Wildcat Bus (1940)

62 mins | Drama | 23 August 1940

Director:

Frank Woodruff

Producer:

Cliff Reid

Cinematographer:

Jack MacKenzie

Editor:

George Crone

Production Designer:

Van Nest Polglase

Production Company:

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
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HISTORY

According to a news item in HR, RKO bought the original story for this picture from Owen Francis, and Clarence Upson Young was to have written the screen adaptation, but their participation in the film has not been confirmed, as they are not credited onscreen, in the SAB, or in reviews. ...

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According to a news item in HR, RKO bought the original story for this picture from Owen Francis, and Clarence Upson Young was to have written the screen adaptation, but their participation in the film has not been confirmed, as they are not credited onscreen, in the SAB, or in reviews.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
18 Aug 1940
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
24 Oct 1938
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
18 Jun 1940
p. 4
Hollywood Reporter
28 Jun 1940
p. 7
Hollywood Reporter
13 Aug 1940
p. 3
Motion Picture Herald
17 Aug 1940
p. 33, 36
Variety
5 Jun 1940
p. 3
Variety
21 Aug 1940
p. 10
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Prod
Exec prod
WRITER
Orig story and scr
PHOTOGRAPHY
ART DIRECTORS
Lucius Croxton
Art dir assoc
FILM EDITOR
COSTUMES
Ward
SOUND
VISUAL EFFECTS
Spec eff
DETAILS
Release Date:
23 August 1940
Production Date:
began 18 Jun 1940
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
23 July 1940
LP9900
Physical Properties:
Sound
RCA Recording System
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
62
Length(in reels):
7
Country:
United States
PCA No:
6463
SYNOPSIS

After squandering his inheritance, playboy Jerry Waters loses all of his possessions except for his car. Accompanied by his chauffeur and friend, Donovan, Jerry applies for a job at the Federated Bus Line, where he is turned down when he irritates Ted Dawson, the boss's daughter. Plagued by an unexplained rash of accidents and breakdowns, the bus line is in danger of losing its franchise, and Ted believes that their recent misfortune is linked to the fact that her father has sent his partner, Talbot, to prison for embezzlement. After Ted refuses to hire Jerry, Joe Miller, Federated's general manager, refers him to Sid Casey, the manager of a wildcat taxi company that is in league with Miller to run the Dawsons out of business. Casey hires Jerry and his car, and orders him to rent a room nearby at Ma Talbot's boardinghouse. Ma, who is Talbot's wife, is the brains behind the operation and is plotting revenge for Dawson's imprisonment of her husband. Ted, suspicious of the taxi service, poses as a passenger, and during her investigation she meets Jerry and warns him about the wildcatters. Meanwhile, Donovan, who is now driving a bus for the Dawsons, is forced off the road by a car full of wildcatters. In the accident, passenger Davis is injured, thereby arousing Donovan's suspicion. When Donovan discovers that Davis is working for the wildcatters, he warns Jerry, who quits. To prevent Donovan from testifying in court, Davis and the others injure him in an accident, and when Jerry sees Davis driving away, he joins forces with Dawson and his crew to bring the wildcatters to justice. ...

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After squandering his inheritance, playboy Jerry Waters loses all of his possessions except for his car. Accompanied by his chauffeur and friend, Donovan, Jerry applies for a job at the Federated Bus Line, where he is turned down when he irritates Ted Dawson, the boss's daughter. Plagued by an unexplained rash of accidents and breakdowns, the bus line is in danger of losing its franchise, and Ted believes that their recent misfortune is linked to the fact that her father has sent his partner, Talbot, to prison for embezzlement. After Ted refuses to hire Jerry, Joe Miller, Federated's general manager, refers him to Sid Casey, the manager of a wildcat taxi company that is in league with Miller to run the Dawsons out of business. Casey hires Jerry and his car, and orders him to rent a room nearby at Ma Talbot's boardinghouse. Ma, who is Talbot's wife, is the brains behind the operation and is plotting revenge for Dawson's imprisonment of her husband. Ted, suspicious of the taxi service, poses as a passenger, and during her investigation she meets Jerry and warns him about the wildcatters. Meanwhile, Donovan, who is now driving a bus for the Dawsons, is forced off the road by a car full of wildcatters. In the accident, passenger Davis is injured, thereby arousing Donovan's suspicion. When Donovan discovers that Davis is working for the wildcatters, he warns Jerry, who quits. To prevent Donovan from testifying in court, Davis and the others injure him in an accident, and when Jerry sees Davis driving away, he joins forces with Dawson and his crew to bring the wildcatters to justice. Dawson and the others follow Jerry to the boardinghouse, where Dawson learns that his tormentor is Talbot's wife. As Ma points a gun at Dawson, she falls down the stairs to her death and soon after, the police arrive to arrest the wildcatters. With Casey and the others under arrest, Federated Bus Lines resumes peaceful operations and Jerry and Ted decide to wed.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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