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Test Pilot (1938)

Jim is a test pilot. His wife Ann and best friend Gunner try their
best to keep him sober. But the life of a test pilot is anything but safe.
"Test Pilot" involves people who must choose not to be emotional because
their very work involves cheating death with every job. So it becomes
interesting to observe how a couple might handle their attraction for each
other balanced by their need to deny fear at all times. One plot line here
is similar to later pictures where the newly minted bride must turn to the
local Army general with one question: how do I keep my man alive long
enough to begin the marriage?
Gable is not just a louse, but the biggest louse on the runway. Here louse
would mean egomaniac: concerned only with himself and the job. He's got
a best friend, Spencer Tracy, but they don't talk much about anything
important. They signal instead with "well, you know what I mean..." and
"yeah, sure, sure I do. Uh-huh" However the refreshingly good acting of
Tracy underlines every scene that has him. Around this time, he took home
the best actor Oscar for Captain's Courageous, a Metro picture directed by
Victor Fleming, the Director of this film as well.
Gable on the other hand, is so overstating everything, especially
when his love interest Myrna Loy in on camera, that you wonder if
he'll simply explode in all directions. She's just as bad matching him
in near swoons and arms to the face movements. However the
ituations are sharp, multi-purpose affairs where you see the character
learning if she can handle it or not. What's great is that watching it,
you're not sure how things will turn out either.
The psychology of the piece is complex and a bit dysfunctional, perfect
for today's noir audience expectations, but probably unsettling for
late-thirties audiences. The triangle is complicated by Gable's fascination
with wrestling and controlling his rogue airplanes, something that Tracy
and Loy only watch in equal amazement and attempt to reconcile with.

Directed by Victor Fleming

Writing credits: Howard Hawks,  Vincent Lawrence, John Lee Mahin,
Frank Wead, Waldemar Young

Cast:

Clark Gable ....  Jim Lane
Myrna Loy ....  Ann Barton
Spencer Tracy ....  Gunner
Morris Lionel Barrymore ....  Howard B. Drake
Samuel S. Hinds ....  General Ross
Marjorie Main ....  Landlady
Ted Pearson ....  Joe
Gloria Holden ....  Mrs. Benson
Louis Jean Heydt ....  Benson
Virginia Grey ....  Sarah
Priscilla Lawson ....  Mable
Claudia Coleman ....  Mrs. Barton
Arthur Aylesworth ....  Frank Barton
Ernie Alexander ....  Field Mechanic
Hooper Atchley ....  Pilot in Cafe
Ken Barton ....  Announcer
Lulu Mae Bohrman ....  Saleslady
Bobby Caldwell ....  Benson Child
Jack Cheatham ....  Attendant
Dudley Clements ....  Mr. Brown
Roger Converse ....  Advertising Man
Nick Copeland ....  Drake Mechanic
Dix Davis ....  Kid
James Donlan ....  Photographer
Lester Dorr ....  Pilot
Donald Douglas ....  Pilot in Cafe
Frank Du Frane ....  N.A.A. Official
Billy Engle ....  Little Man
Estelle Etterre ....  Saleslady
Robert Fiske ....  Attendant
James Flavin ....  Pilot
Byron Foulger ....  Designer
Gregory Gaye ....  Grant
Ralph Gilliam ....  Kid
Fay Holden ....  Saleslady
Mary Howard ....  Movie Leading Lady
Arthur Stuart Hull ....  Floorwalker
Mitchell Ingraham ....  N.A.A. Official
Gladden James ....  Interne
Frank Jaquet ....  Engine Expert
Donald Kerr ....  Drake Mechanic
Richard Kipling ....  Floorwalker
Knowlton Levenick ....  Kid
Jack Mack ....  Mechanic
Wally Maher ....  Mechanic
Douglas McPhail ....  Pilot Singing in Cafe
Buddy Messinger ....  Field Mechanic
Forbes Murray ....  Pilot in Cafe
William H. O'Brien ....  Waiter
Tom O'Grady ....  Bartender
Garry Owen ....  Pilot
Alonzo Price ....  Meteorologist
Cyril Ring ....  N.A.A. Officil
Henry Roquemore ....  Fat Man
Tom Rutherford ....  Photographer
Brent Sargent ....  Movie Leading Man
Syd Saylor ....  Boss Leader
Hudson Shotwell ....  Pilot in Cafe
Martin Spellman ....  Kid
Marilyn Spinner ....  Benson Child
Charles Sullivan ....  Field Mechanic
Frank Sully ....  Pilot in Cafe
Phillip Terry ....  Photographer
Frank Tomick
Richard Tucker ....  Pilot in Cafe
Tommy Tucker ....  Benson Child
Dorothy Vaughan ....  Fat Lady
Charles Waldron Jr. ....  Pilot
Ray Walker ....  Pilot in Cafe
Dick Winslow ....  Pilot in Cafe

Produced by Louis D. Lighton
Original Music by Franz Waxman
Cinematography by Ray June
Film Editing by Tom Held
Art Direction by John S. Detlie, Cedric Gibbons
Set Decoration by Edwin B. Willis
Costume Design by Dolly Tree
Makeup Department Jack Dawn ....  makeup artist
Sound Department Douglas Shearer ....  recording director
Special Effects by A. Arnold Gillespie ....  special effects
Donald Jahraus ....  special effects
Other crew:
Paul Mantz ....  unit director
Slavko Vorkapich ....  montage
Carl 'Major' Roup ....  script clerk

Runtime: 118 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Sound Mix: Mono
Certification: Australia:G / Finland:K-16

Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars

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