Criminals of the Air (1937)
61 mins | Drama | 30 April 1937
Directors:
C. C. Coleman Jr., Folmer BlangstedWriters:
Owen Francis, Jack CooperCinematographer:
George MeehanEditor:
Dick FantlProduction Company:
Columbia Pictures Corp. of California, Ltd.Working titles for this film were Guardians of the Air and Honeymoon Pilot. The latter title was used in MPH's "Cutting Room" column, which lists Folmer Glangsted as the co-director of the film along with C. C. Coleman, although all other contemporary sources credit only Coleman. This is the first film in which Rita Hayworth (1918--1987) is billed as Hayworth rather than Cansino. Modern sources list the following additional credits: Gowns by Kalloch; Makup supv by Johnny Wallace; Art dir supv by Stephen Goosson; Chief sd eng John Livadary. Modern sources also add to the cast: Frank Sully (Contact); Lucille Lund (Ruby); Crawford Weaver (Ronnie); Ruth Hilliard (Ronnie's wife); Matty Kemp (Arnold); Robert Fiske (Groom); Martha Tibbetts (Bride); Howard Hickman (Harrison); Sam Flint (Chafin); Eddie Fetherston (Simmons); Jay Eaton (Harry-the-Actor); Jane Weir (Harry's wife); Norma Pabst (Field porter); Sammy Blum (Bartender); and Richard Botiller (Mike). ...
Working titles for this film were Guardians of the Air and Honeymoon Pilot. The latter title was used in MPH's "Cutting Room" column, which lists Folmer Glangsted as the co-director of the film along with C. C. Coleman, although all other contemporary sources credit only Coleman. This is the first film in which Rita Hayworth (1918--1987) is billed as Hayworth rather than Cansino. Modern sources list the following additional credits: Gowns by Kalloch; Makup supv by Johnny Wallace; Art dir supv by Stephen Goosson; Chief sd eng John Livadary. Modern sources also add to the cast: Frank Sully (Contact); Lucille Lund (Ruby); Crawford Weaver (Ronnie); Ruth Hilliard (Ronnie's wife); Matty Kemp (Arnold); Robert Fiske (Groom); Martha Tibbetts (Bride); Howard Hickman (Harrison); Sam Flint (Chafin); Eddie Fetherston (Simmons); Jay Eaton (Harry-the-Actor); Jane Weir (Harry's wife); Norma Pabst (Field porter); Sammy Blum (Bartender); and Richard Botiller (Mike).
Honeymoon Pilot
Mark Owens, a United States government undercover agent, is dispatched to the Mexican border to aid the border patrol in its effort to stop the movement of contraband into Mexico. The contraband smugglers work out of the border town of Hernandez, a favorite destination for couples who want to get married in a hurry. There, Owens, a professional pilot, gets a job flying an airplane called the "Honeymoon Express." Although Owens believes that his identity is unknown in Hernandez, he is spotted by "Hot Cake Joe," an informer for the smugglers who tends a local sandwich stand. Soon after Owens arrives in Hernandez, a border patrol aircraft is shot down by Blast Reardon, border gang leader Kurt Feldon's first lieutenant. Feldon, owner of the Raven Night Club, hires Owens to fly wedding parties to his cafe. When Nancy Rawlings, a newspaper reporter assigned to the airport beat, begins to write a story about Owens and his unusual job, she soon becomes suspicious of him when he refuses to allow his picture to be taken. After witnessing Owens accepting money from Feldon, Nancy concludes that he is in the employ of the smugglers. To learn more about his activities, Nancy pays Mamie, a waitress, to spy on Owens and report to her when his airplane leaves. Owens, meanwhile, takes photographs of the border region, hoping to discover the gang's hideout. While Owens' film is being developed, Feldon is informed of his true identity and orders Blast to kill him. After Nancy is tipped off by Mamie of Blast's plot to kidnap Owens, she hides in Owens' airplane and, undetected, flies with Blast, ...
Mark Owens, a United States government undercover agent, is dispatched to the Mexican border to aid the border patrol in its effort to stop the movement of contraband into Mexico. The contraband smugglers work out of the border town of Hernandez, a favorite destination for couples who want to get married in a hurry. There, Owens, a professional pilot, gets a job flying an airplane called the "Honeymoon Express." Although Owens believes that his identity is unknown in Hernandez, he is spotted by "Hot Cake Joe," an informer for the smugglers who tends a local sandwich stand. Soon after Owens arrives in Hernandez, a border patrol aircraft is shot down by Blast Reardon, border gang leader Kurt Feldon's first lieutenant. Feldon, owner of the Raven Night Club, hires Owens to fly wedding parties to his cafe. When Nancy Rawlings, a newspaper reporter assigned to the airport beat, begins to write a story about Owens and his unusual job, she soon becomes suspicious of him when he refuses to allow his picture to be taken. After witnessing Owens accepting money from Feldon, Nancy concludes that he is in the employ of the smugglers. To learn more about his activities, Nancy pays Mamie, a waitress, to spy on Owens and report to her when his airplane leaves. Owens, meanwhile, takes photographs of the border region, hoping to discover the gang's hideout. While Owens' film is being developed, Feldon is informed of his true identity and orders Blast to kill him. After Nancy is tipped off by Mamie of Blast's plot to kidnap Owens, she hides in Owens' airplane and, undetected, flies with Blast, his moll and Owens on their flight to the gang hideout, where Owens is to be held prisoner. Concerned about Nancy's mysterious disappearance, her newspaper editor calls the border patrol. The border patrol sends a rescue team when it receives Owens' aerial photographs that reveal the location of the hideout. Meanwhile, Nancy helps Owens escape to his airplane and the two take to the air, followed by Blast in his airplane. When the border patrol airplanes arrive on the scene, an aerial dogfight ensues, resulting in the downing of Blast's airplane. The border patrol airplanes then attack and kill the rest of the gang, who are attempting to make a getaway by car. With the smugglers put out of business, Nancy and Owens decide to marry.
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