The Eagle and The Hawk

[nogalesace]

I saw there was a brief thread about this movie several years ago. I was channel surfing on Direct TV and ran across this on TCM. I'm fairly familiar with most WWI movies but had never heard of this one. Since I'm a Cary Grant fan, I figured I'd give it a look.

It was pretty good, from a psych point of view as March spirals down while his observers get whacked and his victory total rises. The ending was poignant with his adversarial rival - Grant - taking him up one last time so all would know he died a hero....

Carole Lombard is easy on the eyes as well.

[sator]

I have that old movie on VCR, it,s not bad.

[Gregvan]

One of my favorites! As I've noted before, one of the script writers was Bogart Rogers, a bona fide Yank ace in the RAF, who flew SE5's in No. 32 Sqdn. He'd met James T.B. McCudden during training (and greatly admired him), and he'd obviously read McCudden's book. He managed to work both "Green tail" and "Voss" into the script...

One of the few classic 1930's WWI movies that features RFC two-seater operations, with the importance of recon photography mentioned. The two modified DH4's that were used in the flick were painted up in a bizarre camouflage color scheme, with an American-French style squadron insignia of a grim reaper (appropriate to the tone of the film, though).


Fredric March and his antagonistic observer, Cary Grant


The costumes and flying gear seem to be pretty accurate, though.


The script never really explains how three Americans came to be in the same RFC squadron, but that's OK.


There were some Tommy Morse scouts used as set dressing, and some of the flying footage was lifted from older films (as was often the case). The American ace Oliver "Boots" Le Boutillier ( of No. 209 Sqdn)was one of the movie pilots who flew for the film.

[nogalesace]

Nice factoids and photos. Thanks, Greg!

[Tom_Cervo]

https://kansaspress.ku.edu/978-0-7006-2143-9.html
Rogers also had a definite flair for writing, one that launched his postwar career as a journalist and screenwriter in Hollywood. The letters in this volume are a striking testament to that skill. Lucid, reflective, highly articulate, and touched with flashes of humor, they illuminate the challenges of aviation training, daily life at the aerodromes, the liberating wonders of flight, and the sobering truths of a devastating war. They also reflect Rogers's constant longing for his future bride "Izzy" (who celebrates her 99th birthday in 1996).

[Gregvan]

Yes, Tom Cervo - that's one of my favorite books!! I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks for pointing that out.
Greg

[Tom_Cervo]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Yes, Tom Cervo - that's one of my favorite books!! I'd recommend it to anyone. Thanks for pointing that out.
Greg

I'd seen the movie; the book--Rogers' letters and diaries--included the parts about the stress and breakdowns among fellow pilots, something rare in those films.

[Barrett]

Been many years since I saw E&H but concur with Greg & Co. that it's worthwhile. Only glitch I remember after so long is that on The Final Sortie, Grant starts the engine from the rear pit, though of course starting from the front pit also woulda been um challenging.