Night Flight: A Cold, Brutal Trip Through the Clouds

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that feel like a cold wind hitting you in the face, sure. It’s got a cast list that reads like a telephone book of legends—Clark Gable, John Barrymore, Myrna Loy—all packed into one tiny, dark cockpit of a movie.

If you want a snappy adventure, stay away. This thing is heavy. It’s got that 1930s existential dread where everyone is just waiting for the next tragedy to drop.

The whole premise is basically: get the medicine to the sick people, don't die in the mountains, and try not to lose your mind while doing it. It’s not exactly Strike Up the Band when it comes to cheering you up.

There’s a specific scene where the pilots are staring into the dark, and the silence is just deafening. You can feel the engine vibrating through the floorboards. It’s impressive, but god, it’s stressful.

The cast is almost too much

You’ve got so many big names here that it feels a bit cramped, honestly. Clark Gable is doing his usual rugged thing, and John Barrymore is just being... well, Barrymore. He’s intense. Maybe a little too intense for a Tuesday afternoon.

The way the movie handles the Andes is pretty wild for the time, though. It’s not all perfect studio work. You get the sense that someone actually put some effort into making those planes look like they were struggling against something invisible and massive.

I found myself wondering if they were actually cold on set. Everyone looks like they’re shivering, or maybe they’re just terrified. It’s hard to tell the difference.

• The lighting makes everyone look like they have secrets.
• The planes sound like they are about to fall apart at any second.
• The ending is... well, it’s not exactly a parade.

If you’re looking for a comparison, this isn't anything like the light fluff of The Princess and the Plumber. It’s got a grit that sits in your throat. It’s not trying to be charming, and it definitely isn't trying to be funny.

Sometimes the dialogue feels like it’s being read from a manual on how to be brave. It’s a bit stiff, but maybe that’s just how pilots talked back then. Or maybe the screenwriters were just having a bad week.

Anyway, watch it if you want to see a movie that doesn't care if you like it or not. It’s a strange, moody relic. ☁️✈️