The Dawn Patrol (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1938, The Dawn Patrol is an action, drama and war film directed by Edmund Goulding, running about 103 minutes. “They roared through the dawn... with death on their wings!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In 1915 France, Major Brand commands the 39th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The young airmen go up in bullet-riddled "crates" and the casualty rate is appalling, but Brand can't make the "brass hats" at headquarters see reason. Insubordinate air ace Captain Courtney is another thorn in Brand's side...but finds the smile wiped from his face when he rises to command the squadron himself. Everyone keeps a stiff upper lip.
Who’s in it. The Dawn Patrol stars Errol Flynn as Capt. Courtney, Basil Rathbone as Maj. Brand, David Niven as Lt. Scott and Donald Crisp as Phipps, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Dawn Patrol has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Dawn Patrol page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Dawn Patrol tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Dawn Patrol (1938)?
- In US, The Dawn Patrol is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Dawn Patrol worth watching?
- The Dawn Patrol holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Dawn Patrol?
- The Dawn Patrol stars Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven, Donald Crisp and Melville Cooper.
- When was The Dawn Patrol released?
- The Dawn Patrol was released in 1938, with a runtime of about 103 minutes.