Daily Archives: August 18, 2015

No Highway in the Sky
Directed by Henry Koster
Written by R.C. Sherriff, Oscar Millard, and Alec Coppel from a novel by Nevil Shute
1951/UK
Twentieth Century Fox Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Theodore Honey: It’s about the condition of this airplane, I’m afraid we’re in very serious danger. I’m rather afraid that the tail may drop off at any moment. Now when that happens…[/box]

This one came out of nowhere to delight me.

Widower Theodore Honey (James Stewart) is the very picture of the eccentric absent-minded scientist.  He lives a quiet life with daughter Elspeth and is totally engrossed in his work.  Currently, he is working for an aviation company testing out its new aircraft, the Reindeer.  All Honey’s calculations tell him that certain structural forces will cause the tail section of the plane to suddenly fall off after 1440 hours of flight.  The actual test has gone on for less time due to complaints from the neighbors about the noise.

Then one of the Reindeers crashes.  The tail section is not found and the accident is blamed on pilot error.  New research head Dennis Scott (Jack Hawkins) orders the test speeded up and sends Honey to Labrador to inspect the wreckage from the crash.

Ironically, Honey has been booked to fly there on another Reindeer.  A chat with the pilot reveals that the plane is nearing its 1440th hour.  Honey reveals his fears to the pilot but must admit that his tests are not complete and his idea is only a theory at this point.  The pilot is concerned enough to ask for instructions but refuses to take action when he can’t get through to his superiors.

Meanwhile, Honey figures out that the men’s room on the plane will be the optimal location for survival in the event of the crash.  He decides to alert movie star Monica Teasdale (Marlene Dietrich) because her films meant a lot to his deceased wife.  Monica takes him pretty seriously after she gets to know him a little bit.  Honey also befriends stewardess Marjorie Corder (Glynis Johns).  Both women prove to be his biggest allies when the plane reaches its refueling destination without crashing.

I knew almost zero about this film when I watched it and it came as a very pleasant surprise.  The plot probably does not bear much resemblance to reality but the story is tightly written and suspenseful, with a nice dollop of humor to lighten matters.  Jimmy Stewart is absolutely superb in this role.  It’s hard to think of a part more different than the hardbitten anti-heros he was playing around this time!  Recommended and currently available on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umu7U6wVGLo

Trailer

Show Boat
Directed by George Sidney
Written bu John Lee Mahin from the musical play by Oscar Hammerstein II and the novel by Edna Ferber
1951/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Fish got to swim and birds got to fly/ I got to love one man ’til I die/ Can’t help lovin’ dat man of mine — Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II[/box]

I love the 1936 version of the musical but this is almost as good.

It is the deep South at about the turn of the last century.  Cap’n Andy Hawks (Joe E. Brown) and his wife Parthy (Agnes Moorehead) use their paddle wheeler to put on shows up and down the Mississippi River.  Their daughter Magnolia (Kathryn Greyson) dreams of playing a part but is discouraged by the strict Parthy.  One day Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel), a down-on-his-luck riverboat gambler, comes by the boat looking for work as an actor.  He and Magnolia fall in love at first sight.

Initially, there is no work for him.  But soon a spurned lover turns in leading lady Julie (Ava Gardner), who has been passing as white, on a miscegenation charge.  She and leading man Steve, her husband, are forced to leave the show.  Now Magnolia and Gay become lovers on stage and in real life.  They soon marry and Magnolia leaves for the high life of a successful gambler’s wife.

Soon enough Gaylord’s luck turns and everything goes to hell.  He leaves her and she tries to make a go of it as a singer.  Though she does not know it, she receives help from her friend Julie, now a washed up alcoholic having been deserted by her husband.  There is a tearful reunion with Cap’n Andy and Magnolia returns to the Cotton Blossom where she raises Gaylord’s daughter.  With William Warfield as Joe and Marge and Gower Champion as the dance act.

This is a less stagey rendition of the story than the 1936 version which is not to say that the direction is better.  In fact, James Whale’s staging of the earlier version is just about perfect in my book.  I prefer Howard Keel to Alan Jones and it’s hard to choose between Warfield and Paul Robeson.  Irene Dunne’s Magnolia and Helen Morgan’s Julie are definitive.

Comparisons aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this for the beautiful music, color, and acting. For some reason, “Ol’ Man River” gives me the chills every single time.

Show Boat received Oscar nominations in the categories of Best Cinematography, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Trailer

Clip – William Warfield sings “Ol’ Man River”