Load of rubbish!!

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I'm serious. After watching this film, I wonder how we ever won the Second World War.My other question is -- why would the public go to such a film in that magic cinematic year of 1939 when they also had films like "Gone With The Wind" and "The Wizard Of Oz"? This film is so shallow that an ant couldn't drown in it.The premise is quite simple and had potential: a young submarine man (John Payne) spends his whole life trying to compete with his impressive older brother (George Brent). And then they fall in love with the same woman (Olivia de Havilland)! Then tragedy strikes and pushes the romance in a particular direction.There's really only two reasons to watch this film. First, that you really like one of the stars (and I like them all, but I still wish I hadn't wasted my time). The other is that you're a flying aficionado...which I'm not...because the one thing I'll give the film credit for is some really good flying sequences (although since when are cloud layers perpendicular to the earth?).The 4 main characters here are played by: George Brent -- I usually like George Brent, particularly when he was starring with Bette Davis, but here he seems sort of wooden. Olivia de Havilland is the love interest here, and she has a couple of very good scenes; interesting to note that this was the same year as "GWTW"! John Payne, an underrated and mostly forgotten actor, does nicely here. Frank McHugh -- yawn...well actually here he's pretty decent here, and for a change he's not playing essentially exactly the same character as he did in most films.I guess you could say this film has its moments, but they are few and far between.

I watched 'Wings of the Navy' (1939) on TCM Today. I wouldn't say it was a great film, it was entertaining and fun to see a VERY young John Payne and Olivia de Havilland in action. Olivia de Havilland was quite a talented beauty. She was at her peak in those years (1930s through the 40s) IMO. John Payne looked even younger than his 27 years at the time. I notice a marked improvement in his performance 8 years later in 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947). In this movie he did little more than wear a uniform well and deliver his lines appropriately. George Brent was good in it as John Payne's older brother. He always could do the dignified characters well. I'd rate this a 4 out of 10 stars. I was just reading this about the movie at the IMDb: " 'Lux Radio Theater' broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 7, 1940 with George Brent, John Payne and Olivia de Havilland reprising their film roles." I find it interesting how many old films had the original cast do radio versions too. BTW - I enjoyed the footage of the early flying boat aircraft...especially the larger two engine models.

WINGS OF THE NAVY is a typical service picture of the time. It features parallel stories of a young Naval Aviator (John Payne) training and his eventual involvement with his Brothers' (George Brent) fiancé (Olivia De Havilland). It will come to nobodies surprise that this triangle will end in favor of the younger and better looking Payne with De Havilland. Brent no doubt retiring back to Bette Davis. The rest of the films cast is rounded out by standard WARNER BROTHERS contract players.The real Stars' are the Planes and training facilities of the U.S. Navy. It is quite evident that the U.S.N. was deeply committed to the expansion of its air arm. This film focusing primarily on training, then the PBY Catalina Flying Boat, one of the most successful aircraft of its type, many still flying today. The prime striking arm of the U.S.N. the Aircraft Carriers are largely ignored.Seeing this film a American no doubt felt that our Navy was ready for war. Others watching would not think so. Our future Allies' Great Britain and Soviet Russia were already flying the more advanced Fighters, Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire and Polikarpov I-16 respectively. Future enemy Imperial Japan featured the likes of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero (I.J.N.) and Nakajima Ki-43 (I.J.A.), Nazi Germany their Messerschmitt BF-109 (Me-109). Even the Italians looked more impressive with their Reggiane Re.2000.In the film our most advanced (experimental) Fighter is one of character George Brents' design. It is a Bi-Plane, looking more suitable for WWI then the coming conflict. No wonder Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany seeing films like this had such a low opinions of our war fighting capabilities. Fortunetly like a iceberg the unseen was far more impressive then what could easily be observed. They would find this out in less then a year once war commenced. Much to their chagrin.

Covering a lot of the same ground, but a year earlier than MGM's Flight Command, Wings Of The Navy is one of those military preparedness films that Hollywood was importuned to make by the powers that be in Washington, DC. Those folks knew that we would be in a shooting war and shortly and this was their way of getting America psychologically ready.George Brent and John Payne play a pair of brothers who are career Navy men, Annapolis graduates and sons of a late naval hero. Dad was an early Navy pilot and Brent has followed in his footsteps. Payne would like to do the same, but he's in the submarine service. Nevermind, Payne gets himself a transfer much to Brent's displeasure because Payne's a competitive sort and likely to get himself killed trying to out do big brother.The brothers are also rivals for Olivia DeHavilland who was once again in a thankless role of the girl who was the object. For someone of her talents, DeHavilland had precious little to do except look pretty. She was desperately trying to get roles of more substance. She would shortly in Gone With The Wind that same year of 1939.Wings Of The Navy is a real treat for aviation buffs with the various types of planes that were the latest thing in 1939 being shown. Also some even earlier types of planes were what the Navy was training with even then. We lagged far behind Germany and Japan and even Great Britain at this point.After World War II when President Truman decided to consolidate the services into one Department of Defense, the big sticking point was Naval Aviation. The Army was willing to let their Army Air Force become a separate Air Force service, the Navy insisted on controlling its planes that were taking off and landing from carriers. The compromise was reached and both the separate Air Force and the Navy controlling its aviation service was allowed. What we see here in Wings Of The Navy is a stage in the development of Naval aviation that helped win the Pacific War.And it is to those who were in that service in that war that this film review is respectfully dedicated.