DEVIL DOGS OF THE AIR has all the ingredients for a delectable dish, but the ineptitude of the chefs produced an unpalatable, unsavory stew. The story idea came from John Monk Saunders—who, in such films as WINGS, ACE OF ACES, THE DAWN PATROL, and THE LAST FLIGHT, created complex, interesting characters and compelling, dramatic situations. In DEVIL DOGS OF THE AIR, the characters are uniformly one-dimensional and unlikeable, the plot completely lacking in drama and credibility.
I'm huge fan of James Cagney and the brash, cocky, vital energy he brought to the screen. In this film, though, he's completely obnoxious, with no trace of any redeeming qualities underneath the outsized ego. I found myself rooting for stalwart Pat O'Brien to smack that arrogant smirk off his face and also win the girl at the end of the picture. Too bad it didn't happen that way. The reconciliation between O'Brien and Cagney in the penultimate scene feels unprepared and unconvincing.
The more I see of Margaret Lindsay, the less I think of her as an actor. (Check out her incredibly amateurish and hammy turn in BABY FACE and you'll see what I mean.) Here she's stiff and charmless; so much so that it's hard to fathom why Cagney would pursue her so ardently and why she would choose him over O'Brien in the end. She seems much better suited to the dull, dependable guy.
As others have commented, the usually delightful Frank McHugh is given one not very amusing routine that he repeats ad nauseam. Another waste of talent in a film that could have, should have been a lot better.
The plot is riddled with non-sequiturs and illogic. For example, when Lindsay gets her mother's check back from Cagney, why do they go through the elaborate business of endorsing it and countersigning it, when all she needed to do was tear it up? And would Lindsay really have been given free rein to roam around the military base, even riding around the airfield during operations? In the scene where O'Brien proposes to her, it's amazing how long it takes her to figure out where the conversation is heading ("I have something important to ask you." "I've been talking to real-estate agents, and we could rent an apartment really cheaply... furnished even.") And she still looks totally shocked when he finally pops the question.
The aviation sequences are probably of great interest to enthusiasts, but for this lay viewer they went on a bit too long and quickly became repetitious. The big finale, featuring the simulated air and sea attack, was completely devoid of dramatic tension.
I wish I could send this dish back to the kitchen and tell the chefs to re-think the way they combined their ingredients. Maybe they'd produce something more satisfying.
I'm huge fan of James Cagney and the brash, cocky, vital energy he brought to the screen. In this film, though, he's completely obnoxious, with no trace of any redeeming qualities underneath the outsized ego. I found myself rooting for stalwart Pat O'Brien to smack that arrogant smirk off his face and also win the girl at the end of the picture. Too bad it didn't happen that way. The reconciliation between O'Brien and Cagney in the penultimate scene feels unprepared and unconvincing.
The more I see of Margaret Lindsay, the less I think of her as an actor. (Check out her incredibly amateurish and hammy turn in BABY FACE and you'll see what I mean.) Here she's stiff and charmless; so much so that it's hard to fathom why Cagney would pursue her so ardently and why she would choose him over O'Brien in the end. She seems much better suited to the dull, dependable guy.
As others have commented, the usually delightful Frank McHugh is given one not very amusing routine that he repeats ad nauseam. Another waste of talent in a film that could have, should have been a lot better.
The plot is riddled with non-sequiturs and illogic. For example, when Lindsay gets her mother's check back from Cagney, why do they go through the elaborate business of endorsing it and countersigning it, when all she needed to do was tear it up? And would Lindsay really have been given free rein to roam around the military base, even riding around the airfield during operations? In the scene where O'Brien proposes to her, it's amazing how long it takes her to figure out where the conversation is heading ("I have something important to ask you." "I've been talking to real-estate agents, and we could rent an apartment really cheaply... furnished even.") And she still looks totally shocked when he finally pops the question.
The aviation sequences are probably of great interest to enthusiasts, but for this lay viewer they went on a bit too long and quickly became repetitious. The big finale, featuring the simulated air and sea attack, was completely devoid of dramatic tension.
I wish I could send this dish back to the kitchen and tell the chefs to re-think the way they combined their ingredients. Maybe they'd produce something more satisfying.