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{{short description|1933 film}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Central Airport
| name = Central Airport
| image = Central-airport-1933.jpg
| image = Central-airport-1933.jpg
| caption = Theatrical film poster
| caption = [[Film poster|Theatrical film poster]]
| director = [[William A. Wellman]]<br>[[Alfred E. Green]] (uncredited)
| director = [[William A. Wellman]]<br>[[Alfred E. Green]] (uncredited)
| producer = [[Hal B. Wallis]]
| producer = [[Hal B. Wallis]]
| writer = Jack Moffitt <br> [[Rian James]] <br> James Seymour
| writer = Jack Moffitt<br>[[Rian James]]<br>James Seymour
| starring = [[Richard Barthelmess]]<br>[[Sally Eilers]]
| starring = [[Richard Barthelmess]]<br>[[Sally Eilers]]
| music =
| music = [[Leo F. Forbstein]]
| cinematography = [[Sidney Hickox]]
| cinematography = [[Sidney Hickox]]
| editing = James B. Morley
| editing = James B. Morley
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = {{film date|1933|4|15}}
| released = {{film date|1933|04|15}}
| runtime = 72 minutes
| runtime = 72 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget = $421,000<ref name="warners">Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 13 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551</ref>
| budget = $356,000 (estimated)}}
| gross = $747,000<ref name="warners"/>

'''''Central Airport''''' is a 1933 American film starring [[Richard Barthelmess]] and [[Sally Eilers]], directed by [[William A. Wellman]] (with [[Alfred E. Green]], uncredited), produced and released by [[Warner Bros.]] [[John Wayne]] had an unbilled part, as a co-pilot, and this film features his first on-screen death.
{{multiple image
| align=left
| direction=vertical
| width=150
| header=
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| image1=BarthelmessCreditCentralAirport1933Trailer.jpg
⚫
| image2=EilersCreditCentralAirport1933Trailer.jpg
⚫
| image3=MainTitleCentralAirp1933Trailer.JPG
}}
}}
'''''Central Airport''''' is a 1933 American [[Pre-Code Hollywood|pre-Code]] [[aviation]] [[drama film]] directed by [[William A. Wellman]] (with [[Alfred E. Green]], uncredited), based on the John C. "Jack" Moffitt story, "Hawk's Mate".<ref>Farmer 1984, p. 298.</ref> The film stars [[Richard Barthelmess]] and [[Sally Eilers]]. ''Central Airport'' was produced and released by [[Warner Bros.]], on April 15, 1933.<ref>[http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=4011 "The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: 'Central Airport' (1933)."] ''afi.com'', 2019. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.</ref> [[John Wayne]] had an uncredited part in the film, playing a co-pilot, and this film features his first on-screen death.

==Plot==
After his aircraft crashes in a thunderstorm, commercial pilot Jim Blaine is blackballed and unable to find a job flying. Depressed, he begins working as a bank teller until he meets beautiful Jill Collins, a [[barnstorming]] [[parachuting|parachutist]] working with her daredevil pilot brother. Jim is immediately attracted to Jill, and when her brother is killed in a freak crash, he reveals his past and volunteers to replace her dead sibling in their act. As they tour throughout the Southwest, their affection turns physically intimate.

Jim, believes that his risky lifestyle precludes the luxury of a wife and family while Jill wants marriage. When Jim's brother Neil "Bud" joins them, he too is immediately attracted to Jill, but respects his brother's relationship; but after another freak accident puts Jim in the hospital for a prolonged convalescence, Jim returns to find them married and in bed together. Angry and bitter, he becomes a [[mercenary|soldier of fortune]] and loses an eye and a leg flying for the Communist rebels in China and Chile.

After a prolonged estrangement, a chastened Jim goes to Cuba to rejoin Bud and Jill but finds his brother's aircraft has gone down in a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. With only a short window of opportunity to save Bud and his passengers, Jim volunteers to go into the storm to save his brother.

After finding the downed aircraft and saving all the passengers, he flies back but a heavy fog comes in and Jim cannot see well enough to land. All the cars in the city then line up in an old airfield, and with the help of their headlights and horns, Jim lands safely. Realizing how much Bud loves Jill, Jim leaves town again, but this time on better terms with his brother.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Richard Barthelmess]] as James "Jim" Blaine
* [[Richard Barthelmess]] as James "Jim" Blaine
* [[Sally Eilers]] as Jill Collins
* [[Sally Eilers]] as Jill Collins
* [[Tom Brown (actor)|Tom Brown]] as Neil "Bud" Blaine
* [[Tom Brown (actor)|Tom Brown]] as Neil "Bud" Blaine
* [[Grant Mitchell (actor)|Grant Mitchell]] as Mr. Blaine
* [[Grant Mitchell (actor)|Grant Mitchell]] as Mr. Blaine
* [[James Murray (actor)|James Murray]] as Eddie Hughes
* [[James Murray (American actor)|James Murray]] as Eddie Hughes
* [[Claire McDowell]] as Mrs. Blaine
* [[Claire McDowell]] as Mrs. Blaine
* [[Willard Robertson]] as Havana Airport Manager
* [[Willard Robertson]] as Havana Airport Manager
* Arthur Vinton as Amarillo Airport Manager
⚫
* [[John Wayne]] as co-pilot in plane wreck (uncredited)
* [[Louise Beavers]] as Hotel Maid (uncredited)
* [[Harrison Greene]]
* [[Harrison Greene]] as Pomona Air Circus Announcer (uncredited)
* [[Fred Toones]] as El Paso Craps Shooter (uncredited)
⚫
* [[John Wayne]] as co-pilot in aircraft wreck (uncredited)
* [[Lester Dorr]] as hotel desk clerk (uncredited)
{{div col end}}

==Production==
Production on ''Central Airport'' took place at [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Wilson Airport]] and [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|United Airport]], [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], California.<ref>Stafford, Jeff. [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/986/Central-Airport/articles.html "Articles: 'Central Airport' (1933)."] ''TCM.com'', 2019. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.</ref> The film showcased a number of contemporary aircraft, all gathered under the direction of noted [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] pilot [[Paul Mantz]].<ref>Wynne 1987, pp. 131–132.</ref> The aircraft included:
* [[Alexander Eaglerock]]
⚫
* [[American Eagle A-101]]
* [[Fairchild 71]]
* four [[Ford Trimotor|Ford Tri-motor]] three-engined airliners
* [[Pitcairn Mailwing|Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing]]
* [[Stearman C3]]
* two [[Travel Air 2000|Travel Air 4000]] [[biplanes]]<ref name="Beck">Beck 2016, p. 28.</ref>

Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo in ''From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema'' (1995), considered that ''Central Airport'' "proved to be one of Paul Mantz's most dangerous films." Two crashes punctuated the action and in one of them, Mantz suffered a broken collar bone when he rolled out of a careening aircraft and was struck by the tailwheel.<ref>Pendo 1985, p. 275.</ref><gallery mode=packed heights=100px>
⚫
File:BarthelmessCreditCentralAirport1933Trailer.jpg
⚫
File:EilersCreditCentralAirport1933Trailer.jpg
⚫
File:MainTitleCentralAirp1933Trailer.JPG
</gallery>

==Reception==
Mordaunt Hall in his review of ''Central Airport'' for ''[[The New York Times]]'', did not see it more than "... a most obvious affair". The only redeeming aspect was an exciting final scene, "This closing sequence, which takes place in Havana waters, is moderately effective, with scores of automobiles all tooting their horns to direct the aviator lost in the supposedly thick fog.<ref name="NYT">
Hall, Mordaunt. [https://www.nytimes.com/1933/05/04/archives/an-aviation-drama.html "An aviation drama."] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (NYTimes.com), May 4, 1933. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.</ref>

Aviation film historian Michael Paris in ''Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation'' (1984), considered ''Central Airport'' as "... the first feature to look seriously at civil aviation ... it does show something of the background of the development of air transport and the workings of a busy commercial airport."<ref name="Paris1">Paris 1995, p. 71.</ref>

===Box office===
According to Warner Bros, ''Central Airport'' earned $393,000 domestically and $354,000 foreign.<ref name="warners"/>

===Preservation===
* The [[Library of Congress]] has an archived print of ''Central Airport''.<ref>"Catalog of Holdings." ''The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress''. Los Angeles: The American Film Institute, 1978, p. 28.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[John Wayne filmography]]
* [[John Wayne filmography]]

⚫
* [[List of American films of 1933]]
==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Beck, Simon D. ''The Aircraft-Spotter's Film and Television Companion''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2016. {{ISBN|978-1-4766-2293-4}}.
* Farmer, James H. ''Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation''. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. {{ISBN|978-0-83062-374-7}}.
* Paris, Michael. ''From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema.'' Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-7190-4074-0}}.
* Pendo, Stephen. ''Aviation in the Cinema''. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. {{ISBN|0-8-1081-746-2}}.
* Wynne, H. Hugh. ''The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. {{ISBN|0-933126-85-9}}.
{{Refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Central Airport (1933 film)}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0023878|title=Central Airport}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0023878|title=Central Airport}}
* {{allmovie|86896|Central Airport}}

{{commons category|Central Airport 1933 film|Central Airport}}
* {{tcmdb title|id=986|Central Airport}}
* {{AFI film|id=4011|title=Central Airport}}
* [http://pre-code.com/central-airport-1933-review-richard-barthelmess/ Stills] at pre-code.com


{{William A. Wellman}}
{{William A. Wellman}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Airport}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Airport}}
[[Category:1933 films]]
[[Category:1933 films]]
[[Category:1930s drama films]]
[[Category:1933 drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:Aviation films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American aviation films]]
⚫
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by William A. Wellman]]
[[Category:Films directed by William A. Wellman]]
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[[Category:English-language films]]
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[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Hal B. Wallis]]
[[Category:Films produced by Hal B. Wallis]]
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[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
{{1930s-drama-film-stub}}
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[[Category:1930s American films]]

Latest revision as of 07:20, 1 August 2024

Central Airport
Theatrical film poster
Directed byWilliam A. Wellman
Alfred E. Green (uncredited)
Written byJack Moffitt
Rian James
James Seymour
Produced byHal B. Wallis
StarringRichard Barthelmess
Sally Eilers
CinematographySidney Hickox
Edited byJames B. Morley
Music byLeo F. Forbstein
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • April 15, 1933 (1933-04-15)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$421,000[1]
Box office$747,000[1]

Central Airport is a 1933 American pre-Code aviation drama film directed by William A. Wellman (with Alfred E. Green, uncredited), based on the John C. "Jack" Moffitt story, "Hawk's Mate".[2] The film stars Richard Barthelmess and Sally Eilers. Central Airport was produced and released by Warner Bros., on April 15, 1933.[3] John Wayne had an uncredited part in the film, playing a co-pilot, and this film features his first on-screen death.

Plot

[edit]

After his aircraft crashes in a thunderstorm, commercial pilot Jim Blaine is blackballed and unable to find a job flying. Depressed, he begins working as a bank teller until he meets beautiful Jill Collins, a barnstorming parachutist working with her daredevil pilot brother. Jim is immediately attracted to Jill, and when her brother is killed in a freak crash, he reveals his past and volunteers to replace her dead sibling in their act. As they tour throughout the Southwest, their affection turns physically intimate.

Jim, believes that his risky lifestyle precludes the luxury of a wife and family while Jill wants marriage. When Jim's brother Neil "Bud" joins them, he too is immediately attracted to Jill, but respects his brother's relationship; but after another freak accident puts Jim in the hospital for a prolonged convalescence, Jim returns to find them married and in bed together. Angry and bitter, he becomes a soldier of fortune and loses an eye and a leg flying for the Communist rebels in China and Chile.

After a prolonged estrangement, a chastened Jim goes to Cuba to rejoin Bud and Jill but finds his brother's aircraft has gone down in a storm in the Gulf of Mexico. With only a short window of opportunity to save Bud and his passengers, Jim volunteers to go into the storm to save his brother.

After finding the downed aircraft and saving all the passengers, he flies back but a heavy fog comes in and Jim cannot see well enough to land. All the cars in the city then line up in an old airfield, and with the help of their headlights and horns, Jim lands safely. Realizing how much Bud loves Jill, Jim leaves town again, but this time on better terms with his brother.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Production on Central Airport took place at Wilson Airport and United Airport, Burbank, California.[4] The film showcased a number of contemporary aircraft, all gathered under the direction of noted Hollywood pilot Paul Mantz.[5] The aircraft included:

Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo in From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema (1995), considered that Central Airport "proved to be one of Paul Mantz's most dangerous films." Two crashes punctuated the action and in one of them, Mantz suffered a broken collar bone when he rolled out of a careening aircraft and was struck by the tailwheel.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Mordaunt Hall in his review of Central Airport for The New York Times, did not see it more than "... a most obvious affair". The only redeeming aspect was an exciting final scene, "This closing sequence, which takes place in Havana waters, is moderately effective, with scores of automobiles all tooting their horns to direct the aviator lost in the supposedly thick fog.[8]

Aviation film historian Michael Paris in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1984), considered Central Airport as "... the first feature to look seriously at civil aviation ... it does show something of the background of the development of air transport and the workings of a busy commercial airport."[9]

Box office

[edit]

According to Warner Bros, Central Airport earned $393,000 domestically and $354,000 foreign.[1]

Preservation

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 13 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. ^ Farmer 1984, p. 298.
  3. ^ "The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: 'Central Airport' (1933)." afi.com, 2019. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.
  4. ^ Stafford, Jeff. "Articles: 'Central Airport' (1933)." TCM.com, 2019. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Wynne 1987, pp. 131–132.
  6. ^ Beck 2016, p. 28.
  7. ^ Pendo 1985, p. 275.
  8. ^ Hall, Mordaunt. "An aviation drama." The New York Times (NYTimes.com), May 4, 1933. Retrieved: June 2, 2019.
  9. ^ Paris 1995, p. 71.
  10. ^ "Catalog of Holdings." The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress. Los Angeles: The American Film Institute, 1978, p. 28.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Beck, Simon D. The Aircraft-Spotter's Film and Television Companion. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2016. ISBN 978-1-4766-2293-4.
  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
  • Paris, Michael. From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-7190-4074-0.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN 0-933126-85-9.
[edit]
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