Pilot No. 5

Pilot #5

Theatrical poster
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
Edited by George White
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • June 24, 1943 (1943-06-24)
Running time
 71 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $486,000[1]
Box office $969,000[1]

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.[2]

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 (Marsha 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):[3]

Casting included Peter Lawford who had an uncredited role as a British soldier.

Republic P-43 fighter

Production

The California facilities at Cal-Aero Aviation Training School (formerly Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute) were used for the wartime sequence. A Republic P-43 Lancer was prominently featured as the sole remaining fighter aircraft in Java.[2]

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[4] 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.[2]

Reception

Not given any major promotion and considered a "B" feature in the MGM lot, Pilot #5 was mainly a forgettable flagwaver, typical of the period.[5] It didn't fare well with audiences or critics.[6] More recent reviews have noted it provides a historical context, but mainly remains a curio.[7] 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.[8]

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $669,000 in the US and Canada and $300,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $174,000.[1]

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. 1 2 3 "Notes: Pilot No. 5." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Credits: Pilot No. 5 (1943)." IMDb. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Pilot No. 5." Lisa Freemont Pages. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ Evans 2000, p. 145.
  6. ↑ Nixon, Rob. "Article: Pilot No. 5." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Pilot #5." U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved: May 8, 2012.
  8. ↑ "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.

Further reading

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