The works pilot
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The works pilot |
| Original title | Test pilot |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1938 |
| length | 118 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Victor Fleming |
| script |
Howard Hawks , Waldemar Young , Vincent Lawrence |
| production | Louis D. Lighton |
| music | Franz Waxman |
| camera | Ray June |
| cut | Tom hero |
| occupation | |
| |
Der Werkpilot (original title: Test Pilot ) is an American adventure film by Victor Fleming from 1938. The script is based on a story by Frank Wead . The film opened in German cinemas at the beginning of September 1938 and was one of the last box office hits of a Hollywood film in Adolf Hitler's Germany before World War II . The German TV premiere took place in the first place on 8 March 1991st There Der Werkpilot was renamed to Der Testpilot .
action
Test pilot Jim Lane has to make an emergency landing on a farm in Kansas. There he meets Ann Barton, who falls in love with him. Although she is engaged, she marries Jim the very next day. Ann slowly learns how dangerous her husband's job is and the passion with which Jim does his job. But she yields to the inevitable and swears to Jim's best friend and mechanic, Gunner Morris, that she stands by her husband.
Jim and Gunner undertake a test flight with a new bomber that the manufacturer Drake plans to put into production. The bombs are simulated by filled sandbags. Loss of lift at great heights causes the machine to spin. This loosens the sandbags and they bury Gunner. Jim doesn't want to jump off without his friend and manages to land. But any help comes too late for Gunner. The shaken Jim gives up his job as a test pilot and returns to his wife.
Reviews
"Classic aviator drama with an extraordinary star cast and breathtaking aerial shots even today."
"The first-class cast makes up for some plot inconsistencies."
Awards
- Nomination in the Best Film category
- Nomination in the category Best Editing for Tom Held
- Nomination in the no longer existing category Best Original Story for Frank Wead
background
The star cast of MGM's production included Oscar winners Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Lionel Barrymore.
Co-author Waldemar Young, grandson of Mormon leader Brigham Young , died four months after the premiere in the United States on April 16, 1938. For film editor Tom Held it was the penultimate film work. Cedric Gibbons (11 Oscars in his career) and Edwin B. Willis (8 Oscars) were responsible for the equipment of the film . Douglas Shearer (7 Oscars) was responsible for the sound and A. Arnold Gillespie (3 Oscars) for the special effects .
The aerial photography department was headed by Paul Mantz, who was the best stunt pilot at the time.
novel
Eduard Andrés published a novel written after the film in 1938 in Germany with many film photos.
Web links
- The factory driver in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Review of the Classic Film Guide (English)
- The works pilot at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Illustrated Filmkurier , No. 2834
- ↑ The works pilot. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 6, 2017 .
- ↑ cinema.de