High Flyers (1937)

Two men running a carnival airplane ride are hired to fly to retrieve what they think are photos for a reporter. Actually, they are retrieving diamonds stolen from a noted gem dealer. As it... See full summary »

Director:

Edward F. Cline

Writers:

Benny Rubin (screenplay), Bert Granet (screenplay),

Stars:

Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Lupe Velez

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bert Wheeler	...	Jerry Lane
Robert Woolsey	...	Pierre Potkin
Lupe Velez	...	Juanita - the Maid
Marjorie Lord	...	Arlene Arlington
Margaret Dumont	...	Martha Arlington
Jack Carson	...	Dave Hanlon
Paul Harvey	...	Horace Arlington
Charles Judels	...	Mr. Fontaine
Lucien Prival	...	Mr. Panzer
Herbert Evans	...	Mr. Hartley
Herbert Clifton	...	Stone - the Butler
George Irving	...	Chief of Police

Storyline

Two men running a carnival airplane ride are hired to fly to retrieve what they think are photos for a reporter. Actually, they are retrieving diamonds stolen from a noted gem dealer. As it turns out, their plane crashes on the very estate of the dealer. Thinking the duo are police officers, the dealer offers his home for their convalescence from the accident. Meanwhile, the diamonds have been snatched by a kleptomaniac dog and buried on the estate. When the smugglers track down the pair, they try to convince the dealer that they are officials from an institution from which the two have escaped. Before long, the carnival fellows, the crooks, the gem dealer and his family, along with a platoon of cops, are tearing up the grounds to find where the dog has buried the diamonds.

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Plot Keywords:

diamond | gem dealer | carnival | dog | police | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

26 November 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cortando as Vazas

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play, "The Kangaroos" by Victor Mapes, opened in New York City in 1926.

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Soundtracks

"On the Good Ship Lollipop"
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sidney Clare
Sung by Lupe Velez imitating Shirley Temple

User Reviews

mainly disappointing

'High Flyers' marked the end of the partnership between Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, which had begun eight years earlier with 'Rio Rita'.

Although their films had been hit and miss for a while, this one really is pretty awful. It's only just over an hour long, but your attention still wanders. Robert Woolsey is clearly not well (and indeed this was his last appearance before his early death), and although he has a musical number with peppy Lupe Velez, it doesn't have much go in it.

Slightly better is Wheeler's Chaplin impersonation which comes from his music hall days. 'High Flyers' is sort of worth watching for this, but you won't remember much about the rest of the film, and it is far worse in quality than most of their other work.

A sad way to end their association, really. Wheeler made a few more films, including 'Las Vegas Nights' and 'The Cowboy Quarterback', but never again regained the success he had with Woolsey in the early days of RKO.