Pilot No. 5
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Pilot No. 5
Plot
Pilot No. 5 is an oddly liberal-minded film to come from conservative old MGM. Franchot Tone plays an army pilot stationed in Java who volunteers for a suicide mission. He is chosen from five possible Allied candidates, hence the title. We learn via flashback just why Tone holds his life at so low a price; among his less pleasant reminiscences are his brief association with a demagogic Southern governor, blatantly based on Huey Long. Pilot No. 5 served to introduce Gene Kelly in a supporting role--as a nasty, pugnacious young jerk. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviCast
- Franchot Tone - George Braynor Collins
- Marsha Hunt - Freddie
- Gene Kelly - Vito S. Alesandro
- Van Johnson - Everett Arnold
- Alan Baxter - Winston Davis
Credit
Howard Campbell - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, George Sidney - Director, George White - Editor, Lennie Hayton - Composer (Music Score), Paul Vogel - Cinematographer, B.P. Fineman - Producer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, Glen Barner - Set Designer, Arnold A. Gillespie - Special Effects, Donald Jahraus - Special Effects, David Hertz - Screenwriter| Pilot (1984 Film), Pilobolus and Joan (1973 Film) | |
| Pim, Pam, Pum . . . Fuego! (1975 Film), Pimeys Odotta (1986 Film) |
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Pilot No. 5
The correct title of this article is Pilot #5. The substitution or omission of the # sign is because of technical restrictions.
| Pilot #5 | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | George Sidney |
| Produced by | B.P. Fineman |
| Written by | David Hertz |
| Starring | Franchot Tone Marsha Hunt Gene Kelly Van Johnson |
| Music by | Lennie Hayton |
| Cinematography | Paul Vogel |
| Editing by | George White |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Pilot #5 is a 1943 propaganda war film starring Franchot Tone, Marsha Hunt, Gene Kelly and Van Johnson. It was directed by George Sidney. Told in flashback, Pilot #5 marked Gene Kelly's dramatic debut. It was also known by the titles Destination Tokyo, Skyway to Glory and The Story of Number Five.[1]
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Contents
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Plot
In 1942, a small group of Allied soldiers and airmen stationed on Java are being bombed by Japanese aircraft daily. With only one working fighter of their own, and five pilots who volunteer to fly a dangerous mission, the Dutch commander, Major Eichel (Steven Geray) chooses George Collins (Franchot Tone) to bomb the Japanese aircraft carrier lying offshore. As the flight progresses, Eichel asks the other pilots to tell him about George. As they recount his rise from brilliant law student, it is apparent that his involvement in a scandal with the state's Governor, has led to attempts to redeem himself, especially for Freddie (Marsh Hunt), his long-time love. With the promise that his mission is "for his country," Collins sacrifices himself in a final dive on the carrier.
Cast
As appearing in Pilot #5 (main roles and screen credits identified):[2]
- Franchot Tone as George Braynor Collins
- Marsha Hunt as Freddie Andrews
- Gene Kelly as Vito S. Alessandro
- Van Johnson as Everett Arnold
- Alan Baxter as Winston Davis
- Dick Simmons as Henry Willoughby Claven
- Steven Geray as Major Eichel (as Steve Geray)
- Howard Freeman as Governor Hank Durban
- Frank Puglia as Nikola Alessandro
- William Tannen as American Soldier
Casting included Peter Lawford who had an uncredited role as a British soldier.
Production
The facilities at Cal-Aero Aviation Training School, Riverside, California were used for the wartime sequence. A Republic P-43 Lancer was prominently featured as the sole remaining fighter aircraft in Java.[1]
Although a relatively minor production, a great number of studio players who later achieved fame were used in the film, but their scenes may have been lost in editing[3]Studio records and casting call lists indicate Hobart Cavanaugh, Jim Davis, Marilyn Maxwell, Marie Windsor and Frances Rafferty as cast members. Ava Gardner has been listed in a modern source as uncredited. [1]
Reception
Not given any major promotion and considered a "B" feature in the MGM lot, Pilot #5 was mainly a foregettable flagwaver, typical of the period.[4] It didn't fare well with audiences or critics.[5]More recent reviews have noted it provides a historical context, but mainly remains a curio.[6] Leonard Maltin described the film more favorably, "Good cast uplifts so-so curio; it's intriguing to see Kelly in a supporting part, as a morally bankrupt hothead. Watch for Peter Lawford at the opening, and see if you can spot Ava Gardner.""[7]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c "Notes: Pilot No. 5." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Credits: Pilot No. 5 (1943)." IMDb. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Pilot No. 5." Lisa Freemont Pages. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- ^ Evans 2000, p. 145.
- ^ Nixon, Rob. "Article: Pilot No. 5." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Pilot #5." U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- ^ "Leonard Maltin Film Review: Pilot No. 5 (1943)." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
- Bibliography
- Evans, Alun. Brassey's Guide to War Films. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2000. ISBN 1-57488-263-5.
External links
- Pilot No. 5 at the Internet Movie Database
- Pilot No. 5 at the TCM Movie Database
- Pilot No. 5 at AllRovi
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