Los diablos del aire

Standard service triangle film centered around the United States Marine Corp (U.S.M.C.) and its Aviator training program, circa 1935. Warner Brothers (WB) standby director Lloyd Bacon provides his usual workmen like effort in another air oriented screenplay by John Monk Saunders. If it is in the 'air' either Saunders or Frank 'Spig' Wead was going to have a hand in it. Their plots are so similar as to be interchangeable.

The Nuts; Lieut. Bill Brannigan (Pat O'Brien) invites friend and hotshot pilot Tommy O'Toole (James Cagney) to join the U.S.M.C. Reserve Aviator training program. O'Toole arrives and promptly starts to move in on Brannigans main squeeze, Betty Roberts (Margaret Lindsay) and get under everybody else's skin. Usual competition in the air and for the attentions of Betty with a predictable conclusion.

The film featured the usual complement of the WBs contract players all who do a competent job. Except, Frank McHugh, who normally provides light comedy relief. In this film though he was way over the top and irritating, so bad that you wanted him to walk into a propeller (rotating). O'Brien also seemed too earnest, shouting most of his lines while Cagney was a little to coy. Margaret Lindsay a attractive and competent actress made the most her role. Ms. Lindsay by her own admission only took her career as seriously as it needed to be without the drive of Crawford, Davis, De Havilland or Stanwyck.

The best part of the film had little to do with the principals, but actual maneuvers (wargames) by the United States Navy (U.S.N.) and the U.S.M.C. In the film the U.S.N. represented the BLUE Force (true) while the enemy was BROWN Force (misnomer). Those familiar with WAR PLAN ORANGE know that the BROWN Force was actual ORANGE, Imperial Japan. The ORANGE (and other) war plans were a series of studies initiated by Theodore Roosevelt when he was Under Secretary of the Navy. They were continuously gamed and updated to reflect changing requirements and technology, up to their absorption by RAINBOW FIVE, war on a global scale. Watching the filmed maneuvers you can easily pick up on what the U.S.N. was doing and how it applies even today. For more detailed knowledge consult WAR PLAN ORANGE: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan 1897-1945 by Edward S. Miller.

The real founders of the buddy film James Cagney and Pat O'Brien after making their debut in Here Comes the Navy essentially reprise their roles in Devil Dogs of the Air for the Marines.

O'Brien is the no-nonsense flight instructor for the Marines who's written to an old Brooklyn pal James Cagney urging him to join the Corps. Cagney is a circus flier who pretty much knows the flying game inside out.

But he's Cagney and of course he KNOWS he knows it. That does not make for good discipline. But it does make for good raffish, knockabout comedy that Cagney/O'Brien films are known for. Of course there's a girl involved, in this case Margaret Lindsay. Need I say who she winds up with.

The only jarring note in this film is Frank McHugh. During the hey day of the studios, I think Warner Brothers was incapable of making a film without either Frank McHugh or Alan Hale. I usually enjoy Frank McHugh, but in this film he's downright annoying. He's in the medical corps and frustrated because he feels his training is being wasted because no one is ever injured in a crash or otherwise. McHugh is positively ghoulish in awaiting some accident to befall SOMEONE in the film.

However James Cagney is his usual cocksure and charming best and that carried a lot of Warner Brothers films to profit. We the audience profit also by that bouncy Cagney charm.

This movie was directed by Lloyd Bacon and stars James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. This is probably one of Cagney's worst pictures and also one of the worst Cagney and O'Brien made together with the exception of The Irish In Us. Just a year later Cagney and O'Brien would go on to make Ceiling Zero with Howard Hawks which is a much better movie and you should watch that one instead. There isn't much to the plot like Cagney wanting to join the marines and winds up having to learn how to fly by his old friend O'Brien who is a Lieutenant. O'Brien is engaged to Margaret Lindsay but even after Cagney finds out he doesn't even care and still goes after her. There isn't much to the movie and you should watch one of Cagney's better movies instead.

So far, I have to agree with what each of the four previous reviewers said, meaning some good, some bad.

THE BAD - Not much of a story.....supporting actor Frank McHugh in an annoying role (annoying with his singing the same stupid song after every sentence)......James Cagney with a laugh that gets annoying after awhile.....a weak romantic angle....showing "training exercises" as part of the climactic scene was somewhat interesting but provided no drama if these fliers were facing an enemy at war......Pat O'Brien an unrealistically too good a sport at the end. (He proposes to Lindsay who turns him down and then incredulously asks, "I didn't hurt your feelings did I?" duh... And he answers something like, "No, it''s okay." Yeah, right!

THE GOOD - The same cocky Cagney character who is always entertaining, always elevating a film...Some wonderful aerial shots and stunt flying in some terrific-looking bi-planes......... Margaret Lindsay's wisecracks and pretty face....Two dramatic scenes with Cagney trying to land a damaged plane.

Summary; So-so entertainment, more if you are an airplane enthusiast or a Cagney fan (which I am) but certainly on the lower of echelon of his films.

Devil Dogs of the Air (1935)

*** (out of 4)

James Cagney and Pat o'Brien stars in this Warner drama about two Marine pilots who start out as friends but soon turn to enemies when they fall for the same woman (Margaret Lindsay). I had recorded this thing back in March but just now got around to watching it because I thought it would be your typical pilot movie and it pretty much is but there's still a lot going for the film. The star of the film is without a doubt all the flying shots, some of which are just downright terrific including a great scene where Cagney and O'Brien are on a plane, which catches fire. Cagney is his usual great self, although the I think the screenplay makes him too much of a wise guy because you really dislike this guy even though that wasn't the films intent.