Men Against the Sky

Last updated
Men Against the Sky
Men Against the Sky-poster.jpg
Theatrical film poster
Directed by Leslie Goodwins
Screenplay by Nathanael West
Story by John Twist
Produced byHoward Benedict
Starring Richard Dix
Kent Taylor
Edmund Lowe
Wendy Barrie
Cinematography Frank Redman
Edited byDesmond Marquette
Music byFrank Tours
Roy Webb
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • September 6, 1940 (1940-09-06)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Men Against the Sky is a 1940 drama starring Richard Dix, Kent Taylor, Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie. Directed by Leslie Goodwins, it is based on a story by John Twist about the challenges of aircraft development and the dangers of test piloting in the period before World War II. [1]

Contents

The screenplay is by novelist Nathanael West.

Plot

Phil Mercedes (Richard Dix), once a record-setting pilot with a fame resembling Charles Lindbergh's, is now an aging alcoholic. Reduced to his carnival roots to an air show performer, he crashes his stunt aircraft into a barn while drunk and is grounded for a year. His sister Kay (Wendy Barrie), becomes his only means of support. She hopes to land a job in the drafting department of McLean Aircraft, working for chief engineer Martin Ames (Kent Taylor).

With war already underway in Europe and the U.S. rearming for its inevitable entry, McLean aviation hopes to win a big contract with the Air Force. Although Kay is not very skilled, she shows Ames some drawings Phil made. The creative designs interest company owner Dan McLean (Edmund Lowe), who approves the construction of a high-speed fighter aircraft. Preliminary tests of the plane prove disastrous, with arrogant test pilot Dick Allerton (Donald Briggs) - unsuccessful in elbowing his way between Kay and a still disinterested Ames - contending that it is too dangerous to fly.

With the test craft grounded by a watchful civil air authority, Phil jumps in and attempts a successful flight test to save McLean from financial ruin - and keep everyone involved in the project going. Instead, a wing shears off and Phil is only able to save his life by parachuting. He is grounded for life for his reckless insubordination.

With a redesign of the wings, the Army Air Force is invited to test the airplane, bringing its own pilot. The plane passes every test, including the crucial high-speed dive, but the landing gear will not extend fully, leaving the test pilot vainly circling the airport. Once again death looms, as does a barely postponed McLean bankruptcy. Once again Phil comes to the rescue, heading off a pilot bail-out and consequent destruction of the only prototype aircraft by being taken aloft in a two-seat plane in an attempt to use his wing-walking skills to free the stuck landing gear. Ultimately he leaves the safety of the rescue airplane and clings to a wheel strut, trying to use his weight to jar it free. When that fails he releases his chute, hoping that the added drag will do the trick. The wheels won't budge...but his chute gets caught on the tailwheel, ripping it. Not realizing this - and having no choice anyway, nor a reserve chute to deploy - Phil lets go, rides a "streamer" down to the ground. Miraculously, the landing gear opens fully, the pilot makes a safe landing, and the potential giant contract with the government is saved.

But not Phil. Gravely wounded on impact, he is able to exchange felicitations with Kay and die in Ames' arms, thereby giving his blessing to their union.

Cast

Production

The Hughes H-1 Racer featured prominently in Men Against the Sky Hughes H-1 Racer, front.jpg
The Hughes H-1 Racer featured prominently in Men Against the Sky

Novelist Nathanael West was involved in a number of B films in this period, including Men Against the Sky, but recognition of his work was short-lived. Along with his wife Eileen, he was killed in a car crash on December 22, 1940, when West (a notoriously bad driver) ran a stop sign in Southern California. [2] Principal photography for Men Against the Sky took place from late May to June 15, 1940. [3]

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lucille Ball, considered Hollywood's B movie queen, was to play the female lead before Wendy Barrie came on board. [4] Paul Mantz, noted movie stunt pilot, was the aviation consultant. Models were used to simulate accidents, but takeoff and in-flight footage of the experimental Hughes H-1 Racer taken during its trials was used for realism as a substitute for the McLean test aircraft. [5]

Reception

Men Against the Sky was generally considered a popular entry in the aviation film genre, although not of the same caliber as Test Pilot (1938) or Men With Wings (1938), which explored the same subject. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times in a contemporary review, characterized Men Against the Sky as a "generally entertaining little action picture," although he criticized its "maudlin heroics," called the storyline "routine and obvious", and characterized the performances as "stock and pedestrian." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Mantz</span> American aviator, air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot (1903–1965)

Albert Paul Mantz was a noted air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie L. Irvin</span> American parachutist

Leslie Leroy Irvin was a stunt-man for the fledgling Californian film industry. Flying in balloons, he performed using trapeze acrobatics and parachute descents. For the 1914 film Sky High, Irvin made his first jump out of an airplane while flying at 1,000 feet above the ground. In 1918, he developed his own life-saving static line parachute, jumping with it several times and promoting it to the US Army. Irvin joined the Army Air Service's parachute research team at McCook Field near Dayton, Ohio where he made the first premeditated free-fall jump with the modern parachute on April 28, 1919.

<i>West Point of the Air</i> 1935 film by Richard Rosson

West Point of the Air is a 1935 American drama film directed by Richard Rosson and starring Wallace Beery, Robert Young, Lewis Stone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Rosalind Russell, and Robert Taylor. The screenplay concerns pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the early 1930s.

<i>The Airmail Mystery</i> 1932 film

The Airmail Mystery is a 1932 Universal pre-Code movie serial directed by Ray Taylor, written by Ella O'Neill, starring James Flavin and Wheeler Oakman, and featuring Al Wilson doing the aerial stunts. The Airmail Mystery was Universal's first aviation serial that set the pattern for the aviation serials and feature films to follow. The film also marks the film debut of James Flavin. The Airmail Mystery is considered a lost film.

<i>Flying G-Men</i> 1939 film by Ray Taylor, James W. Horne

Flying G-Men is a 15-episode 1939 adventure film Film serial, directed by James W. Horne and Ray Taylor. The serial was the sixth of the 57 serials released by Columbia. Four "Flying G-Men" battle with enemy saboteurs intent on destroying American military defences.

<i>Eagle of the Night</i> 1928 film

Eagle of the Night is a 1928 American drama film serial directed by James F. Fulton. Dismissed when released and completely forgotten in the modern era, the 10-chapter aviation serial starred real-life aviator Frank Clarke, a stunt pilot in such fare as Wings (1927), Hell's Angel (1930), and The Flying Deuces (1939).

<i>Death in the Air</i> 1936 film by Elmer Clifton

Death in the Air is a 1937 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Lona Andre, John Carroll, Leon Ames and Henry Hall. The film is also known as Murder in the Air in the United Kingdom and as The Mysterious Bombardier. The film was Fanchon Royer's first production for her new company, Fanchon Royer Features, Inc. Film Daily reported that former FBI agent Melvin Purvis was offered a role in the film but declined.

<i>Power Dive</i> 1941 film by James P. Hogan

Power Dive is a 1941 American film directed by James P. Hogan. The film stars Richard Arlen, Jean Parker and Helen Mack.

<i>Flying Blind</i> (film) 1941 film by Frank McDonald

Flying Blind is a 1941 American action and comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was the second movie from Pine-Thomas Productions. That company's first three films formed an unofficial "aviation trilogy"; all starred Richard Arlen.

<i>The Lost Squadron</i> 1932 film

The Lost Squadron is a 1932 American pre-Code drama, action, film starring Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Robert Armstrong, with Erich von Stroheim and Joel McCrea in supporting roles, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the novel The Lost Squadron (1932) by Dick Grace, the film is about three World War I pilots who find jobs after the war as Hollywood stunt fliers.

<i>Sky Giant</i> 1938 film by Lew Landers

Sky Giant, also known as Ground Crew and Northern Flight, is a 1938 drama film directed by Lew Landers. The film stars Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Joan Fontaine. The plot revolves around a love triangle with two pilots in love with the same woman.

<i>The Marines Fly High</i> 1940 film by George Nicholls, Jr.

The Marines Fly High is a 1940 action film, starring Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Lucille Ball and directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and Benjamin Stoloff from a story by A.C. Edington.

<i>Without Orders</i> 1936 American film directed by Lew Landers

Without Orders is a 1936 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Sally Eilers, Robert Armstrong, Frances Sage, Charley Grapewin and Vinton Haworth. It was produced by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the picture on October 23, 1936. The screenplay was written by Samuel Briskin and Cliff Reid, based on the short story of the same name by Peter B. Kyne, which had appeared in the February 8, 1936 edition of Collier's magazine.

<i>Storm Over the Andes</i> 1935 film by Christy Cabanne

Storm Over the Andes is a 1935 American adventure film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Jack Holt, Antonio Moreno and Mona Barrie. The low-budget programmer is set against the backdrop of the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. A separate Spanish-language version, titled Alas Sobre El Chaco, also directed by Cabanne, was made.

<i>Legion of Lost Flyers</i> 1939 film directed by Christy Cabanne

Legion of Lost Flyers is a 1939 American B movie drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Anne Nagel. Legion of Lost Flyers was released by Universal Pictures on November 3, 1939.

<i>Devils Squadron</i> 1936 film by Erle C. Kenton

Devil's Squadron is a 1936 American drama film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring Richard Dix, Karen Morley and Lloyd Nolan. The following written prologue appears after the opening credits: "This picture is dedicated to the test pilots....those men who knowingly face death every time they leave the ground in an untried airplane. We never hear of these men, yet on their courage depends the future of aviation."

<i>The Lone Eagle</i> 1927 film

The Lone Eagle is a 1927 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson, based on the story by Emilie Johnson, and starring Raymond Keane, Barbara Kent and Nigel Barrie. It was released by Universal Pictures on September 18, 1927.

<i>Flying Cadets</i> 1941 film directed by Erle C. Kenton

Flying Cadets is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by George Waggner, Roy Chanslor and Stanley Rubin. The film stars William Gargan, Edmund Lowe, Peggy Moran, Frank Albertson, Frankie Thomas and Riley Hill. Flying Cadets was released on October 24, 1941, by Universal Pictures.

<i>The Sky Skidder</i> 1929 film

The Sky Skidder is a 1929 American action film directed by Bruce M. Mitchell and written by Carl Krusada and Gardner Bradford. The film stars Al Wilson, Helen Foster, Wilbur McGaugh and Gilbert Holmes. The film was released on January 13, 1929, by Universal Pictures.

<i>The Air Hawk</i> 1923 film

The Air Hawk is a 1924 American silent action adventure film directed by Bruce M. Mitchell and starring real life aviator Al Wilson. The aviation film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures.

References

  1. ↑ Wynne 1987, p. 174.
  2. ↑ Miller, Frank. "Articles: Men Against the Sky." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: October 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Original print information: Men Against the Sky." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: October 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Notes: Men Against the Sky." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: October 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ Cowin 1999, p. 60.
  6. ↑ Crowther, Bosley. "Men Against the Sky (1940)." The New York Times, September 12, 1940. Retrieved: March 15, 2009.

Bibliography

  • Cowin, Hugh W. The Risk Takers, A Unique Pictorial Record 1908-1972: Racing & Record-setting Aircraft (Aviation Pioneer 2). London: Osprey Aviation, 1999. ISBN   1-85532-904-2.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN   0-933126-85-9.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.