muir | ... |
Orderly (uncredited)
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| George Offerman Jr. | ... |
Mechanic (uncredited)
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| George Ovey | ... |
News Vendor (uncredited)
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| Henry Rowland | ... |
German Pilot (uncredited)
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Harry Seymour | ... |
Piano Player (uncredited)
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| Charles Smith | ... |
Chateau Laurier Bellboy (uncredited)
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Sergeant-Major Spratt | ... |
Sergeant-Major (uncredited)
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James Stevens | ... |
Indian (uncredited)
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| Emmett Vogan | ... |
Chateau Laurier Desk Clerk (uncredited)
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| Russell Wade | ... |
Flyer in Nightclub (uncredited)
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| Billy Wayne | ... |
Mechanic (uncredited)
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| Frank Wilcox | ... |
Flight Lt. Wood (uncredited)
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| William Wilkerson | ... |
Indian at Foster's (uncredited)
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| Larry Williams | ... |
Duty Officer (uncredited)
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Flying Officer Willis | ... |
Liaison Officer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Curtiz | ||
Written by
| Arthur T. Horman | ... | (story) and |
| Roland Gillett | ... | (story) |
| Arthur T. Horman | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Richard Macaulay | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Norman Reilly Raine | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| William Cagney | ... | associate producer |
| Hal B. Wallis | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Max Steiner | ||
Cinematography by
| Wilfrid M. Cline | ... | director of photography |
| Sol Polito | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| George Amy | ||
Editorial Department
| Henri Jaffa | ... | associate color director: Technicolor |
| Natalie Kalmus | ... | color director: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Ted Smith | ||
Costume Design by
| Howard Shoup | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Perc Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Frank Heath | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| C.A. Riggs | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Byron Haskin | ... | special effects |
| Rex Wimpy | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Paul Mantz | ... | stunt pilot (uncredited) |
| Harvey Parry | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Elmer Dyer | ... | aerial photographer |
| Winton C. Hoch | ... | aerial photographer |
| Charles A. Marshall | ... | aerial photographer (as Charles Marshall) |
Music Department
| Leo F. Forbstein | ... | musical director |
| Hugo Friedhofer | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Owen Cathcart-Jones | ... | technical advisor (as Squadron Leader O. Cathcart-Jones) |
| Frank Clarke | ... | chief pilot: Warner Bros. |
| Hugh MacMullan | ... | dialogue director |
| Sterling Campbell | ... | production advisor: Halifax (uncredited) |
Thanks
| W.A. Bishop | ... | thanks (as Air Marshal Bishop) |
| L.S. Breadner | ... | sincere appreciation: Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Canadian Air Force (as Air Marshal L.S. Breadner) |
| C.G. Power | ... | sincere appreciation: Minister of National Defence for Air, Canada (as Major the Honorable C.G. Power) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1942) (United States) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
- Warner Bros. (1942) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1943) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1947) (France) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (VHS)
- Warner Archive Collection (2022) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Brian McLean is a ruthless bush-pilot in Canada. He offers some other pilots an opportunity of earning a lot of money, but he marries the girl-friend of one of them. After listening to Churchill's famous "Blood, Sweat and tears" radio address he and some other pilots decide to join the RCAF - and his superior is always the pilot who's girlfriend he has married. Due to this and the fact, that McLean doesn't like to obey he gets troubles.
Written by Stephan Eichenberg |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | At last! The screen tells the story of Canada's Heroic Birdmen...The Pilots of the RCAF. Packed with power...loaded with thrills...the story of the men who fly against the Luftwaffe...for Canada. (Print Ad- Walker County Messenger, ((LaFayette, Ga.)) 16 April 1942) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,770,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This was the first Hollywood picture to be filmed entirely on location in Canada. See more » |
| Goofs | At 00:31:00, the blurry image of an insect can be seen walking across the lens right to left. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Desperate Search (1952). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Captains of the Clouds See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Sincere appreciation is expressed to Major the Honorable C.G. Power P.C., M.C., Minister of National Defence for Air (Canada) and to Air Marshal L.S. Breadner D.S.C., Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Canadian Air Force, without whose authority and generous co-operation this picture would not have been brought to its splendid conclusion. We also wish to express our thanks to Air Marshal Bishop, V.C. and other officers and men of the R.C.A.F. who, in the making of the picture, are portrayed in the actual performance of their regular duties. See more » |
| Quotes |
Emily Foster:
Hey! What brought you back? Brian MacLean: A whim. Emily Foster: Well you can keep on going. Brian MacLean: Oh you don't know me. I have a whim of iron! See more » |