Pilot No. 5

Director: George Sidney George Sidney

Overview

Pilot No. 5 is an oddly liberal-minded film to come from conservative old MGM. Franchot Tone plays an army pilot stationed in Java who volunteers for a suicide mission. He is chosen from five possible Allied candidates, hence the title. We learn via flashback just why Tone holds his life at so low a price; among his less pleasant reminiscences are his brief association with a demagogic Southern governor, blatantly based on Huey Long. Pilot No. 5 served to introduce Gene Kelly in a supporting role--as a nasty, pugnacious young jerk.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/17/2012
UPC:	0883316587225
Original Release:	1943
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	All
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:11:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Franchot Tone	George Braynor Collins
Marsha Hunt	Freddie Andrews
Gene Kelly	Vito S. Alessandro
Van Johnson	Everett Arnold
Alan Baxter	Winston Davis
Richard Simmons	Henry Willoughby Clavens,Henry Willoughby Claven
Steven Geray	Maj. Eichel
Howard Freeman	Hank Durbin
Frank Ferguson	Tully
William Tannen	American Soldier
Carl Saxe	Dutch Boy
Peter Lawford	Englishman
Jack Gardner	Mechanic,Girl
Sara Haden	Landlady
Cliff Danielson	Military Police
Hobart Cavanaugh	Boat Owner
William Halligan	Bartender
Kay Medford	Secretary
Billy Wayne	Cameraman
Eddie Acuff	Cameraman
Marie Windsor	Party Girl
Betty Jaynes	Party Girl
Marilyn Maxwell	Party Girl
Jacqueline White	Party Girl
William Bishop	Cadet
Leigh Sterling	Cadet
John Dilson	Defense Instructor
Harry Semels	Barber
Frank Puglia	Nikola
Edward Fielding	Dean Barrett
Jimmy Davis	Actor
Lennie Hayton	Composer

Technical Credits

David Hertz

George Sidney	Director
B.P. Fineman	Producer
A. Arnold Gillespie	Special Effects
Donald Jahraus	Special Effects
David Hertz	Screenwriter