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Dangerous Moonlight (Original title)Suicide Squadron (Alternative title)
Dates: 1941 (Copyright), 15 September 1941 (Release)

Countries: USA, United Kingdom

Directed by: Brian Desmond Hurst

Synopsis: Romantic drama about the love of a American journalist and a Polish airman-pianist.Synopsis: Polish pilot and famous concert pianist, Stefan Radetzky, is hospitalised in England through injuries sustained while in combat, having lost his memory. As Radetzky plays the piano in a trance-like state, the story moves back in time to war-torn Warsaw. During an air-raid, Radetzky meets American journalist Carole, and there is a mutual attraction. Following the fall of Poland, Radetzky and Irish pilot, Mike, who had been fighting with the Polish Air Force, escape to Rumania and then on to America. Radetzky continues his musical career in America and meets up again with Carole, shortly after which they get married. However, when he hears of the formation of Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force in Britain he longs to join them, much against Carole's protestations. Mike goes to England, but Carole holds Stefan back, saying his music is more important. With the fall of France, Stefan can no longer stay in America and he tells Carole he must go. She replies that if he does go, it will be the end for them both. Stefan leaves anyway. During the Battle of Britain, Mike is killed in action, Stefan partly blaming himself for this as they had argued over Stefan refusing to answer Carole's letters just prior to Mike taking off to intercept German bombers. In a following aerial action, Stefan's guns malfunction and he rams a bomber with his fighter. It was following this incident that he was hospitalised, but by playing his music and the presence of Carole, who has come over from America to be with him, Stefan regains his memory and they both embrace.

Genre:
War

Subjects:
World War II, Poland, Amnesia, Royal Air Force
Releases
Date: 1941Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 98 mins Length: 8781 FeetDialogue (original): English

Credits (21)
©: Inc. RKO Radio Pictures, Produced by: William Sistrom, Production Manager: Phil Brandon, Continuity: Phyllis Ross, Screen Play by: Terence Young, Original story by: Terence Young, Photography by: Georges Perinal, Edited by: Alan Jaggs, Art Director: John Bryan, Gowns Designed by: Cecil Beaton, Music Composed by: Richard Addinsell, Pianist on Soundtrack: Louis Kentner, Music Performed by: London Symphony Orchestra, Musical Direction by: Muir Mathieson, Orchestrations: Roy Douglas, Sound Director: A.W. Watkins, [Sound] Recorded by: J.C. Cook, Sound System: Western Electric Mirrorphonic Sound System, Made at: D&P Studios, Studio: Denham Studios
Cast (26)
Anton Walbrook (Stefan Radetzky), Sally Gray (Carol Peters), Derrick de Marney (Mike Carroll), Cecil Parker (specialist), Percy Parsons (Bill Peters), Keneth Kent (Andre de Guise), J.H. Roberts (Dr Longman), Guy Middleton (Whisky), John Laurie (wing commander), Frederick Valk (Polish C.O.), O.B. Clarence (butler), James Perrie, Marion Spencer, Leslie Gordon, Philip Friend (Pete), Michael Rennie (Topolski), Charles Farrell (first taxi driver), Robert Beatty ([Mac, American journalist]), Tommy Duggan, Conway Palmer, Gordon Glennon, Cynthia Heppner, Alan Keith, Kay Lewis, Kent Stevenson, William Taylor