Men with Wings

Plot

Brash and vigorous director William Wellman always had a place in his filmography for movies glorifying the early years of aviation -- from the start of his career (Wings), until the end (Lafayette Escadrille). But, perhaps, never has his devotion to aviation been made more vivid than in his 1938 drama Men With Wings. Wellman, in this film, attempts to dramatize the history of aviation from the early days of the Wright Brothers until the 1930s, when airline transportation first became viable. The story centers upon two contrasting aviation types: the barnstormer, Pat Falconer (Fred MacMurray), and the methodical scientist of flight, Scott Barnes (Ray Milland). Through these two archetypes, Wellman follows Pat and Scott from childhood to adulthood. Pat marries childhood sweetheart Peggy Ransom (Louise Campbell) and they have a child. Scott, who had always loved Peggy, remains in the background, not wanting to break up his solid friendship with Pat. But Pat is clearly doomed by his recklessness and breakneck individuality. After fighting in the skies during World War I, he refuses to sit back and do the methodical work of flight research like Scott. Always searching for another war to fight, Falconer leaves Scott and Peggy behind, taking off for China to help the Chinese fight Japanese invaders. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Cast

• Fred MacMurray - Pat Falconer
• Ray Milland - Scott Barnes
• Louise Campbell - Peggy Ranson
• Andy Devine - Joe Gibbs
• Lynne Overman - Hank Rinebow

Porter Hall - Hiram F. Jenkins; Walter Abel - Nick Ranson; Kitty Kelly - Martha Ranson; James Burke - J.A. Nolan; Willard Robertson - Col. Hadley; Virginia Weidler - Peggy Ranson at Age 8; Donald O'Connor - Pat Falconer at Age 10; Billy Cook - Scott Barnes at Age 10; Helen Dickson - First Woman; Lillian West - Second Woman; Grace Goodall - Matron; Charles Williams - Telegraph Operator; Billy Bletcher - Red Cross Man; James P. Burtis; Dolores Casey; George Chandler - Cody; Jack Chapin - Sentry; Ethel Clayton - Woman; Sheila D'Arcy; Jane Dewey; Claire Du Brey - Edith; Edward Earle - Officer; Jean Fenwick; Jonathan Hale - Long; Sherry Hall - Field Official; Dell Henderson - Chairman; Russell Hicks - Gen. Marlin; Al Hill - Mail Driver; Evelyn Keyes - Nurse; Marilyn Knowlden - Patricia Falconer at Age 18; Paul Kruger; Joan Leslie - Patricia Falconer at Age 11; Ralph McCullough; Dennis Morgan - Galton; David Newell - Photographer; Garry Owen; Franklin Parker - Mail Truck Driver; Robert Perry - Waiter; Lee Phelps - Photographer; Juanita Quigley - Patricia Falconer at Age 6; Ruth Rogers - Girl; Sid Saylor - Jimmy; Jerry Storm - Reporter; Charles Trowbridge - Alcott; Archie Twitchell - Nelson; Cheryl Walker; Pat West - Photographer; Dorothy White; Frank Clark - Burke; Paul Mantz - Pilot; Frank Mills - Mechanic; Harry Woods - Baker; Norah Gale; Kitty McHugh - Nurse; Jack Hubbard - Attendant; Arthur Rowlands; Charles Hamilton - Photographer; Ronnie Rondell - Mechanic

Credit

William Wellman - Director, Thomas Scott - Editor, W. Howard Greene - Cinematographer, William Wellman - Producer, Robert Carson - Screenwriter

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