Steel Against the Sky

Last updated
Steel Against the Sky
Steel Against the Sky poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland
Screenplay by Paul Gerard Smith
Story by Maurice Hanline
Jesse L. Lasky, Jr.
Produced by Bryan Foy
Starring Lloyd Nolan
Alexis Smith
Craig Stevens
Gene Lockhart
Edward Ellis
Walter Catlett
Cinematography James Van Trees
Edited byDoug Gould
Music by William Lava
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • December 13, 1941 (1941-12-13)
Running time
67 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Steel Against the Sky is a 1941 American comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland, written by Paul Gerard Smith, and starring Lloyd Nolan, Alexis Smith, Craig Stevens, Gene Lockhart, Edward Ellis and Walter Catlett. It was released by Warner Bros. on December 13, 1941. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

Rocky and Pete Evans are following in their father's footsteps working on girders building a bridge for John Powers. Chuck, their brother, prefers using his brains over brawn in get rich quick schemes that usually fail. Chuck tries to interest Rocky in financing a plan by Professor Samson, who claims to have invented a new product called Samsonite, (named after him), which is as strong as steel and as flexible as rubber. Rocky is not interested in wasting his money. Chuck brings the Professor home and Pop Evans loans him $25. A lab is set up in the basement of the Evans home. Rocky is romantically interested in Helen Powers, the daughter of the bridge contractor, and invites her home for dinner. The three brothers humorously vie for the use of the bathroom before Helen arrives. Meanwhile, the Professor's experiments create small explosions at the Evans' house. Chuck is enchanted with Helen and decides to work on the bridge with Rocky as his boss. Rocky is attacked on the girders by a disgruntled employee and Chuck rescues him, thus, impressing Helen.

Completion of the job, on time, is threatened by an impending storm. Work begins around the clock. Rocky sees Chuck kissing Helen and is furious. The brothers fight. Pop is devastated by the rift between the boys, whom he has raised since he was widowed and disabled on the job. He blames Helen for toying with the feelings of the boys, when she goes to his house to explain. Helen tries to make amends by rejecting Chuck. The storm causes a problem on the bridge. Rocky and Pete climb the ice covered girders to attempt repairs. Pete slips and falls into the icy water. Rocky continues but also slips and is treacherously hanging by his safety belt. Chuck climbs the girders to rescue his brother and all is forgiven. Helen professes her love for Chuck and in the final scene they are married (They were married in real life for over 50 years.)

Cast

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Lockhart</span> Canadian-American actor (1891–1957)

Edwin Eugene Lockhart was a Canadian-American character actor, playwright, singer and lyricist. He appeared in over 300 films, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Regis in Algiers (1938), the American remake of Pepe le Moko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dub Taylor</span> American actor (1907–1994)

Walter Clarence "Dub" Taylor Jr., was an American character actor who from the 1940s into the 1990s worked extensively in films and on television, often in Westerns but also in comedies. He is the father of actor and painter Buck Taylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Brophy</span> American actor (1895–1960)

Edward Santree Brophy was an American character actor and comedian, as well as an assistant director and second unit director during the 1920s. Small of build, balding, and raucous-voiced, he frequently portrayed dumb cops and gangsters, both serious and comic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Stevens (actor)</span> American actor (1918–2000)

Craig Stevens was an American film and television actor, best known for his starring role on television as private detective Peter Gunn from 1958 to 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Catlett</span> American actor (1889–1960)

Walter Leland Catlett was an American actor and comedian. He made a career of playing excitable, meddlesome, temperamental, and officious blowhards.

<i>Here Comes the Groom</i> (1951 film) 1951 film by Frank Capra

Here Comes the Groom is a 1951 American musical romantic comedy film produced and directed by Frank Capra and starring Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman. Based on a story by Robert Riskin and Liam O'Brien, the film is about a foreign correspondent who has five days to win back his former fiancée, or he'll lose the orphans he adopted. Filmed from late November 1950 to January 29, 1951, the film was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on September 20, 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Hurst (actor)</span> American actor (1888–1953)

Paul Causey Hurst was an American actor and director.

Every Day's a Holiday is a 1937 American comedy film starring and co-written by Mae West, directed by A. Edward Sutherland, and released by Paramount Pictures. The film, released on December 18, 1937, also starred Edmund Lowe, Charles Winninger, and Charles Butterworth. This was West's last film under her Paramount contract, after which she went on to make My Little Chickadee (1940) for Universal Pictures and The Heat's On (1943) for Columbia Pictures.

<i>Million Dollar Baby</i> (1941 film) 1941 film by Curtis Bernhardt

Million Dollar Baby is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, Ronald Reagan, May Robson and Lee Patrick. The film was based on a short story by Leonard Spigelgass. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Ellis (actor)</span> American actor, producer, screenwriter (1870–1952)

Edward Mayne Ellis was an American actor. He played the title role in The Thin Man, as well as in A Man to Remember.

<i>Murder, He Says</i> 1945 film by George Marshall

Murder, He Says is a 1945 American black comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker and Marjorie Main. It is about a murderous rural family and the hapless pollster who becomes entangled in their hunt for a cache of money. It was filmed in the spring of 1944, but was held back for a year because Paramount had a backlog of product and felt it was more important to get war-related films released first, lest they suddenly become dated by the impending end of combat.

<i>Three Is a Family</i> 1944 film

Three Is a Family is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Marjorie Reynolds, Charlie Ruggles, and Fay Bainter. It is an adaptation of the hit 1943 play Three's a Family by Henry Ephron and Phoebe Ephron which ran for 497 performances on Broadway. It was distributed by United Artists. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording.

Pride of the Blue Grass is a 1954 American drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Lloyd Bridges, Vera Miles and Margaret Sheridan. It is also known by the alternative title Prince of the Blue Grass. It was the last feature film shot in Cinecolor.

<i>Saddle Tramp</i> (film) 1950 film by Hugo Fregonese

Saddle Tramp is a 1950 American Western film directed by Hugo Fregonese and starring Joel McCrea and Wanda Hendrix. Its uncredited theme song was "The Cry of the Wild Goose" by Frankie Laine.

<i>Mr. Cinderella</i> 1936 film by Edward Sedgwick

Mr. Cinderella is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Richard Flournoy and Arthur V. Jones. The film stars Jack Haley, Betty Furness, Arthur Treacher, Raymond Walburn, Robert McWade and Rosina Lawrence. It was released on October 23, 1936 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

<i>Kid Nightingale</i> 1939 film

Kid Nightingale is a 1939 American musical comedy film directed by George Amy and written by Charles Belden and Raymond L. Schrock. The film stars John Payne, Jane Wyman, Walter Catlett, Edward Brophy, Charles D. Brown, Max Hoffman Jr., and John Ridgely. The film was released by Warner Bros. on November 4, 1939.

<i>Rumble on the Docks</i> 1956 film by Fred F. Sears

Rumble on the Docks is a 1956 American crime film noir directed by Fred F. Sears and starring James Darren, Laurie Carroll, Michael Granger and Robert Blake. The film was based on the novel of the same title by Frank Paley. It was produced by Sam Katzman for release by Columbia Pictures.

<i>Her Primitive Man</i> 1944 film directed by Charles Lamont

Her Primitive Man is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Michael Fessier and Ernest Pagano. The film stars Louise Allbritton, Robert Paige, Robert Benchley, Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, Stephanie Bachelor, Walter Catlett and Ernest Truex. The film was released on March 30, 1944, by Universal Pictures.

<i>Raiders of Red Gap</i> 1943 film directed by Sam Newfield

Raiders of Red Gap is a 1943 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Robert Livingston as the Lone Rider and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy Jones", with Myrna Dell, Ed Cassidy, Charles King and Kermit Maynard. The film was released on September 30, 1943, by Producers Releasing Corporation.

<i>The Lone Rider Rides On</i> 1941 film

The Lone Rider Rides On is a 1941 American western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars George Houston as the Lone Rider and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Hillary Brooke, Karl Hackett, Lee Powell and Forrest Taylor. The film was released on January 10, 1941, by Producers Releasing Corporation.

References

  1. "Steel Against the Sky (1941) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  2. Hal Erickson (2016). "Steel-Against-the-Sky - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2015-05-23.