I'm rather interested in films that show close-ups of technology from years past, and if this sort of thing doesn't interest you then maybe this movie is not for you. The title says it all - this film is about a grand-standing naval pilot in the early 30's at the time the U.S.Navy was experimenting with dirigibles. Because this experiment didn't last that many years, this film is a great opportunity to see the technology up close.
Jack Holt plays Jack Bradan, a stalwart friend and loyal navy man. Ralph Graves plays "Frisky" Pierce, also in the navy, but more out for himself and his own reputation as aerial stuntman than anything. Frisky loves collecting trophies, a category in which he puts his lonely and frightened wife Helen (Fay Wray). She's frightened because she once saw Frisky crash, and she's lonely because if Frisky isn't out breaking records he's out with the boys bragging about it.
A break between the two friends occurs when Jack first invites Frisky to come along on his dirigible expedition to the South Pole and then disinvites him according to the pleas of Frisky's wife. Jack has sworn not to tell Frisky about her wishes, so Frisky vainly assumes that Jack can't take Frisky hogging the spotlight. Jack's expedition fails almost immediately due to a hurricane that crosses paths with the dirigible. Frisky then gets a chance to head up a second expedition for all the wrong reasons - another trophy and also a chance to get back at Jack.
Some reckless and headstrong decisions by Frisky added to some bad breaks have him realizing what it means to have other men's lives in his hands and even what his own life means to him. What you end up with is "It's A Wonderful Life" in reverse. In "Wonderful Life" George Bailey always let his own wants take a backseat to everyone else's welfare and is shown the world would have been a much worse place without him - he really did make a difference. In this film, Frisky has always done what he wanted, and when faced with his own mortality realizes that his own life and actions haven't amounted to much in the grand scheme of things. This one has higher production values than many of the early Columbias. This is partly due to the artful direction of Frank Capra and partly due to the cooperation of the U.S. Navy in making this film.
Jack Holt plays Jack Bradan, a stalwart friend and loyal navy man. Ralph Graves plays "Frisky" Pierce, also in the navy, but more out for himself and his own reputation as aerial stuntman than anything. Frisky loves collecting trophies, a category in which he puts his lonely and frightened wife Helen (Fay Wray). She's frightened because she once saw Frisky crash, and she's lonely because if Frisky isn't out breaking records he's out with the boys bragging about it.
A break between the two friends occurs when Jack first invites Frisky to come along on his dirigible expedition to the South Pole and then disinvites him according to the pleas of Frisky's wife. Jack has sworn not to tell Frisky about her wishes, so Frisky vainly assumes that Jack can't take Frisky hogging the spotlight. Jack's expedition fails almost immediately due to a hurricane that crosses paths with the dirigible. Frisky then gets a chance to head up a second expedition for all the wrong reasons - another trophy and also a chance to get back at Jack.
Some reckless and headstrong decisions by Frisky added to some bad breaks have him realizing what it means to have other men's lives in his hands and even what his own life means to him. What you end up with is "It's A Wonderful Life" in reverse. In "Wonderful Life" George Bailey always let his own wants take a backseat to everyone else's welfare and is shown the world would have been a much worse place without him - he really did make a difference. In this film, Frisky has always done what he wanted, and when faced with his own mortality realizes that his own life and actions haven't amounted to much in the grand scheme of things. This one has higher production values than many of the early Columbias. This is partly due to the artful direction of Frank Capra and partly due to the cooperation of the U.S. Navy in making this film.