Flight from Glory

Flight from Glory
Flight from Glory
	RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Release date	August 20, 1937;
Running time	67 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Flight from Glory is an American

Thirteen Hours by Air.^[3]^[4]

Plot

Ellis (

Andes Mountains to some mines. To save money, Ellis uses worn-out aircraft and "black sheep" pilots and crew no one else will employ. He hires George Wilson (Van Heflin), and is surprised when he brings his new wife, Lee (Whitney Bourne). Chief pilot Paul Smith (Chester Morris

) tries to get her to leave, but the Wilsons have no money. As time goes on, George proves to be a drunk. Paul protects him as best he can, as he has fallen in love with Lee. She eventually confesses that she loves him.

After Hanson (

Richard Lane

}, an experienced pilot dies in a crash witnessed by George, he begins to crack up. When George is too drunk to fly, Garth Hilton (Douglas Walton) takes his place and is killed in yet another crash. Distraught and seeking revenge, George then forces Ellis at gunpoint into an aircraft and takes off. In the mountains, George jumps to his death, leaving Ellis to die like too many others he had hired. Smith is left to take over, but decides to join Lee and leave together. "Mousey" Mousialovitch (Solly Ward), the chief mechanic and former pilot, takes over the operation, with the mine owners promising new aircraft will be delivered.

Cast

Chester Morris as Paul Smith
Whitney Bourne as Lee Wilson
Onslow Stevens as Ellis
Van Heflin as George Wilson
Richard Lane
as Hanson
Paul Guilfoyle as Jones
Solly Ward as "Mousey" Mousialovitch
Douglas Walton as Garth Hilton
Walter Miller as "Old Timer"
Rita LaRoy
as Molly, the cook
Pasha Khan as Pepi

Production

Flight from Glory was directed by

RKO Radio Pictures. Flight from Glory was one of a series of aircraft-themed adventure films, such as Air Hostess (1933), Without Orders (1936), The Man Who Found Himself (1937), Sky Giant (1938) and Arctic Flight (1952).^[5] Chester Morris also appeared in nine aviation-themed films.^[6]^{[N 1]}

Flight from Glory was primarily filmed from late-June to early-July 1937. Preston Foster was first slated for the role of "Ellis" while Chester Morris had to be obtained on loan to RKO. Flight from Glory was also one of the early films that featured Van Heflin, who was being groomed for stardom by appearing in low-budget B-features. After starring in Broadway, Heflin had made his first screen appearance opposite Katharine Hepburn in A Woman Rebels (1936).^[7]

Aircraft used in the production included: Boeing Model 100,^[8]de Havilland DH.4, Fairchild 24 and Stearman C3.^[9]

Reception

Later film reviewer Dennis Schwartz considered Flight from Glory as "a low-budget programmer fighting for elevation, that's not bad considering not much is expected."^[10] Aviation film historian James Farmer described Flight from Glory, as "(a) pulpish, predictable yarn" and disparaged the use of "... Crashes, Crashes, Crashes!"^[11]^[12]

References

Notes

^ The RKO ranch backlot stood in for the Andes setting in Flight from Glory.

Citations

^ Fisher, John C. " 'Flight From Glory' on Warner bill," The Pittsburgh Press, October 1, 1937, p. 40.
^ "Screen and Stage / At the Drummond," The Spokesman, December 24, 1937, p. 6.
^ Pendo 1985, p. 15.
^ "Review: 'Flight from Glory'." The Sydney Morning Herald, November 29, 1937, p. 6.
^ Hanson 1993, p. 853.
^ Santoir, Christian. "Flight from Glory". Aeromovies. Retrieved: November 8, 2014.
^ "Van Heflin." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved: October 23, 2012.
^ Dwiggins 1967, p. 60.
^ "Notes: Flight From Glory (1937)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: October 22, 2012.
^ Schwartz, Dennis. "Flight from Glory." Ozus' World Movie Reviews, July 3, 2007. Retrieved: November 8, 2014.
^ Farmer 1984, p. 306.
^ "Tonight's Movie: Flight From Glory (1937)" Laura's Miscellaneous Musings, January 19, 2013.