Captains of the Clouds
So full of spectacle and glory it had to be made in Technicolor!
1942 | 114m | English
Popularity: 5 (history)
| Director: | Michael Curtiz |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Norman Reilly Raine, Arthur T. Horman, Roland Gillett, Richard Macaulay |
| Staring: |
| Inspired by Churchill's Dunkirk speech, brash, undisciplined Canadian bush pilot Brian MacLean and three friends enlist in the RCAF. | |
| Release Date: | Feb 12, 1942 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Michael Curtiz |
| Writer: | Norman Reilly Raine, Arthur T. Horman, Roland Gillett, Richard Macaulay |
| Genres: | Action, War |
| Keywords | raf (royal air force), canada, world war ii, pilot |
| Production Companies | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 30, 2026 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 |
![Captains of the Clouds (1942) Original Trailer [FHD]](/extra_thumbs/SiNQPQnUIuo.jpg)
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| James Cagney | Brian MacLean |
| Dennis Morgan | Johnny Dutton |
| Brenda Marshall | Emily Foster |
| Alan Hale | Tiny Murphy |
| George Tobias | Blimp Lebec |
| Reginald Gardiner | Scrounger Harris |
| W.A. Bishop | Himself |
| Reginald Denny | Commanding Officer |
| Russell Arms | Prentiss |
| Paul Cavanagh | Group Captain |
| Clem Bevans | Store-Teeth Morrison |
| J.M. Kerrigan | Foster |
| J. Farrell MacDonald | Dr. Neville |
| Patrick O'Moore | Fyffe |
| Morton Lowry | Carmichael |
| Owen Cathcart-Jones | Chief Flying Instructor |
| Frederick Worlock | President of Court Martial |
| Roland Drew | Officer |
| Lucia Carroll | Blonde |
| George Meeker | Playboy |
| Pat Flaherty | Drill Sergeant (uncredited) |
| Winifred Harris | Red Cross Collector (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Michael Curtiz | Director |
| Norman Reilly Raine | Screenplay |
| Wilfrid M. Cline | Director of Photography |
| Byron Haskin | Special Effects |
| Rex Wimpy | Special Effects |
| C.A. Riggs | Sound |
| Leo F. Forbstein | Music Director |
| Arthur T. Horman | Story, Screenplay |
| Roland Gillett | Story |
| Richard Macaulay | Screenplay |
| George Amy | Editor |
| Sol Polito | Director of Photography |
| Ted Smith | Art Direction |
| Howard Shoup | Costume Design |
| Perc Westmore | Makeup Artist |
| Max Steiner | Original Music Composer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Hal B. Wallis | Executive Producer |
| William Cagney | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Trending Position
It was a coincidence, this being Remembrance Day, that I threw on this selection from the James Cagney Signature Collection DVD boxed set, and it's weird that this Hollywood film came out as a tribute to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Really unique as a war film, and I loved Billy Bishop's cameo, in ... his full title, giving out 'wings' to those fortunate pilots who successfully passed RCAF training. Especially recommended for fans either of James Cagney or war films in general.
Wow, you got to see this on Blu-ray, fantastic photography, crisp and the colors just pop out. The obvious question is where were the fighter escorts that should have met them at the end. ...