Here Come the Jets

Here Come the Money
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGene Fowler, Jr.
Screenplay byLouis Vittes
Produced byRichard Einfeld
StarringSteve Brodie
Lyn Thomas
Mark Dana
John Doucette
Jean Carson
Carleton Young
CinematographyKarl Struss
Kay Norton (aerial photography)
Edited byHarry W. Gerstad
Music byPaul Dunlap
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 8, 1959 (1959-06-08)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Here Come the Jets is a 1959 American aviation drama film directed by Gene Fowler, Jr. and written by Louis Vittes. The API, the B picture unit of 20th Century Fox was involved.[1] Here Come the Jets stars Steve Brodie, Lyn Thomas, Mark Dana, John Doucette, Jean Carson and Carleton Young.[2]

[N 1]

The first Boeing 707 airliner

Plot

Ex-USAF pilot, and now an alcoholic, James Logan (Steve Brodie) resorts to pawning his Distinguished Service Medal awarded in the Korean War. to raise money for his next drink. Jailed for disorderly conduct, after a fight at a seedy nightclub, his arrest makes headlines. His friend, Ted Wallack (Mark Dana), heads up the test pilot program at the Harrison Air Craft Company, and offers Jim a job. Randall (John Doucette), the no-nonsense head of engineering is wary of Logan and his drinking. Getting lodging at a boarding house owned by Jean Carter (Jean Carson), Logan soon ends up back at a bar where he accidentally spills his drink on Joyce Matthews (Lyn Thomas) who later turns up as the head of the plant's medical department, who will oversee a battery of physical and psychological exams.

As the prototype Harrison airliner nears completion, Logan trains in a flight simulator but the sound of the raring engines causes him to panic. He tries to resign but Randall refuses to accept his resignation, assigning him to be Ted's co-pilot. Company president Burton (Carleton Young) wants Logan to be fired as he is too controversial but Randall refuses.

The night before the maiden flight, at the local restaurant, Logan is greeted by "Logan's Loonies," his old squadron from the war. His former friend, Steve Henley Joe Turkel can not forget what he called "ditching the fight" in Korea and starts a fight. Logan is shaken and is not sure he will be able to go through with the flight.

On the day of the test flight, Randall orders Logan to take the controls from Ted, telling him that "Logan's Loonies" saved his son's life in Korea, and he feels bound to give him a second chance. Encouraged by Randall, Logan confidently takes the controls and safely lands the aircraft.

Cast

Production

Originally director Gene Fowler, Jr. intended to collaborate with Louis Vittes on the screenplay.[3] Principal photography on Here Come the Jets started on January 19, 1959.[4] Additional filming took place from mid-late February 1959.[5] As a B film, a great deal of reliance was on stock footage of the new Boeing 707 airliner.[6][7]

Reception

The film was released in June 1959.[3][8]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Here Come the Jets closes with an offscreen narrator explaining that although the events in the film were fictional, the "jet age" has truly arrived.[3]

Citations

  1. ^ "Details: Here Come the Jets." Afi.com. Retrieved: May 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "Here Come the Jets.." London: Monthly Film Bulletin, January 1, 1959, Volume 26, Issue 300, p. 108.
  3. ^ a b c "Overview: Here Come the Jets (1959)." TCM.com. Retrieved: May 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Filmland events." Los Angeles Times, December 31, 1958. Retrieved: May 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Filmland events." Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1959. Retrieved: May 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Paris 1995, p. 181.
  7. ^ Pendo 1985, p. 27.
  8. ^ "Overview: Here Come the Jets." The New York Times (NYTimes.com). Retrieved: May 20, 2019.

Bibliography

  • Paris, Michael. From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-7190-4073-3.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.