Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Ace of Aces

  • 19331933
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
409
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
99,537
71,099
Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
DramaWar
A sculptor who doesn't want to have any part of World War I is shamed by his girlfriend into joining the army. He becomes a fighter pilot, and undergoes a complete personality change.A sculptor who doesn't want to have any part of World War I is shamed by his girlfriend into joining the army. He becomes a fighter pilot, and undergoes a complete personality change.A sculptor who doesn't want to have any part of World War I is shamed by his girlfriend into joining the army. He becomes a fighter pilot, and undergoes a complete personality change.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
409
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
99,537
71,099
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • J. Walter Ruben
    • Writers
      • John Monk Saunders(screen play)
      • H.W. Hanemann(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Richard Dix
      • Elizabeth Allan
      • Ralph Bellamy
    Top credits
    • Director
      • J. Walter Ruben
    • Writers
      • John Monk Saunders(screen play)
      • H.W. Hanemann(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Richard Dix
      • Elizabeth Allan
      • Ralph Bellamy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos16

    Richard Dix and Theodore Newton in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Dix
    Richard Dix
    • 2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne
    Elizabeth Allan
    Elizabeth Allan
    • Nancy Adams
    Ralph Bellamy
    Ralph Bellamy
    • Capt.…
    Theodore Newton
    Theodore Newton
    • Lt. Foster 'Froggy' Kelley
    Nella Walker
    Nella Walker
    • Mrs. Adams
    Anderson Lawler
    Anderson Lawler
    • 2nd Lt. Tim Terry
    • (as Anderson Lawlor)
    Frank Conroy
    Frank Conroy
    • Maj.…
    Joe Sawyer
    Joe Sawyer
    • Capt. Daly
    • (as Joe Sauers)
    Arthur Jarrett
    Arthur Jarrett
    • 2nd Lt. James 'Jenny' Lind
    Claude Gillingwater Jr.
    • 1st Lt. Tommy Gray
    Clarence Stroud
    Clarence Stroud
    • 2nd Lt. Billy Winstead
    Claude Stroud
    Claude Stroud
    • 2nd Lt. Carroll Winstead
    Frank Clarke
    • German Cadet
    • (as Frank Clark)
    Helmut Gorin
    • German Cadet
    William Cagney
    William Cagney
    • 2nd Lt. Meeker
    • (uncredited)
    Oliver Cross
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Jay Eaton
    Jay Eaton
    • Card Playing Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Flint
    Sam Flint
    • Army Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • J. Walter Ruben
    • Writers
      • John Monk Saunders(screen play) (from the story by: "The Bird of Prey")
      • H.W. Hanemann(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Employees' Entrance
    7.2
    Employees' Entrance
    Beauty for Sale
    6.7
    Beauty for Sale
    Bed of Roses
    6.4
    Bed of Roses
    Beau Geste
    7.6
    Beau Geste
    Gentleman Jim
    7.6
    Gentleman Jim
    Merrill's Marauders
    6.6
    Merrill's Marauders
    5 Against the House
    5.8
    5 Against the House
    They Were Expendable
    7.1
    They Were Expendable
    The Last Gangster
    6.7
    The Last Gangster
    A Study in Scarlet
    5.6
    A Study in Scarlet
    Brief Moment
    6.3
    Brief Moment
    Torpedo Run
    6.4
    Torpedo Run

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lieutenant Thorne's pet lion in the film was based on two real lions who served as mascots for the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron made up of American volunteers prior to the U.S. entering the war. The two lions were named "Whiskey" and "Soda."
    • Goofs
      Even though the film takes place in 1917-1918, all of Elizabeth Allan's clothing and hairstyles are strictly early 1930s, the year the film was produced.
    • Quotes

      Nancy Adams: You've changed. You're so different. Is this what the war has done to you?

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Wasn't this what you wanted?

      Nancy Adams: I didn't know. I spoke of the glory of war. I know now. The mud, the filth, the suffering, the agony, the poor, helpless, dying boys.

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: It isn't muddy up where I am. When death comes, it comes swiftly and cleanly. Ah, it's a grand war. I only hope the next one is half as good. I used to think I could take clay and mold it into the semblance of a living thing. The closer it came to being alive, the greater my glory. The power of life is more than that, Nancy. Life--life for myself as I control my plane. And then death, swift and final in the squeeze of my fingers.

      [laughs]

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: You can't do that with clay, Nancy.

      Nancy Adams: Then all that you said about saving yourself for something better--

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Did I say that? Forget it. Why, this is a great war, and I'm having a grand time. It's all grand, every minute of it. Thirty-three planes shot down. Decorated by a French general. My picture in the papers. The idol of the allies, the hero, the great war ace. Pursued by women. Boy, I wouldn't have missed this for anything. You did me a great favor that day in the studio.

      [laughs]

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Me and my ideals for humanity. Ha! Why, I might still be back there slaving, trying to express myself on some remote conception of art.

      Nancy Adams: Please, Rocky!

      2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Come on, Nancy. Don't try to make me feel sorry for myself, because there's nothing to feel sorry for.

    • Connections
      Edited from Hell's Angels (1930)
    • Soundtracks
      Smiles
      (1917) (uncredited)

      Music by Lee S. Roberts

      Played on piano at the party

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    this movie dares to be different and makes an excellent point
    This movie, along with the similar EAGLE AND THE HAWK and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, is an excellent anti-war film made during the 1930s. It's completely original and unusual enough to merit you watching it. So what's so unusual about it? Well, Richard Dix plays a pacifist who only reluctantly agrees to go to war. However, once he becomes a fighter pilot and gets a taste for blood, his personality changes dramatically. Gone is the decent soul who had once longed to become a famous sculptor and in its place was a man who lived to kill--enjoying every minute of it! While this certainly isn't true of everyone who goes to war, the notion that personalities can dramatically change thanks to the carnage is an excellent point to make indeed.
    helpful•17
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 21, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bird of Prey
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Elizabeth Allan and Richard Dix in Ace of Aces (1933)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Ace of Aces (1933) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Double Take: Celebrity Twins
    See the full list
    Back to top

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.