Captains of the Clouds

Captains of the Clouds follows brash, undisciplined bush pilot Brian MacLean, played by James Cagney, who thrives on danger in the skies of northern Ontario. Inspired by Churchill’s Dunkirk speech, Brian and his fellow bush pilots enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force but are deemed too old for combat duty. As they take on new roles training younger recruits, Brian must confront his reckless independence and learn the deeper meaning of courage, discipline, and sacrifice.

Filmed in 1941, Captains of the Clouds was the first full-length Hollywood feature to be shot entirely in Canada. Much of the film was made in North Bay, Ontario, with breathtaking aerial sequences captured over Trout Lake and surrounding wilderness areas. Local pilots and aircraft from the Laurentian Air Service were featured alongside planes from the Canadian government’s training program. Hollywood stunt pilot Paul Mantz directed the aerial sequences, with veteran flyer Frank Clarke doubling for Cagney during the film’s daring flight scenes.

The production brought significant attention to North Bay and its aviation community, helping cement the city’s reputation as a hub for northern flight. Released during World War II, the film served as both entertainment and a patriotic tribute to the skill and spirit of Canadian bush pilots who contributed to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Its groundbreaking cinematography and realistic flight sequences set a new standard for aviation films and remain a point of pride in North Bay’s film history.

This film is part of 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝: 𝘼 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, celebrating the rich legacy of filmmaking in and around North Bay on Friday, November 14th, featuring Captains of the Clouds along with four other films shot locally over the past decades. Learn more about the full lineup →