Captains of the Clouds (1942): Cast & Plot
Captains of the Clouds is a 1942 war action film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring James Cagney as Brian MacLean (bush pilot), Dennis Morgan and Reginald Gardiner. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 54m (114 min)
- Director
- Michael Curtiz
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Captains of the Clouds About?
The premise of Captains of the Clouds without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Shot in vivid Technicolor, the film bursts with spectacle and soaring glory. Inspired by Churchill’s Dunkirk address, reckless Canadian bush pilot Brian MacLean convinces three friends to swap their rugged skies for the Royal Canadian Air Force, where they undergo training, face aerial challenges, and discover the bonds of wartime camaraderie.
Captains of the Clouds Themes & Keywords
· 15 tags- lie
- pilots
- kiss
- jealousy
- friend
- airplane
- bush pilot
- royal canadian air force
- seaplane
- patriotism
- friendship
- father daughter relationship
+3 more Show fewer
- enlistment
- aviation instructor
- world war two
Captains of the Clouds Cast & Characters
James Cagney leads the cast as Brian MacLean (bush pilot), with Dennis Morgan as Johnny Dutton (bush pilot) and Reginald Gardiner as Scrounger Harris (bush pilot). Directed by Michael Curtiz; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Michael Curtiz
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James Cagney as Brian MacLean (bush pilot) - Dennis Morgan as Johnny Dutton (bush pilot)
- Reginald Gardiner as Scrounger Harris (bush pilot)
- George Tobias as Blimp Lebec (bush pilot)
Also Starring in Captains of the Clouds
· 13 more- J.M. Kerrigan Foster (storekeeper / Emily's father)
- Brenda Marshall Emily Foster
- Reginald Denny Commanding officer
- Alan Hale Francis Patrick 'Tiny' Murphy (bush pilot)
- J. Farrell MacDonald Dr. Neville (from Churchtown)
- Pat Flaherty Drill Sergeant
- Paul Cavanagh Group Captain
- Clem Bevans Sam 'Store-Teeth' Morrison
- Winifred Harris Red Cross Collector
- Patrick O'Moore Fyffe
- Morton Lowry Carmichael
- Russell Arms Louis 'Alabama' Prentiss
- W.A. Bishop Themselves
Captains of the Clouds Plot Summary
What happens in Captains of the Clouds from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1939, as war begins to cast its shadow, the rugged airways of Northern Ontario host a fierce rivalry among bush pilots. Brian MacLean, James Cagney, is a brash, instinct-driven flyer who hates rules, while Johnny Dutton, Dennis Morgan, flies by the book and dreams of starting his own airline. They battle alongside other tough pilots like Scrounger Harris, Reginald Gardiner, and Blimp Lebec, George Tobias, in a harsh landscape where skill and nerve decide who makes a living. Emily Foster, Brenda Marshall, runs a local store with her father, Foster, J.M. Kerrigan, and becomes a central figure whose fate tangles with MacLean’s choices.
Full summary
The whole story of Captains of the Clouds, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Captains of the Clouds?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which actor portrays the hot‑headed pilot Brian MacLean?
Cars in Captains of the Clouds
7 cars on screen, including the 1940 Ford V8 Marmon-Herrington and the 1941 Buick Special.
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1940 Ford V8 Marmon-Herrington Minor role -
1941 Buick Special Background role -
Chevrolet C15A CMP Background role -
1939 Ford 9N BN Background role
Captains of the Clouds Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Les chevaliers du ciel” and “Helden der Lüfte”.
- Also known as
-
- Les chevaliers du ciel
- Helden der Lüfte
- Capitanes de las nubes
- Капитаны облаков
- Corsários das Nuvens
- 空军英雄
- Stormfåglar
Seen Captains of the Clouds?
Movies Like Captains of the Clouds
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Dawn Patrol, The Dawn Patrol and The War Lover.
Captains of the Clouds FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Captains of the Clouds, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Captains of the Clouds?
Captains of the Clouds runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).
When was Captains of the Clouds released?
Captains of the Clouds was released on February 12, 1942.
Who directed Captains of the Clouds?
Captains of the Clouds was directed by Michael Curtiz.
More films by Michael Curtiz Who is in the cast of Captains of the Clouds?
Captains of the Clouds stars James Cagney as Brian MacLean (bush pilot), Dennis Morgan as Johnny Dutton (bush pilot) and Reginald Gardiner as Scrounger Harris (bush pilot), among 17 credited actors.
Does Captains of the Clouds have a post-credit scene?
No. Captains of the Clouds has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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