Death in the Air (1936)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Elmer Clifton

Writers:

Charles R. Condon (writer)
Bernard McConville (story)

Release Date:

1 December 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery

Tagline:

Mystery rides the clouds in a murder plane

Plot:

Aircraft are being shot down by a large black plane with a big "X" painted on the wing. The chief suspects are invited for the weekend to an old dark mansion.

Plot Keywords:

Old Dark House | Aviation

Cast

Lona Andre	...	Helen Gage
John Carroll	...	Jerry Blackwood
Leon Ames	...	Carl Goering (as Leon Waycoff)
Henry Hall	...	Heney Goering
Hans Joby	...	Lt. Baron Otto van Guttard (as John S. Peters)
Gaston Glass	...	Lt. René La Rue
Pat Somerset	...	Capt. Roland Saunders
Wheeler Oakman	...	Lt. Douglas Thompson
Reed Howes	...	Lt. John Ives
John Elliott	...	Dr. Norris
Willard Kent	...	Insp. Gallagher

Also Known As:

Death in the Sky
Murder in the Air (UK)
Pilot X
The Mysterious Bombardier (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario)

Company:

Fanchon Royer Pictures

This one died before it went in the air.

A series of planes have been mysteriously shot down by a rogue pilot in a black plane with an X painted on the wing. Three of the planes were manufactured by Henry Goering and the government sends a pilot (Jerry Blackwood) to check if the planes malfunctioned due to construction, but after a survivor names a Pilot X as the murderer, Dr. Norris (psychologist) suggests a former WWI ace pilot would be the culprit due to the skill and mentality for such crimes. Goering invites 5 former WWI aces to his home to weed out the killer, while making them believe they are actually hunting for Pilot X, who kills two of the pilots and dupes Blackwood into killing the third. After that murder (and Dr. Norris after he discovers the killer's identity), Blackwood dares Pilot X to challenge him solo in the air, while the authorities are led to believe Blackwood is the culprit. Interesting premise, but this movie lies in the turkey category by the ridiculous and implausible script, really really bad acting, and horrendous directing. The climax of the final aerial battle with Blackwood and Pilot X is decent at best considering it drags on a bit longer than it should have. Avoid this one. Rating, 2.