I'll admit, I enjoyed Danger Flight more than I care to admit. This tale, rather bizarrely nicely sliced into two stories, focuses on Tailspin Tommy Thompkins, a pilot who's not really a superhero, sometimes takes bad advice, falls into stupid traps, and fails to win any fights he's in. I guess this is what makes him so appealing. Anyways, this story essentially follows some dark shady character's attempt to steal the payroll shipment that Tommy is delivering. In the first half, we have a nifty story about how a kid named Whitey (!!) is reformed and how Tailspin is no good at flying at night! The second half, Tailspin falls for a stupid trap and has to rely on others (namely the police) to help get him out of the jam he's in. (he's conveniently knocked out). Full of funny process shots, hooty dialogue, (Betty: "The visibility is zero!" Chief: "Yeah, that's pretty low!") but has an amazing sense of heart and thrills about it, Danger Flight is a pleasant surprise!
6 Reviews
A Decent Movie for 12-Year Old Boys
alonzoiii-126 November 2010
Comic strip star Tailspin Tommy befriends a surly youth who likes to play with model planes. Can Tommy fly one DANGER FLIGHT after another and still have time to turn this child into a productive young member of society?
Monogram had a well-deserved reputation for knowing its audience and never worrying it with too many challenges. In this case, the producers have, rather cleverly, brought a rather generic pilot hero from the comic strips to life by intermixing the standard flier daring-do with a unique plot about model airplanes, and a not so unique troubled youth with a criminal brother plot. All of this in effect makes the kid the protagonist of the story, and Tailspin himself a supporting character available for firm jawed daring-do during terribly stormy weather and the inevitable kidnapping/robbery plot. The result is good for Monogram -- it moves quickly enough that the gaping geographical holes in the plot are easy enough to ignore.
Monogram had a well-deserved reputation for knowing its audience and never worrying it with too many challenges. In this case, the producers have, rather cleverly, brought a rather generic pilot hero from the comic strips to life by intermixing the standard flier daring-do with a unique plot about model airplanes, and a not so unique troubled youth with a criminal brother plot. All of this in effect makes the kid the protagonist of the story, and Tailspin himself a supporting character available for firm jawed daring-do during terribly stormy weather and the inevitable kidnapping/robbery plot. The result is good for Monogram -- it moves quickly enough that the gaping geographical holes in the plot are easy enough to ignore.
Tailspin Tommy Crashes Twice
boblipton27 October 2019
John Trent stars as Tailspin Tommy in the third of three Monogram movies that year. based on the popular comic strip. In this one, he succors young Tommy Baker, to get him interested in model airplanes. When Whitey helps rescue Tommy from a plane crash, he attracts national attention, but some crooks are after a payroll Trent was carrying that was lost when the plane went down, and get him tangled up in it. It's clearly intended for Saturday matinees, but has some good model effects by Fred Jackman Jr.
The comic strip version of Tailspin Tommy started in 1928 in the wake of Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. It was the first aviation strip and by 1931 was appearing in 250 newspapers. Competition from similar strips and waning interest ended its run in 1942. Tommy also appeared in a pair of serials released in 1934 and 1935.
The comic strip version of Tailspin Tommy started in 1928 in the wake of Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. It was the first aviation strip and by 1931 was appearing in 250 newspapers. Competition from similar strips and waning interest ended its run in 1942. Tommy also appeared in a pair of serials released in 1934 and 1935.
Barely okay made for kids story barely has the titled character in it
dbborroughs8 January 2006
Tailspin Tommy was a hit in comics and on the radio. His exploits were made into features and serials. This is the second feature I've seen, and like the first one I really could have spent the time cleaning a my teeth.
The majority of the film concerns Whitey who is a tough no good kid. Tailspin shows him some kindness and Whitey comes around. When Tailspin crashes during a storm Whitey manages to find the crashed plane and rescue his friend. Whitey's really no good brother then uses him to lure Tailspin into a trap so the money he was delivering can be stolen.
Clearly aimed at the kiddie crowd this is a tough film to slog through for adults or anyone over eight. Filled with bad acting, bad plotting and awful dialog (the storm sequence is hysterically awful) this film makes you want to shake your head in disbelief, adults really made this thing? While it does dance perilously close to the bad film line it manages to remain somewhat watchable once its bludgeoned you to get its wave length. I can't really recommend this film to anyone simply because there are so many other things you could be doing instead (worse its a bit too inept to make fun of because it keeps shooting itself in its foot)
Given the choice watch the serials instead
The majority of the film concerns Whitey who is a tough no good kid. Tailspin shows him some kindness and Whitey comes around. When Tailspin crashes during a storm Whitey manages to find the crashed plane and rescue his friend. Whitey's really no good brother then uses him to lure Tailspin into a trap so the money he was delivering can be stolen.
Clearly aimed at the kiddie crowd this is a tough film to slog through for adults or anyone over eight. Filled with bad acting, bad plotting and awful dialog (the storm sequence is hysterically awful) this film makes you want to shake your head in disbelief, adults really made this thing? While it does dance perilously close to the bad film line it manages to remain somewhat watchable once its bludgeoned you to get its wave length. I can't really recommend this film to anyone simply because there are so many other things you could be doing instead (worse its a bit too inept to make fun of because it keeps shooting itself in its foot)
Given the choice watch the serials instead
A clever use of possibly the world's first drone.
mark.waltz14 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Young Tommy Baker is your typical tough teen rebel, too cool to join all the other kuds in their games, even if they are all fascinated by model airplanes. The presence of payroll pilot Tailspin Tommy (John Trent) adds to their interest as he's their hero, all except for Baker. But it doesn't take long for Tommy to befriend "Whitey" (Baker), demonstrated in an odd scene where he places his hands on Baker's shoulder, claiming that he wants to feel the growing boy's muscles. "Oh, ok", Baker replys nonchalantly, and before you know it, he's at Tommy's side every chance he gets. Tommy and Whitey become involved in a scheme by Whitey's brother and a gang of payroll robbers where they use Whitey's drone like large model airplane to call Tommy down. Whitey and Tommy create a unique scheme utilizing the drone to get help.
This is an enjoyable Monogram programmer that features Trent flying in a nasty thunderstorm where he is believed to have gone down and crashed, leading Baker to argue that Trent actually had gone in the wrong direction. it's obvious that the good guys are going to pull through as they always do in these types of adventures, popular with young boys on Saturday matinees. The gang of kids are nothing like the East end kids of the same time, and once Baker reforms, he is truly a sweet kid. There's Marjorie Reynolds as Trent's live interest, Millburn Stone as his boss, and Jason Robards Sr. as his pal. Over and out in just over an hour, this is a good example of why B films were so popular as ways of luring in audiences during the lean times. This is filled with action and thrills, not overloaded with romance, and featuring just the right amount of comedy, so there's a good balance to aide viewers in forgiving the unbelievable elements.
This is an enjoyable Monogram programmer that features Trent flying in a nasty thunderstorm where he is believed to have gone down and crashed, leading Baker to argue that Trent actually had gone in the wrong direction. it's obvious that the good guys are going to pull through as they always do in these types of adventures, popular with young boys on Saturday matinees. The gang of kids are nothing like the East end kids of the same time, and once Baker reforms, he is truly a sweet kid. There's Marjorie Reynolds as Trent's live interest, Millburn Stone as his boss, and Jason Robards Sr. as his pal. Over and out in just over an hour, this is a good example of why B films were so popular as ways of luring in audiences during the lean times. This is filled with action and thrills, not overloaded with romance, and featuring just the right amount of comedy, so there's a good balance to aide viewers in forgiving the unbelievable elements.
Danger Flight review
JoeytheBrit23 April 2020
Not sure I'd be too happy about being flown anywhere by a pilot with the nickname Tailspin, but Tommy seems an able enough sort, even if he does crash land his plane at one point. Somehow, his girlfriend spots a tiny toy plane from high above, but not the trail of wreckage Tommy must have left in his wake. A minor film with a slight plot; real-life pilot Trent didn't last in movies, but he's pretty good here.
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