Test Pilot

Director: Victor Fleming Victor Fleming

Overview

Test Pilot is one of those irresistible MGM potboilers of the 1930s that coast along on sheer star power. Clark Gable plays a courageous test pilot, who compromises his achievements with his frequent bouts of drinking. Gable's mechanic, Spencer Tracy, does what he can to keep his boss out of trouble. While testing a new aircraft, Gable is forced to land on a Midwestern farm, where he meets and falls in love with Myrna Loy. Gable and Loy marry, whereupon he is fired by his boss Lionel Barrymore, who is of the opinion that flying and dames don't mix. Gable goes off on another bender, compelling Loy to leave him. Once more, Tracy comes to Gable's rescue by reuniting the couple and arranging for Barrymore to give Gable his job back. Later, Gable and Tracy are assigned to test a huge army bomber. Something goes wrong, and the plane goes into a dive. The self-sacrificing Tracy sees to it that Gable is saved from a flaming death--at the cost of his own life. Gable is so devastated by Tracy's death that it looks as though he'll never fly again. But with Loy's help, Gable regains his self-confidence. As one can see, there's little in Test Pilot that hasn't been done before. But with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy at the controls, the film proved a real audience-pleaser in 1938. In fact, it's still pretty good today.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2014
UPC:	0888574038250
Original Release:	1938
Source:	WARNER ARCHIVES
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

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

Technical Credits

Vincent Lawrence

Waldemar Young

Howard Hawks

Frank Wead

Victor Fleming	Director
Louis D. Lighton	Producer
Vincent Lawrence	Screenwriter
Waldemar Young	Screenwriter
A. Gillespie	Special Effects
Howard Hawks	Screenwriter
Frank Wead	Screenwriter
Donald Jahraus	Special Effects