The Eagle and the Hawk
Directed by Stuart Walker
Written by Seton I. Miller and Bogart Rogers from a story by John Monk Sanders
1933/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/YouTube
[box] Henry Crocker: Why don’t you get wise? This is a war. I’m hired to kill the enemy, and there ain’t no book of rules about that. Every one I put away means one less to kill me. That’s my job, and I’m doing it.[/box]
A great cast ensures a solid anti-war film.
The setting is an RAF squadron in WWI. Jerry Young (Fredric March) is a hot shot pilot. Henry Crocker (Cary Grant) is a cocky gunner. They hate each other. When the squadron is moved to France they get along even worse. They are on surveillance duty and young “observers” accompany each flight. Jerry agonizes each time a youngster dies. Henry shares no such scruples and does not hesitate to shoot unarmed enemy observers who are trying to parachute to safety.
Despite everything, Jerry is continuously showered with medals after he completes his successful missions. This only makes him feel worse. His impending crackup is assisted along by copious amounts of alcohol. Henry suggests to the brass that Jerry needs R&R in London. There he is offered momentary comfort by The Beautiful Lady (Carole Lombard). But things only continue to go downhill when Jerry returns to France. With Jack Oakie to supply some laughs.
March and Grant were born to play these particular parts. March, one of the great screen drunks ever, is the soul of sensitivity while Grant is the hard nut with a soft interior. Lombard has about five minutes of screen time and seems to have been added for some sex appeal in an otherwise all male story. Quality film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkJ7bpLJN0
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