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Blu-Ray : Recommended
Ranking:
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Release Date: March 22nd, 2022 Movie Release Year: 1942

Captains of the Clouds - Warner Archive Collection

Overview -

Captains of the Clouds never scales celestial heights, but Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation reaches the stratosphere, thanks to a stunningly beautiful transfer culled from a 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor negatives and robust lossless audio track. Michael Curtiz's salute to the Royal Canadian Air Force during the early days of World War II remains a solid James Cagney vehicle and rousing propaganda flick, but it pales when compared to the more renowned films of its actor and director. The movie may not quite make the grade, but if you love watching meticulously restored classics, you'll definitely want to revel in the splendor of this top-notch disc. Recommended.

The incomparable James Cagney stars with Dennis Morgan, Brenda Marshall and Alan Hale in his first Technicolor feature, once again reunited with Warner Bros.' legendary Michael Curtiz at the helm. Cagney portrays pilot Brian MacLean, a hot-shot Canadian pilot who is just as adept at stealing flying jobs from his competition as he is at stealing their girlfriend's hearts. But when he hears a speech by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill about the looming Nazi threat, MacLean enlists in the Royal Canadian Air Force . . . only to find his superior is a man from whom he stole both a job and a girl--and to encounter action and adventure in aerial combat over the North Atlantic. This was the first Hollywood production to be filmed almost entirely on location in Canada, and was released right after the U.S. entered WWII.

Special Features:

  • NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM FROM THE ORIGINAL NITRATE TECHNICOLOR NEGATIVES
  • 1942 Newsreel
  • Vintage 1942 Color WB Short: "Rocky Mountain Big Game
  • Classic Bugs Bunny cartoons:
    • "What's Cookin', Doc?"
    • "Hold the Lion, Please"
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

OVERALL:
Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Blu-ray Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p AVC/MPEG-4
Length:
113
Aspect Ratio(s):
1.37:1
Audio Formats:
English: DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
Subtitles/Captions:
English SDH
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date:
March 22nd, 2022

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

James Cagney and director Michael Curtiz made two movies together in 1942. The one you've heard of won Cagney a Best Actor Oscar and stands as arguably his most highly regarded film. The other one has probably flown under your radar, and while it's a perfectly respectable production, it's far from either Cagney's or Curtiz's best. While Yankee Doodle Dandy became a legacy credit for both men, Captains of the Clouds faded from view after its initial release and slipped into obscurity.

Until now. Warner Archive has rescued this rousing, beautifully filmed World War II flick from oblivion and given it a marvelous makeover that almost masks the movie's shortcomings. Most notable as Cagney's first Technicolor film, Captains of the Clouds honors the brave men of the Royal Canadian Air Force and was shot entirely on location in Canada. The rugged scenery, majestic aerial photography, and all those lush Technicolor hues eclipse the thin story that brims with propaganda but lacks much drama until the climactic dogfight.

Brian MacLean (Cagney) is one of several competing Bush Pilots who fly seaplanes into remote areas to deliver supplies. Brash and cocky, he makes a habit of swooping in and stealing both jobs and women from his resentful colleagues. Brian’s bad behavior and serial rule-breaking breed a rivalry with Johnny Dutton (Dennis Morgan), a humble straight-arrow who intends to marry the beautiful but (unbeknownst to him) unfaithful Emily Foster (Brenda Marshall), but before he can pop the question, Brian ignites both her passion and desire for a cosmopolitan life.

One day, a stirring radio speech by Winston Churchill inspires Brian and his cronies to help the war effort by joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. Their desire to pilot fighter planes, however, is quickly dashed when they learn they’re too old for combat and will be training young pilots instead. Brian's boredom with his humdrum job leads him to start breaking rules again, but will the tragic consequences of his reckless actions finally inspire him to change his ways?

I’ve been a Cagney fan for decades, but I’d never seen Captains of the Clouds prior to this Blu-ray release. While Curtiz directs with his customary confidence and constructs a fluid, breezy film peppered with excitement, there’s not enough story to sustain the picture’s almost two-hour running time. Captains of the Clouds is never boring, but it occasionally drags and only captivates in fits and starts.

Part of the problem is the movie’s (understandable) commitment to detailing the training practices of the RCAF, providing some military pageantry, and drumming up support for the war. Released in February of 1942, Captains of the Clouds was shot prior to America’s entry into World War II and was one of the first war-themed films to premiere after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Though it focuses on Canada and Great Britain, the movie surely struck a chord with contemporary American audiences, yet unlike other, more enduring World War II movies, its story only becomes urgent and emotionally affecting during its final 20 minutes.

Cagney plays his typical pugnacious part with his customary bravado. The role doesn’t tax his talent, but his Irish charm shines through, especially in Technicolor, which highlights his red hair and ruddy complexion. Though many of Brian’s impulsive, irresponsible actions rub us the wrong way, Cagney - as he does with so many similar characters - makes him a likable rogue, and we continually root for his redemption.

Morgan does what he can with a one-dimensional role, and the sexy, exotic Marshall, who looks ravishing in Technicolor, provides welcome glamor and spitfire. Though the three leads keep Captains of the Clouds aloft, the film would crash and burn without the considerable contributions of the Warner stock company. Alan Hale, Reginald Gardiner, George Tobias, and Reginald Denny all add heart, warmth, humor, and flair to a film that badly needs such qualities to compensate for its ho-hum narrative.

Captains of the Clouds would earn well-deserved Oscar nominations for its color cinematography and art direction-interior decoration. Such nods make sense, because Curtiz’s film stokes our senses. Drinking in the Technicolor hues and scenic vistas, absorbing the thrill of flight, admiring the attractive actors, and appreciating the production values… those are the pleasures and attributes of Captains of the Clouds, and they’re in great enough supply to keep us satisfied. This Cagney-Curtiz collaboration may not fly as high as Yankee Doodle Dandy, but it’s a solid Class A production that sure is pretty to look at.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Captains of the Clouds arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu without music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.

Video Review

Ranking:

A new HD master struck from a 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor camera negatives yields another breathtaking transfer from Warner Archive. Terrific clarity, contrast, and color timing distinguish the 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 rendering, which faithfully honors Sol Polito's lush, Oscar-nominated cinematography. Faint grain preserves the feel of celluloid, but the texture is nicely resolved, and not a single nick, mark, or errant scratch dot the pristine source material. Rich blacks and bright yet stable whites anchor the image, but it's the glorious Technicolor hues that steal focus. Perhaps because much of Captains of the Clouds was shot outdoors, the Technicolor looks more natural and true-to-life than usual. Reds still pop (Brenda Marshall's lipstick and red dress in the nightclub scene are attention-grabbers), but the verdant evergreen trees, blue lake water, orange flames, and yellow RCAF planes appear authentic.

Excellent shadow delineation keeps crush at bay, the plaid and checkered costume patterns remain rock-solid throughout, flesh tones are true and stable, and razor-sharp close-ups showcase Cagney's ruddy complexion, Marshall's fresh-faced loveliness, and Morgan's pretty-boy looks. The enhanced clarity makes the rudimentary special effects and use of miniatures more obvious, but that's a small price to pay for such a dazzling picture. Even when the pacing flags, this transfer, which makes an 80-year-old movie look brand new, keeps us engaged and frequently in awe. It's that good.

Audio Review

Ranking:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track supplies clear, well-modulated sound that showcases Max Steiner's robust, often rousing music score. A wide dynamic scale handles all the highs and lows of the lush orchestrations without any distortion, and all the dialogue is easy to comprehend. Aside from some isolated fisticuffs, shattering glass, and the rat-a-tat-tat of machine gun fire during the dogfight climax, sonic accents are almost exclusively confined to the rumbling, buzzing, and roaring plane engines that help put us in the thick of the aerial action. All the effects are crisp and distinct, and any age-related hiss, pops, or crackle have been meticulously erased. Plot may come at a premium in Captains of the Clouds, but the excellent A/V presentation on this Blu-ray disc helps pick up the slack.

Special Features

Ranking:

All the extras from the 2007 DVD have been ported over to this Blu-ray release.

  • Vintage 1942 Newsreel (SD, 2 minutes) - James Cagney appears in this newsreel to promote the War Bond program and read a lengthy message from U.S. Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr.

  • Vintage Short: Rocky Mountain Big Game (SD, 10 minutes) - This Technicolor one-reeler follows a trio of big game hunters as they search for bighorn sheep in the Canadian Rockies. They spot grizzly bears, royal elk, moose, caribou, and goats along the way and traverse through some gorgeous scenery.

  • Vintage Cartoon: What's Cookin' Doc? (HD, 8 minutes) - Live action merges with animation in this clever cartoon that depicts Bugs Bunny's rage after he loses the Best Actor Oscar to James Cagney. Bugs mimics Katharine Hepburn, Edward G. Robinson, Carmen Miranda, and Bing Crosby, among others, and there's also a clip from a previous Bugs Bunny cartoon to prove Bugs' superior thespian abilities.

  • Vintage Cartoon: Hold the Lion, Please (HD, 8 minutes) - Bugs returns in this Looney Tunes short about a lion who must prove his mettle by capturing a rabbit. The lion, of course, thinks Bugs will be easy prey, but quickly learns otherwise.

  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3 minutes) - The film's original preview completes the extras package.

Final Thoughts

Captains of the Clouds never will be considered one of James Cagney's best movies, but boy, does it look and sound spectacular on Blu-ray. This alternately rousing and plodding salute to the Royal Canadian Air Force in the early days of World War II benefits from Michael Curtiz's assured direction, Cagney's magnetism, beautiful Technicolor cinematography, and many fine supporting performances, but never quite adds up to the sum of its estimable parts. A breathtaking transfer culled from a 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor negatives and robust audio add tremendous luster to Captains of the Clouds and make it worthy of attention, at least for classic movie fans. Recommended.