Released in 1941 (just a few short months before the Japanese actually attacked Pearl Harbor) - Dive Bomber (with its spectacular Technicolor photography of pre-WW2, U.S. navy aircraft) was also something of a historical document of the American military just prior to its involvement in the war.
Dive Bomber's story-line, though not historically accurate, was depicted in a near-documentary style that contained elements of true events that involved period aero-medical research, as well as the use of real contemporary medical equipment.
Even though big-name stars such as Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray headlined Dive Bomber's list of first-rate actors, it was this film's vivid cinematography and its superb aircraft (both old and new), along with its wonderful flying sequences, that were the real stars of the show here.
With its story set mainly in and around the U.S. Naval Base at San Diego, California, Dive Bomber tells the tale of a military surgeon and a high-ranking navy flier who overcome their personal differences and team up to develop a high-altitude suit that is specifically designed to protect pilots from "altitude sickness" and blacking out (a very big problem) when their aircraft goes into a deep dive while still high in the sky.
Regardless of Dive Bomber having a rather lengthy running time of 132 minutes, it was, for the most part, a very entertaining and interesting look at military aviation from yesteryear.
This film was directed by Michael Curtiz whose other notable films included The Adventures Of Robin Hood, Casablanca, Mildred Pierce and White Christmas.
Dive Bomber's story-line, though not historically accurate, was depicted in a near-documentary style that contained elements of true events that involved period aero-medical research, as well as the use of real contemporary medical equipment.
Even though big-name stars such as Errol Flynn and Fred MacMurray headlined Dive Bomber's list of first-rate actors, it was this film's vivid cinematography and its superb aircraft (both old and new), along with its wonderful flying sequences, that were the real stars of the show here.
With its story set mainly in and around the U.S. Naval Base at San Diego, California, Dive Bomber tells the tale of a military surgeon and a high-ranking navy flier who overcome their personal differences and team up to develop a high-altitude suit that is specifically designed to protect pilots from "altitude sickness" and blacking out (a very big problem) when their aircraft goes into a deep dive while still high in the sky.
Regardless of Dive Bomber having a rather lengthy running time of 132 minutes, it was, for the most part, a very entertaining and interesting look at military aviation from yesteryear.
This film was directed by Michael Curtiz whose other notable films included The Adventures Of Robin Hood, Casablanca, Mildred Pierce and White Christmas.