The Eagle and the Hawk (1933)

You won't be disappointed!

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Cary Grant and Fredric March are brit flyers in the Royal Air Force during WW I. Small part by Carole Lombard. Silly, goofy Jack Oakie is in here as the sidekick. Young (March) is the flyer, and Crocker (Grant) is the photographer. They dislike each other, and it gets worse and worse as time goes by. When Young knocks off a German ace, he drinks heavily and starts to come un-wound. traditional wartime flying film, with some big names. Unsatisfying ending for me. Too many plot-holes, but i won't get into details here. Good to see the big names, but the final scene didn't really work. Pretty good up until that point. Directed by Stuart Walker. He only directed twelve films in the 1930s, and this was right in the middle of the bunch. great to see the big names, but mehhhh.

Fredric March, Cary Grant, Jack Oakie play three disparate pilots serving in WW 1 France: March is a conscious-stricken ace who is beginning to crack, Grant is a glory-hunting pragmatist who justifies shooting at bailed-out German airmen, and Oakie is a cheerful bon-vivant who is just doing his job between hot baths and fine cheeses. The pre-code film includes a brief appearance by Carole Lombard (simply billed as "The Beautiful Lady"), a nameless flirt with whom March has a brief affair while on leave in London. Much of the film contrasts March, who is burdened with guilt about the men he has killed or were killed while serving with him (he pilots a 2-man observation plane), with both his fellow airman who celebrate the war and with civilians who have a macabre fascination with the killing (the encounter between March and a 'gung-ho' young boy is excellent). The aerial footage is not bad (although most of the planes are not period-correct) and some of the scenes are somewhat contrived (e.g. shot pilots managing to land their plans before dramatically expiring). The abrupt ending, while a bit implausible, is powerful and unexpected. All-in-all, an entertaining (albeit aesthetically dated), unsubtle plea for peace from the interwar years.

Powerful anti war movie - the scenes with Frederic March in particular and Cary Grant are quite intense and grim, but there is some relief to counter balance this aspect of the movie in the characters played by Jack Oakie (comic) and Carole Lombard (sympathy).As another person has noted this was really directed by Mitchell Leisen. who is credited as assistant director. This was his second movie (after Tonight is Ours, also with March in it) and he does a fine job. It shows what a versatile director he was, considering he made him his name later with romance / comedy type movies like Midnight.It was done pre code but re-released in 1939 with some editing that apparently lessens its impact (I have only seen the edited version). These are referred to in the book Mitchell Leisen Hollywood Director. The scenes with Carole Lombard are longer and imply a sexual relationship afterwards. Cary Grant survives the war but is a broken man. Would love to see the original (please let me know if anyone has it). If the edited parts are still available this movie would warrant a restoration to its original vision. A DVD release along these lines would be most welcome.

I wasn't expecting much when i watched this, maybe something like the dawn patrol. Fredric March is excellent in this movie and cary grant is ok. Carole Lombard is only in one scene, and i had never heard of the director before. Watch it if you like these kind of movies.