Secret Service of the Air (1939)

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

Raymond L. Schrock (original screen play)
W.H. Moran (based upon material compiled by: ex-chief of U.S. Secret Service)

Release Date:

4 March 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

INTERNATIONAL SPIES! BEWARE! No one will learn important government air secrets as long as Uncle Sam's daring secret service men are here! (original poster)

Plot:

Brass Bancroft and his sidekick Gabby Watters are recruited onto the secret service and go undercover to crack a ruthless gang that smuggles illegal aliens.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Secret Service | Smuggling | Gang Member | Mexican

Cast

Ronald Reagan	...	Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft
John Litel	...	Saxby
Ila Rhodes	...	Pamela Schuyler
James Stephenson	...	Jim Cameron
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Gabby Watters
Rosella Towne	...	Zelma Warren
Larry Williams	...	Dick Wayne
John Ridgely	...	Joe LeRoy
Anthony Averill	...	Hafer
Bernard Nedell	...	Earl 'Ace' Hemrich
Frank M. Thomas	...	Doc
Joe Cunningham	...	Agent Dawson
Morgan Conway	...	Edward V. Powell
John Harron	...	Agent Cliff Durell
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Adm. A.C. Schuyler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raymond Bailey	...	Klune - Henchman Starting Fight (uncredited)
Emilio Blanco	...	Mexican (uncredited)
Richard Bond	...	Buzzy - San Francisco Radio Operator (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	John 'Joe' Vicary (uncredited)
Nat Carr	...	Drunk at Bar (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler	...	Capt. King - Highway Patrol (uncredited)
Lane Chandler	...	U.S. Border Patrol Officer (uncredited)
Davison Clark	...	Deputy Warden (uncredited)
Hal Craig	...	Ground Superintendent (uncredited)
Edgar Edwards	...	Convict Crowley (uncredited)
Jack A. Goodrich	...	Patrol Co-Pilot (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Patrol Pilot (uncredited)
Duke Green	...	Second Tough in Fight (uncredited)
John Hamilton	...	Warden Jackson (uncredited)
Harry Hollingsworth	...	Guard (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Agent Gowing (uncredited)
Al Lloyd	...	Convict Bartell (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Treasury Agent Manning (uncredited)
Carlyle Moore Jr.	...	Glendale Radio Operator (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Pedro - Mexican Bartender (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Treasury Agent Aldrich (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Guard Cooper (uncredited)
Henry Otho	...	The Turnkey (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Ivan - an Alien (uncredited)
John J. Richardson	...	Alien - First Flight (uncredited)
Dave Roberts	...	Highway Police Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Alien - First Flight (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Road Gang Guard (uncredited)
John Sinclair	...	First Tough in Fight (uncredited)
George Sorel	...	Capt. Cortez - Mexican Police (uncredited)
Don Turner	...	Agent Harper (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	Chief Morrow (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Ivan's Alien Pal (uncredited)

Directed by
Noel M. Smith		(as Noel Smith)

Writing credits
Raymond L. Schrock		(original screen play) (as Raymond Schrock)
W.H. Moran		(based upon material compiled by: ex-chief of U.S. Secret Service)

Produced by
Bryan Foy	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ted D. McCord		(photography) (as Ted McCord)
Arthur Edeson		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Doug Gould		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Ted Smith

Costume Design by
Howard Shoup		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Elmer Decker	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Stunts
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Duke Green	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Sinclair	....	stunts (uncredited)
Don Turner	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Frank Beckwith	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (A Warner Bros. Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1939) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R included in "Brass Bancroft of the Secret Service: Mystery Collection")

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  DVD package design
• Warner Bros. Entertainment  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

61 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1939) | USA:Approved (PCA #4706) | Norway:A | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Guy Usher is in studio records for the role of "Morrow", but that role was played by Pierre Watkin.

Quotes:

Gabby Watters:[Last lines] I'll bet they're going to be married.
Tom Saxby:I'm afraid you're right.
Gabby Watters:Well, that finishes him as a secret service man.
Tom Saxby:What, Why?
Gabby Watters:Well, he won't be unable to keep a secret now.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Quarterfinal 3 (#26.49)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain When She Comes

Near-Serial thrills

Fast, engaging Warner Brothers B movie, spearheaded by the dependable John Litel and the young(?!) Ronald Reagan as they engage in various undercover stuff. The movie is paced like a strung-together serial, and the entire production is full of gimmicky holes -- Reagan, despite being recognized as an ex-con, is hired as a pilot in about eighteen seconds -- but it hangs together through sheer speed.