DANGER FLIGHT (1939) John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds & Milburn Stone | Adventure, Romance | B&W

Danger Flight (aka Scouts of the Air) is a 1939 American film directed by Howard Bretherton and starring John Trent as Tailspin Tommy Tompkins, Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone and Jason Robards Sr. The film featured young aviation enthusiasts in a model club.

SYNOPSIS
In a thrilling tale of adventure, Ace flyer "Tailspin" Tommy Tomkins, played by John Trent, finds himself entangled in a web of danger and heroism. As Tommy flies through a severe storm to deliver a crucial payroll, little does he know that a gang of crooks is plotting to intercept the money.

Meanwhile, Tommy starts a model flying club for young boys, including tough orphan Whitey, portrayed by Tommy Baker, who dreams of aviation glory. When gangster Mike Lewis and his cohorts attempt to hold up Mr. Brown's payroll, Tommy agrees to transport the next payment by aircraft. In a twist of fate, Tommy's flight is redirected to deliver medical supplies due to an accident at a dam. Amidst the treacherous storm, Tommy crash-lands, setting off a frantic search.

As Tommy's friends Skeeter and Betty Lou join the search efforts, Whitey's keen instincts lead him to discover Tommy's wrecked aircraft. With resourcefulness beyond his years, Whitey sends up a model aircraft to signal for help, ultimately leading to Tommy's rescue.

Impressed by Whitey's bravery, gang boss Dawson proposes a collaboration to develop a special model aircraft for emergencies. However, when Flight 14 finally arrives with the payroll, Tommy and Whitey find themselves ensnared in a dangerous trap set by the gangsters.

In a daring escape attempt, Tommy and Whitey use their ingenuity to send a distress signal, leading to their eventual rescue by the police. Despite the harrowing ordeal, Whitey's heroism earns him recognition and sets the stage for the formation of an air scout troop, ultimately paving the way for a national organization led by Tailspin Tommy himself.

CAST & CREW
John Trent as Tailspin Tommy Tompkins
Marjorie Reynolds as Betty Lou
Milburn Stone as Skeeter
Jason Robards Sr. as Paul Smith
Tommy Baker as Whitey Lewis
Dennis Moore as Mike Lewis
Julius Tannen as Dawson
Eddie Parker as Williams
Joseph E. Bernard as Brown
Harry Harvey Jr. as Johnny
Walter Wills as Cap
Forrest Taylor appears uncredited as Police Radio Dispatcher.

Directed by: Howard Bretherton
Written by: Hal Forrest (comic strip "Tailspin Tommy"), Byron Morgan (screenplay), Edwin C. Parsons (screenplay)
Produced by: Paul Malvern
Cinematography: Fred Jackman Jr.
Edited by: Edward Schroeder
Production company: Monogram Pictures
Distributed by: Monogram Pictures
Release date: November 1, 1939
Running time: 65 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

NOTES
Sky Patrol is based on the comic strip Tailspin Tommy by Hal Forrest and Glenn Chaffin. The final offering of four "Tailspin Tommy" films made by Monogram Pictures, Danger Flight, was released on November 1, 1939.