Daredevils of the Clouds
Daredevils of the Clouds (aka Daredevils of the Sky) is a 60-minute 1948 drama film, directed by George Blair and produced by Republic Pictures. The film stars Robert Livingston, Mae Clarke and James Cardwell. Daredevils of the Clouds depicts bush pilot flying in northern Canada.[1]
| Daredevils of the Clouds | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | George Blair |
| Produced by | Stephen Auer |
| Written by | Ronald Davidson (story) Norman S. Hall (screenplay) |
| Starring | Robert Livingston Mae Clarke James Cardwell |
| Music by | Morton Scott |
| Cinematography | John MacBurnie |
| Edited by | Richard L. Van Enger |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures Corp. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Trans-Global Airlines president Douglas Harrison (Pierre Watkin) wants to force Terry O'Rourke (Robert Livingston), and his rival Polar Airways out of business. Harrison connives Kay Cameron (Mae Clarke) to infiltrate O'Rourke's Edmonton, Alberta headquarters. Sgt. Dixon (Hugh Prosser) of the Canadian Air Patrol discovers she and Harrison's company pilot, Johnny Martin (James Cardwell), were involved in a scheme to ruin O'Rourke.
Cast
- Robert Livingston as Terry O'Rourke
- Mae Clarke as Kay Cameron
- James Cardwell as Johnny Martin
- Grant Withers as Matt Conroy
- Edward Gargan as "Tap-It" Bowers
- Ray Teal as Jim Mitchell
- Jimmie Dodd as Eddy Clark
- Pierre Watkin as Douglas Harrison
- Jayne Hazard as Mollie
- Robert J. Wilke as Joe (credited as Bob Wilke)
- Frank Melton as Frank
- Russell Arms as Jimmy Travis
- Hugh Prosser as RCMP Sergeant Dixon
- Charles Sullivan as Bartender Charlie
Production
Under the working title, Daredevils of the Sky, principal photography began in mid-February 1948 at the Republic Pictures Corp. studio and backlots, Los Angeles, California.[2][Note 1]
The Capelis XC-12 was featured as a prop,[3]
Reception
Daredevils of the Clouds, was primarily a B film.[4] Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo characterized the film as "tedious" with the flying scenes, "routine".[5]
Actor-comedian Chris Elliott kept a vintage Daredevils of the Clouds poster in his office when he was a writer on Late Night with David Letterman. It appears as a prop decoration in his first two appearances as "The Guy Under The Seats" on "Late Night" in early 1984.
References
Notes
- Daredevils of the Clouds was likely filmed at the RKO Forty Acres backlot, but is not listed in the "known productions".
Citations
- Carlson 2012, p. 193.
- "Original print information: Daredevils of the Clouds (1948)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: October 29, 2014.
- Farmer 1984, p. 40.
- Wynne 1987, p. 172.
- Pendo 1985, p. 24.
Bibliography
- Carlson, Mark. Flying on Film: A Century of Aviation in the Movies, 1912–2012. Duncan, Oklahoma: BearManor Media, 2012. ISBN 978-1-59393-219-0.
- Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
- Hughes, Howard. When Eagles Dared: The Filmgoers' History of World War II. London: I. B. Tauris, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84885-650-9.
- Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
- Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN 0-933126-85-9.