Thunder Birds
“For two pilots, one woman became a conflict of interest.”
Synopsis
On a secluded base in Arizona, veteran World War I pilot Steve Britt trains flyers to fight in World War II. One of his trainees, Englishman Peter Stackhouse, competes with Britt for the affections of Kay Saunders, the daughter of a local rancher. Despite their differences, Britt makes sure Sutton passes his training and becomes a combat pilot -- even though he loses Kay to the young man in the process.
Top Cast
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Preston Foster
Steve Britt
John Sutton
Peter Stackhouse
Gene Tierney
Kay Saunders
Jack Holt
Colonel MacDonald
May Whitty
Lady Jane Stackhouse
George Barbier
Col. Cyrus P. 'Gramps' Saunders
Richard Haydn
George Lockwood
Reginald Denny
Barrett
Ted North
Cadet Hackzell
Janis Carter
Blonde Red Cross Nurse Trainee
C. Montague Shaw
Doctor
Viola Moore
Nurse
Nana Bryant
Mrs. Blake
Joyce Compton
Saleswoman
Bess Flowers
Nurse
Selmer Jackson
Bit role
Charles Tannen
American Flyer / Opening Off-Screen Narrator (voice)
Harry Strang
Forest Ranger
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 28, 1942
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- William A. Wellman
- Screenplay & Story
- Lamar Trotti
- Original Score
- David Buttolph
- Original Title
- Thunder Birds
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 18m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
William A. Wellman
Lamar Trotti, Darryl F. Zanuck
David Buttolph
Ernest Palmer
Walter Thompson
Lamar Trotti, Darryl F. Zanuck
Department Leadership Roster
William A. Wellman
Director
Lamar Trotti
Screenplay
Lamar Trotti
Producer
Walter Thompson
Editor
Dolly Tree
Costume Design
Ernest Palmer
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Thunder Birds.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Thunder Birds.
War: World War II
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MovieLens[20K:30K]
WWII
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Frequently Asked Questions About Thunder Birds
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Thunder Birds about?
On a secluded base in Arizona, veteran World War I pilot Steve Britt trains flyers to fight in World War II. One of his trainees, Englishman Peter Stackhouse, competes with Britt for the affections of Kay Saunders, the daughter of a local rancher. Despite their differences, Britt makes sure Sutton passes his training and becomes a combat pilot -- even though he loses Kay to the young man in the process.
Who directed Thunder Birds?
Thunder Birds was directed by William A. Wellman.
Who stars in Thunder Birds?
The principal cast of Thunder Birds includes Preston Foster, John Sutton, Gene Tierney, Jack Holt, May Whitty.
When was Thunder Birds released and how long is it?
Thunder Birds was released in 1942 with a total runtime of 1h 18m.
Who composed the musical score for Thunder Birds?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Thunder Birds was composed by David Buttolph.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Thunder Birds?
Thunder Birds holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).