Men Against the Sky

Not to be confused with Men of the Sky.
Men Against the Sky

theatrical film poster
Directed by Leslie Goodwins
Produced by Howard Benedict
Screenplay by Nathanael West
Story by John Twist
Starring Richard Dix
Kent Taylor
Edmund Lowe
Wendy Barrie
Music by Frank Tours
Roy Webb
Cinematography Frank Redman
Edited by Desmond Marquette
Production
company
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • September 6, 1940 (1940-09-06)
Running time
 75 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Men Against the Sky is a 1940 drama directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Richard Dix, Kent Taylor, Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie. Based on a story by John Twist, with a screenplay by novelist Nathanael West, the film is about with aircraft development and the dangers of flying in the period before World War II.[1]

Plot

Phil Mercedes (Richard Dix), once a record-setting pilot, is now an aging alcoholic. As an air show performer, while inebriated, he crashes his stunt aircraft into a barn and is grounded for a year. His sister Kay (Wendy Barrie), his only means of support, hopes to land a job in the drafting department for Martin Ames (Kent Taylor), the chief engineer for Dan McLean (Edmund Lowe), an aircraft manufacturer.

Given the war in Europe, the McLean company hopes to win a big contract with the government. Although Kay is not very skilled, she shows Ames some drawings Phil made. The creative designs interest Dan, who approves the construction of a high-speed fighter aircraft. Preliminary tests of the aircraft prove disastrous, with test pilot Dick Allerton (Donald Briggs) contending that the aircraft is too dangerous to fly.

With a redesign of the wings, Dick flies the experimental aircraft again, but the landing gear will not extend fully, leaving the test pilot circling the airport. If the aircraft cannot complete its tests, the company will be in danger of bankruptcy. Phil again takes over, successfully wrenching the gear down, but losing his life in the process. With the successful completion of the flight tests, the company is saved.

Cast

Production

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 mostly used, but also notable is the use of footage of the experimental Hughes H-1 Racer during its trials.[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," the storyline which was "routine and obvious" and the performances that were no better than "stock and pedestrian."[6]

References

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ Lee Phelps appears in an uncredited role as a shop foreman; one of over 600 film appearances he made in a long career.

Citations

  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.
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