Испытательный пилот (1938)

1938 American film directed by Victor Fleming

One day, Gunner accompanies Jim on a test flight of a new bomber (a Y1B 17, a pre production Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress prototype). Upon reaching 30000 feet (9144 m), the bomber goes into a spin and sandbags (substituting for the weight of bombs) break loose, pinning Gunner. Unwilling to bail out without his buddy, Jim manages to crash land, and pulls a badly injured Gunner out of the wreckage right before it burst into flames, but it is too late for Gunner. When Jim realizes the toll his job has taken on his wife, he gives it up and joins the United States Army Air Corps.

Test Pilot brought together three of the most bankable Hollywood stars of the period, but while Loy and Gable became friends, an uneasy relationship existed between Tracy and Gable. At the climax of a lengthy take where he was cradling his comrade's head in his arms, Gable was reported to have said, "Die, goddamn it, Spence! I wish to Christ you would!" and dropped Tracy's head with a thud. Principal photography took place from December 1, 1937, to February 18, 1938, at MGM studios and on location at Van Nuys, California, Lindbergh Field (San Diego), March Field, California, and at the Cleveland National Air Races, with retakes on March 30 to early April 1938. Test Pilot utilized authentic United States Army Air Corps airfield settings and was able to obtain rights to film using Boeing's new Y1B 17, which was destined to become the progenitor of the wartime B 17 bomber series. The Drake Bullet was actually the SEV S2 NR70Y, a modified civilian racer version of the U. S. Army Air Corps P 35. The other test aircraft that is flown to its top diving speed is a Northrop A 17 attack bomber. Renowned movie stunt pilot Paul Mantz served as the second unit director in charge of the flying sequences. Although uncredited, real life test pilot Sammy Wroath did the flying sequences.

Proving to be an "audience pleaser" and becoming one of MGM's top money makers in 1938, Test Pilot also found favor with critics. Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times called it "a bang up aviation drama It is a generous show by any reckoning, long in its running time, star studded and spectacular, and Victor Fleming, its director, has paced it wisely." Film Daily raved, "Spectacular romance thriller It can't miss." Harrison's Reports wrote, "Excellent entertainment Other air pictures have been made; but for sheer thrills, this one leads them all because of the realistic way it has been done." John Mosher of The New Yorker wrote that while aviation films with fine flying scenes had already been done, those in this picture were "superior to the average". Today, it is considered a significant aviation film by historians due to the use of contemporary aircraft. Even at the time of its release, Variety noted that the "story bespeaks authority in detail, obviously explained by the fact that Capt. Frank Wead, who authored the original, has had (a) practical aviation background." Both Loy and Tracy (despite his obvious scene stealing battles with Gable) later claimed Test Pilot was their favorite film.

According to MGM records, Test Pilot earned $2,431,000 in the U. S. and $1,472,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $967,000.

Test Pilot was nominated for Best Picture at the 11th Academy Awards, while Wead was nominated for Best Story, and Tom Held for Best Film Editing.