''Devil Dogs of the Air'' (a.k.a. ''Flying Marines'') is a 1935

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

film, directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring James Cagney and

Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien may refer to: Politicians * Pat O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1948), member of the Canadian House of Commons *Pat O'Brien (Irish politician) (c. 1847–1917), Irish Nationalist MP in the United Kingdom Parliament Others *Pat O'Br ...

, playing similar roles as close friends after making their debut as a "buddy team" in ''

Here Comes the Navy ''Here Comes the Navy'' (also known as ''Hey, Sailor'') is a 1934 American romantic comedy film written by Earl Baldwin and Ben Markson and directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film stars James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Gloria Stuart and Frank McHugh. Stuar ...

''. ''Devil Dogs of the Air'' was the second of nine features that James Cagney and Pat O'Brien made together. The film's storyline was adapted from a novel by

John Monk Saunders John Monk Saunders (November 22, 1897 – March 11, 1940) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and film director. Early life and career Born in Hinckley, Minnesota, to Robert C. Saunders and Nannie Monk Saunders, his family (6 children) move ...

Plot

Lieut. Bill Brannigan (

) learns friend and hotshot pilot Thomas Jefferson "Tommy" O'Toole ( James Cagney), the self-styled "world's greatest aviator", is joining the USMC Reserve Aviator training program. O'Toole arrives at

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

and promptly starts to move in on Brannigan's love interest, Betty Roberts (

Margaret Lindsay Margaret Lindsay (born Margaret Kies; September 19, 1910 – May 9, 1981) was an American film actress. Her time as a Warner Bros. contract player during the 1930s was particularly productive. She was noted for her supporting work in successf ...

), the daughter of the owner of the nearby Happy Landings Cafe. In typical cocky fashion, O'Toole antagonizes nearly everyone else. Although not temperamentally suited for the military, Tommy completes primary training and after surviving an accident he caused by running out of fuel, eventually realizes that he is willing to change. Bill is assigned as his instructor, and on the first flight together, when Tommy begins to do some stunt flying, the aircraft has to be abandoned when it catches on fire. Bill bales out, but Tommy defies orders and lands the aircraft, making him a hero. Tommy performs his first solo flight perfectly and then browbeats Betty into attending the solo flight party with him. Bill is not amused. After a competition in the air with his friend Brannigan flying together, a midair emergency takes place, but it is Bill who saves the aircraft. Tommy makes a good landing, and finds Betty waiting for him. Although their friendship is restored, Bill realizes that Tommy has won Betty and arranges a transfer to another base.

Cast

* James Cagney as Thomas Jefferson "Tommy" O'Toole *

as Lieut. William R. "Bill" Brannigan *

as Betty Roberts *

Frank McHugh Francis Curry McHugh (May 23, 1898 – September 11, 1981) was an American stage, radio, film and television actor. Early years Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents, Edward A ...

as "Crash" Kelly *

John Arledge Johnson Lundy Arledge (March 12, 1907 – May 15, 1947) was an American film and stage actor. Biography He played dozens of supporting roles in the Hollywood movies of the 1930s–1940s, including the tractor driver who destroys a house in ''Th ...

as "Mac" Macintosh *

Helen Lowell Helen Lowell born Helen Lowell Robb (1866–1937) was an American stage and film actress. Life Lowell was born in New York on June 2, 1866, to William and Mary Robb. In 1884 she debuted in the title role of Iolanthe at the Academy of Music in N ...

as Ma Roberts *

Robert Barrat Robert Harriot Barrat (July 10, 1891 – January 7, 1970) was an American stage, motion picture, and television character actor. Early years Barratt was born on July 10, 1891, in New York City and was educated in the public schools there. He ...

as Commandant * Russell Hicks as Captain * William B. Davidson (as William Davidson) as Adjutant, a captain * Ward Bond as Jimmy, senior instructor * Bill Elliott (as Gordon Elliott) as Instructor * Olive Jones as Mrs. Brown * David Newell as Lieut. Brown * Helen Flint as Mrs. Johnson * Harry Seymour as Officer * Newton House as Officer * Ralph Nye as Officer * Selmer Jackson as Officer * Bill Beggs as Officer * Robert Spencer as Bob * Bud Flanagan as Student * Don Turner as Student * Dick French as Student * Charles Sherlock as Student * Carlyle Blackwell Jr.as Messenger

Production

Principal photography starting on October 1, 1934, was based at the US Naval Base San Diego.

Paul Mantz Albert Paul Mantz (August 2, 1903 – July 8, 1965) was a noted air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races. Early years Ma ...

did the aerial stunts for Cagney. One of the featured squadrons stationed there,

Marine Attack Squadron 231 Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of AV-8B Harrier (V/STOL) jets. The squadron, known as the "Ace of Spades", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North ...

(VMA-231) after returning to San Diego in 1928, had traded in its

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

-era O2B-1s for new Curtiss F8C-1s and F8C-3s, which were soon redesignated OC-1s and OC-2s. Equipped with Vought O3U-6 Corsairs, the squadron continued to operate from San Diego and participated in the annual Fleet Problems, operating from the carriers , , and at different times. Shortly after receiving the F8C/OCs, the squadron, along with VO-10M took part in the filming of the 1929 movie ''

Flight Flight or flying is the process by which an object moves through a space without contacting any planetary surface, either within an atmosphere (i.e. air flight or aviation) or through the vacuum of outer space (i.e. spaceflight). This can be a ...

'' and later, prominently appeared in the ''Devil Dogs of the Air''. The rare U.S. Marine Corps Curtiss RC-1 air ambulance, ''A-8864'', made an appearance in the film. Other unusual types that appear in the film include: *

Loening Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation was founded 1917 by Grover Loening and Henry M. Crane produced early aircraft and amphibious aircraft beginning in 1917. When it merged with Keystone Aircraft Corporation in 1928, some of its enginee ...

OL-8 two-seat amphibian biplane *

Travel Air The Travel Air Manufacturing Company was an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas, United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman. History The company initially built a series of sporting and tr ...

D-4000 civilian stunt biplane *

Vought O2U Corsair The Vought O2U Corsair was a 1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft. Developed by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy (USN) in 1927. Powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, it inco ...

two-seat scout biplane *

Boeing F4B The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...

single-seat pursuit biplane * Ford Trimotor multi-passenger transport *

Douglas Dolphin The Douglas Dolphin is an American amphibious flying boat. While only 58 were built, they served a wide variety of roles including private air yacht, airliner, military transport, and search and rescue. Design and development The Dolphin origin ...

Brooks, Marcus
"Aviation Movie: Devil Dogs of the Air."
''Area 42'', December 13, 2010. Retrieved: March 20, 2011. Maneuvers (wargames) by the United States Navy and the USMC are the actual "stars" of the movie. In the film, the USN represented the BLUE Force while the enemy was the BROWN Force.

Reception

Released in an era of patriotic films with overt propaganda themes that set the scene for war preparations, ''Devil Dogs of the Air'' received a mildly appreciative public acceptance. Although it had a major release in 1935, the film was re-released in 1941, just before America's entry into World War II, again finding a receptive audience. Critic

Leonard Maltin Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic and film historian, as well as an author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives. He is perhaps best known for his book of fi ...

described it as a "tiresome potboiler with Marine Air Corps rivalry between Cagney and O'Brien. Their personalities and good stunt-flying scenes are the only saving grace.""Review: 'Devil Dogs of the Air'."
''TCM'', 2019. Retrieved: March 20, 2011. Mainly considered hackneyed, it was best considered an aviation film and today, represents an authentic look at the period.

Box Office

According to Warner Bros records, ''Devil Dogs of the Air'' earned $1,185,000 domestically and $504,000 foreign.

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* Dolan, Edward F. Jr. ''Hollywood Goes to War''. London: Bison Books, 1985. . * Hardwick, Jack and Ed Schnepf. "A Viewer's Guide to Aviation Movies". ''The Making of the Great Aviation Films'', General Aviation Series, Volume 2, 1989. * Orriss, Bruce. ''When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War II''. Hawthorne, California: Aero Associates Inc., 1984. . * Rottman, Gordon L. ''U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939 - 1945.''. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. . * Sherrod, Robert. ''History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II''. Washington, D.C.: Combat Forces Press, 1952.

External links

*
Turner Classic Movies: ''Devil Dogs of the Air''
* {{Amg movie, 13497 American aviation films 1935 films Films directed by Lloyd Bacon Warner Bros. films Films about the United States Marine Corps American action comedy-drama films 1930s action comedy-drama films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films