Flight Command (1940): cast, story & where to watch
1940 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1940, Flight Command is a drama and war film directed by Frank Borzage, running about 116 minutes. “T-H-R-I-L-L AMERICA! Here come The Flying "HELL CATS"!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A rookie flyer, Ens. Alan Drake, joins the famous Hellcats Squadron right out of flight school in Pensacola. He doesn't make a great first impression when he is forced to ditch his airplane and parachute to safety when he arrives at the base but is unable to land due to heavy fog. On his first day on the job, his poor shooting skills results in the Hellcats losing an air combat competition. His fellow pilots accept him anyways but they think he's crossed the line when they erroneously conclude that while their CO Billy Gray is away, Drake has an affair with his wife Lorna. Drake is now an outcast and is prepared to resign from the Navy but his extreme heroism in saving Billy Gray's life turns things around.
Who’s in it. Flight Command stars Robert Taylor as Ens. Alan Drake, Ruth Hussey as Lorna Gray, Walter Pidgeon as Squadron Commander Billy Gary and Paul Kelly as Lieut. Cmdr. 'Dusty' Rhodes, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Flight Command has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Flight Command page.
If you liked it. Fans of Flight Command tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Flight Command (1940)?
- In US, Flight Command is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Flight Command worth watching?
- Flight Command holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Flight Command?
- Flight Command stars Robert Taylor, Ruth Hussey, Walter Pidgeon, Paul Kelly and Shepperd Strudwick.
- When was Flight Command released?
- Flight Command was released in 1940, with a runtime of about 116 minutes.