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Directed by Michael Curtiz, Captains of the Clouds (1942) follows a group of established bush pilots — Johnny Dutton (Dennis Morgan), «Tiny» Murphy (Alan Hale), «Blimp» Lebec (George Tobias) and «Scrounger» Harris (Reginald Gardiner) — who find that a new pilot, Brian MacLean (James Cagney), has been stealing their jobs. While getting out of his plane one day, Brian slips and injures his head. Realizing how serious the injury is, Johnny flies to nearest town under risky conditions to fetch a doctor for Brian. Grateful for Johnny's heroic actions, Brian helps him earn enough money to fund his own airline. Brian warns Johnny that if he marries his gold-digging girlfriend, Emily (Brenda Marshall), he will not have the money for long, but Johnny angrily strikes out at him. Determined to save Johnny from a life of misery, Brian decides to marry Emily himself. Learning that Emily has married Brian, Johnny runs off to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, while Brian, Tiny, Blimp and Scro...

Directed by King Vidor, Stella Dallas (1937) tells the story of Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), the daughter of a mill worker in a factory town in 1919 Massachusetts, who is determined to better herself. She sets her sights on Stephen Dallas (John Boles), a minor executive at the factory whose family was once wealthy, and catches him at an emotionally vulnerable time. Stephen has broken his engagement to his long-time sweetheart, Helen (Barbara O'Neil), fearing that his current lack of money and social position will hinder her. He planned to marry Helen once he was financially able to support her, but, as he reaches his goal, he learns that she is to wed another man. As a result, Stephen decides to marry Stella instead. After their daughter Laurel (Anne Shirley) is born, Stella becomes bored with her life and begins to exhibit social behaviour that Stephen finds unsuitable. He also strongly disapproves of her continuing friendship with the vulgar Ed Munn (Alan Hale). Meanwhile...

Since Errol Flynn's birthday is tomorrow (June 20), this week on "Film Friday" I thought I would tell you a little bit about what is arguably the most iconic of his films. Theatrical release poster Directed by Michael Curtiz, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) opens in 1191 with the news that King Richard the Lionheart (Ian Hunter) was taken captive by Leopold of Austria on his return from the Crusades. With the help of the rascally Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) and the inept Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper), Richard's treacherous brother Prince John (Claude Rains) usurps the throne and wages a campaign of taxation and terror against the Saxons. The only nobleman who opposes John is the Saxon knight Sir Robin of Locksley (Errol Flynn), who is determined to do everything in his power to restore Richard to his rightful throne and save England from tyranny . Taking refuge in Sherwood Forest, Robin begins recruiting his band of "Merr...