Test Pilot (film)
Encyclopedia
Test Pilot is a 1938 film directed by Victor Fleming
and featuring Clark Gable
, Myrna Loy
, Spencer Tracy
, and Lionel Barrymore
. The movie tells the story of a daredevil test pilot
(Gable), his wife (Loy), and his best friend (Tracy). Although uncredited, real-life test-pilot Sammy Wroath did the flying sequences.
Test Pilot was written by Howard Hawks
, Vincent Lawrence, John Lee Mahin
, Frank Wead
and Waldemar Young
. The screenplay was largely based on an original story by former naval aviator Wead.
) is forced to land on a Kansas farm in his aircraft, the "Drake Bullet"
(SEV-S2
NR70Y, a modified civilian racer version of the Army P-35), where he meets Ann Barton (Myrna Loy
). They spend the day together and fall in love with each other. Once Jim's best friend and mechanic, Gunner Morris (Spencer Tracy
), arrives reminding Jim about flying, he ignores Ann. To spur him, she gets engaged to her sweetheart. Jim leaves in the morning, but soon comes back for her. They quickly get married.
Jim loses his job with Drake (Lionel Barrymore
) and takes a job with another outfit, flying a very experimental plane. Ann soon finds out how dangerous her husband's occupation is, but she promises Gunner that she will stick to her man. Jim wins the race, but the man Drake sends in Jim's place, Benson dies, leaving a wife and three children behind.
One day, Gunner accompanies Jim on a test flight of a new bomber (an early test model B-17 Flying Fortress). Something goes wrong; the bomber goes into a spin
and sandbags (substituting for the weight of bombs) break loose, pinning Gunner. Unwilling to bail out without his buddy, Jim manages to land, but it is too late for Gunner. When Jim realizes the toll his job has taken on his wife, he gives it up.
(USAAC) airfield settings and was able to obtain rights to film using Boeing's new Y1B-17, which was destined to become the progenitor of the wartime B-17 bomber series. Renowned movie "stunt" pilot Paul Mantz
served as the second unit director in charge of the flying sequences.
John Wayne
played screenwriter Frank "Spig" Wead two decades later in the John Ford
film The Wings of Eagles
.
Gable and Tracy also made two other films together, the earlier San Francisco
and the later Boom Town
, before Tracy eventually insisted on the same top billing clause in his MGM contract that Gable had enjoyed, effectively ending the American cinema's most famous screen team.
, Best Writing, Original Story for Wead and Best Film Editing for Tom Held. The film was unsuccessful at the 1939 Academy Awards.
Victor Fleming
Victor Lonzo Fleming was an American film director, cinematographer, and producer. His most popular films were The Wizard of Oz , and Gone with the Wind , for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director.-Life and career:Fleming was born in La Canada, California, the son of Elizabeth Evaleen ...
and featuring Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
, Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
, Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, and Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
. The movie tells the story of a daredevil test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
(Gable), his wife (Loy), and his best friend (Tracy). Although uncredited, real-life test-pilot Sammy Wroath did the flying sequences.
Test Pilot was written by Howard Hawks
Howard Hawks
Howard Winchester Hawks was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of the classic Hollywood era...
, Vincent Lawrence, John Lee Mahin
John Lee Mahin
John Lee Mahin was a prolific screenwriter and producer. He was the son of John Lee Mahin, Sr. , a Chicago newspaper and advertising man, and Julia Graham Snitzler....
, Frank Wead
Frank Wead
Frank Wilbur "Spig" Wead was a U.S. Navy aviator turned screenwriter who helped promote United States Naval aviation from its inception through World War II.-Military service:A 1916 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Wead began to promote Naval Aviation after World War...
and Waldemar Young
Waldemar Young
Waldemar Young , was an American screenwriter. He wrote for 81 films between 1917 and 1938.He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and died in Hollywood, California from pneumonia....
. The screenplay was largely based on an original story by former naval aviator Wead.
Plot
Reckless test pilot Jim Lane (Clark GableClark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
) is forced to land on a Kansas farm in his aircraft, the "Drake Bullet"
Seversky SEV-3
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "The end of the beginning...The Seversky P-35". Air Enthusiast, Ten, July–September 1979, pp. 8–21....
(SEV-S2
Seversky P-35
The Seversky P-35 was a fighter aircraft built in the United States by the Seversky Aircraft Company in the late 1930s. A contemporary of the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, the P-35 was the first single-seat fighter in U.S...
NR70Y, a modified civilian racer version of the Army P-35), where he meets Ann Barton (Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
). They spend the day together and fall in love with each other. Once Jim's best friend and mechanic, Gunner Morris (Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
), arrives reminding Jim about flying, he ignores Ann. To spur him, she gets engaged to her sweetheart. Jim leaves in the morning, but soon comes back for her. They quickly get married.
Jim loses his job with Drake (Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
) and takes a job with another outfit, flying a very experimental plane. Ann soon finds out how dangerous her husband's occupation is, but she promises Gunner that she will stick to her man. Jim wins the race, but the man Drake sends in Jim's place, Benson dies, leaving a wife and three children behind.
One day, Gunner accompanies Jim on a test flight of a new bomber (an early test model B-17 Flying Fortress). Something goes wrong; the bomber goes into a spin
Spin (flight)
In aviation, a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in autorotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew downward path. Spins can be entered intentionally or unintentionally, from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed—all that is required is sufficient yaw...
and sandbags (substituting for the weight of bombs) break loose, pinning Gunner. Unwilling to bail out without his buddy, Jim manages to land, but it is too late for Gunner. When Jim realizes the toll his job has taken on his wife, he gives it up.
Cast
- Clark GableClark GableWilliam Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
as Jim Lane - Myrna LoyMyrna LoyMyrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
as Ann Barton - Spencer TracySpencer TracySpencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
as Gunner Morris - Lionel BarrymoreLionel BarrymoreLionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
as Drake, the owner of the company that employs Jim and Gunner - Samuel S. HindsSamuel S. HindsSamuel Southey Hinds was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for playing Peter Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life and for his part in You Can't Take It With You , both films by Frank Capra...
as General Ross - Marjorie MainMarjorie MainMarjorie Main was an American character actress, mainly at MGM, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Kettle in a series of ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.-Early life and career:...
as Landlady - Gloria HoldenGloria Holden-Early life:Gloria Holden came to America as a child. She attended school in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.-Theater:...
as Mrs. Benson - Virginia GreyVirginia GreyVirginia Grey was an American actress.She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of director Ray Grey. One of her early babysitters was movie star Gloria Swanson. Grey debuted at the age of ten in the silent film Uncle Tom's Cabin as Little Eva...
as Sarah - Priscilla LawsonPriscilla LawsonPriscilla Lawson , born Priscilla Shortridge, was an American actress known for her role as Princess Aura in the original Flash Gordon serial ....
as Mable - Arthur AylesworthArthur AylesworthArthur Aylesworth was an American actor who was a part of the Warner Brothers studio of film actors.Aylesworth was born in Apponaug, Rhode Island and starred on Broadway in the musical Follow Thru . He was on the stage for over a quarter of a century and created all but two of his one hundred and...
as Frank Barton - Uncredited cast members include Hooper AtchleyHooper AtchleyHooper Atchley was an American film actor. He appeared in 214 films between 1929 and 1944.Born in Ebenezer, Tennessee, Atchley is best known for his appearance as the inconsiderate father in the Our Gang film Birthday Blues.Atchley committed suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun in 1943 in...
, James DonlanJames DonlanJames Donlan was an American actor.Born in San Francisco, California, Donlan appeared in 107 films between 1929 and 1939.He died in Hollywood, California, aged 49, from a heart attack...
, Don DouglasDon DouglasDon Douglas was a film actor, born Donald Douglas on 24 August 1905 in Kinleyside, Scotland, UK.He appeared in over 100 films from the late 1920s to the 1940s including The Great Gabbo , Life Begins , Men in White , Madame X , Cheers for Miss Bishop , Now, Voyager , Little Tokyo, U.S.A. , Tall in...
, Billy EngleBilly EngleBilly Engle was an Austrian-born American film actor. He appeared in 169 films between 1917 and 1957.He was born in Austria and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
, Robert FiskeRobert Fiske (actor)Robert Fiske was an American film actor during the 1930s and 1940s.Born in Griggsville, Missouri he appeared in 66 films, primarily B-movies and westerns. He died in Sunland, California of congestive heart failure at the age of 54 and was buried at Forest Lawn Glendale, Glendale,...
, James FlavinJames FlavinJames William Flavin, Jr. was an American character actor whose career lasted nearly half a century.-Life and career:...
, Byron Foulger, Gregory GayeGregory GayeGregory Gaye was a Russian-American actor. The son of an actor, he was born Gregory De Gay in Petrograd, now known as St. Petersburg....
, Fay HoldenFay HoldenFay Holden , was a British-born American-based actress. She was known as Gaby Fay early in her career....
, Mary HowardMary Howard de LiagreMary Howard de Liagre, née Rogers was an American actress usually credited as Mary Howard....
, Gladden JamesGladden JamesGladden James was an American film actor. He appeared in 187 films between 1911 and 1946.He was born in Zanesville, Ohio and died in Hollywood, California, from leukemia....
, Cyril RingCyril RingCyril Ring was an American film actor. He began his career in silent films in 1921. By the time of his final performance in 1951, he had appeared in over 350 films, almost all in small and/or uncredited parts...
, Henry RoquemoreHenry RoquemoreHenry Roquemore or Henry Rocquemore was an American character actor who primarily played bit parts. He appeared in 229 silent and sound films from 1927 until 1943...
, Syd SaylorSyd SaylorSyd Saylor was a light comedy actor and movie cowboy sidekick who appeared in 395 films and TV series between 1926 and 1962...
, Frank SullyFrank SullyFrank Sully was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1934 and 1968.-Film:Sully was often cast as a heavy or villain throughout his career. Modern viewers will recognize Sully in his appearances in several late Three Stooges films such as Fling in the Ring, Pardon My...
, Phillip TerryPhillip TerryPhillip Terry was an American actor.He was born Frederick Henry Kormann in San Francisco, California, the only child of German Americans, Frederick Andrew Kormann and Ida Ruth Voll .He attended grade school in Glendale, California. His father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields who moved...
and Richard TuckerRichard Tucker (actor)Richard Tucker was an American actor. He appeared in 266 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was the first official member of the Screen Actors Guild and a founding member of SAG's Board of Directors...
.
Production
Test Pilot utilized authentic United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
(USAAC) airfield settings and was able to obtain rights to film using Boeing's new Y1B-17, which was destined to become the progenitor of the wartime B-17 bomber series. Renowned movie "stunt" pilot Paul Mantz
Paul Mantz
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.-Early years:...
served as the second unit director in charge of the flying sequences.
Reception
Proving to be an "audience-pleaser" in 1938, Test Pilot also found favor with critics with the New York Times review characterizing it as "...one of those irresistible MGM potboilers of the 1930s that coast along on sheer star power. Today, it is considered a significant aviation film by historians due to the use of contemporary aircraft. Even at the time of its release, Variety noted that the "story bespeaks authority in detail, obviously explained by the fact that Capt. Frank Wead, who authored the original, has had (a) practical aviation background."John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
played screenwriter Frank "Spig" Wead two decades later in the John Ford
John Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
film The Wings of Eagles
The Wings of Eagles
The Wings of Eagles is a 1957 Metrocolor film about Frank "Spig" Wead and US Naval aviation from its inception through World War II. The film is a tribute to Wead from his friend, director John Ford....
.
Gable and Tracy also made two other films together, the earlier San Francisco
San Francisco (film)
San Francisco is a 1936 musical-drama directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The film, which was the top grossing movie of that year, stars Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The then very popular singing of MacDonald helped make this film...
and the later Boom Town
Boom Town (film)
Boom Town is a 1940 adventure drama Hollywood film starring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Claudette Colbert, Hedy Lamarr, and Frank Morgan. A story written by James Edward Grant in Cosmopolitan magazine titled "A Lady Comes to Burkburnett" provided the inspiration for the film.-Plot:"Big John"...
, before Tracy eventually insisted on the same top billing clause in his MGM contract that Gable had enjoyed, effectively ending the American cinema's most famous screen team.
Honors
Test Pilot was nominated for the Academy Award for Best PictureAcademy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
, Best Writing, Original Story for Wead and Best Film Editing for Tom Held. The film was unsuccessful at the 1939 Academy Awards.