Air Mail
Directed by John Ford
Written by Frank Wead from a story by Dale Van Every
1932/USA
Universal Pictures
First viewing/YouTube
[box] Duke Talbot: I’da made that flight to Paris but Lindy beat me to it.[/box]
John Ford gives us a glimpse at early aviation full of action and heart.
Stalwart pilot Mike Miller (Ralph Bellamy) runs the airmail operation at Desert Airport. The location is beset by weather ranging from dense fog, to rain, to snow giving these “couriers” a chance to prove their mettle. Early on, Mike loses one of his pilots in a fiery crash and gets obnoxious hot shot pilot Duke Talbot (Pat O’Brien) as a replacement. The dead pilot just happens to be the brother of Mike’s sweetheart Ruth (Gloria Stewart).
Duke immediately starts showing off and, worse, putting the moves on willing Irene Wikins (Lilian Bond), the floozy wife of one of the other pilots. Pilots start dropping out one by one for various reasons. Mike’s eyes are not suited for night flying or bad weather. Who will deliver the mail? With Slim Summerville as a mechanic.
The main draw of this early Ford picture is some pretty stunning flying. The director proves that he could keep everything very cinematic even early in the talkie years. The story is filled with all the usual tropes for this kind of thing but it’s very human for all that. Ralph Bellamy makes an attractive and likable leading man. Recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMIOOSkgJXk
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