Year of Release: 1941Country of Origin: USA
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy, Herbert Anderson
Plot outline: A team of flight surgeons fights to prevent bomber pilots from blacking out (IMDb).
Filmed just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dive Bomber is dedicated to flight surgeons who are obsessed with finding the cure for pilot "blackout" and how to deal with altitude sickness. Though well-crafted, it seems more geared for aviation buffs than a general audience. Michael Curtiz helms it as an action pic, adding the obligatory subplot of a military romance. The movie stays on course when dealing with aviation issues, but when it tacks on a tepid romance story involving Linda Fisher (Alexis Smith), who is pursued by both Lee (Errol Flynn) and Blake (Fred MacMurray), the romance story seems to go nowhere. What was even more obnoxious was the lame comic relief offered by Lee's aide-de-camp "Lucky" James (Allen Jenkins) dodging his wife on payday. It all leads to the final test of Lee's high-altitude pressure suit. It remains impressive, even today, for its superior aerial footage (filmed aboard the USS Enterprise, who objected but were overruled by the Secretary of the Navy). Otherwise it takes a nose dive into drab Hollywood melodramatic waters. (DS)
My judgement: **1/2 out of 4 stars
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