Mystery Plane (Monogram) (1939)

“TALLSPIN TOMMY” CLICKS YSTERY PLANE? IN” John Trent Registers Strongly As Hero of Comic Strip Fame od | pi (Review ) % A new series of action pictures was introduced last night when Monogram’s “Mystery Plane” first of a group of features based on the adventures of “Tailspin Tommy,” opened at ENC Ger ce ee theatre: Like all the Tailspin Tommy pictures to come, “Mystery Plane” is based on the famous cartoon strip by wartime aviator Hal Forrest. The introductory picture shows Tommy first as a boy, loving aviation, and worshipping Captain Brandy Rand, former war ace, turned barnstormer, to the point of idolatry. Then Tommy has grown up, and he and his pal Skeeter and their girl, 3etty Lou, are demonstrating to the army and navy a new bombing device Tommy has invented. Enemy spies watch the demonstration, and later capture Tommy and Betty Lou and Skeeter to make them draw the plans for them. Then back into Tailspin Tommy’s life comes Captain Brandy Rand, in a dramatic fashion that adds poig AIR VIKING John Trent brings “Tailspin Tommy” to the screen in “Mystery Plane” at the theatre, the first of a series of Monogram pictures based on the popular comic strip. Marjorie Reynolds and Milburn Stone are also in the cast. Be, Col. Cut or Mat No. 9 Spottings John Trent, seen as “‘Tailspin Tommy” in Monogram’s “Mystery Planes at Thee «ne, theatre, is an accredited aeronautical engineer. He also has 3500 certified hours in the air. John Trent is attached to the Air Corps Reserve base in Long Beach, Calif., which makes him Hollywood’s only histrioniec aerial defender in case of war. Trent plays the role of ““Tailspin Tommy” in Monogram’s “Mystery Plane” at (iL Veena be tia Pe oe ee theatre. Milburn Stone collects American furniture. Stone plays the role of Skeeter in Monogram’s “Mystery Plane”’ at the theatre. John Trent has the starring role. Hal Forrest, who draws ithe popular newspaper strip, ‘“‘Tailspin Tommy”, was a newspaper reporter before turning cartoonist. Monogram’s “Mystery Plane” at the iE 8, Bete tle eae theatre is based on this strip with John Trent portraying Tommy. ON SCREEN oes LHEATRE MENACE HIGH IN: THE SKIES “Mystery Pla ne’ Film Soars To New Thrill Heights a Monogram Picture at Theatre, Based on Adventures of “Tailspin Tommy,” Has John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds and Milburn Stone in Cast John Trent and Marjorie Reynolds “Mystery Plane,” thrilling Monogram melodrama at the are at the mercy of air bandits in theatre, based on adventures of “Tailspin Tommy,” popular comic strip. Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 7 nancy and nobility to the thrilling climax that has the two men on opposing sides in a death battle. John Trent, former transport pilot, plays Tailspin Tommy, and is perfectly at home in the role, adding a note of authenticity to his portrait of the daring young aviator for most of the flying in the picture Trent did himself. The happy-go-lucky Skeeter is expertly portrayed by Milburn Stone, who is one of the most promising young actors on the screen. Betty Lou is Marjorie Reynolds. She has acting ability and fresh blonde beauty. semana VONTER! Others outstanding are Jason Robards in the role of Paul, friend to the flyers; Lucien Littlefield as the villainous Winslow; and Polly Ann Young as a beautiful spy. Special mention goes to Peter George Lynn for a splendid portrait of Brandy Rand, war ace who found civilian life too tame, The Tailspin Tommy series is produced by Paul Malvern for Monogram. Screenplay for “Mystery Plane” was the work of Paul Schofield and Joseph West, with George Wagener doing the directing. X6666666666660° Supervised Aerial Activity In : ‘Tex Rankin, World~Famed Air Devil, : Mongram’s “Mystery Plane’’ . y/ SOSSSSSSSSSSOSSSSSSSSSS SISOS *%& One of the greatest stunt pilots in the country served as technical director on Monogram’s “Mystery Plane” coming. HOMUNGS Mos ere theatre. He is Tex Rankin, devil-may-care flyer who has experienced practically every kind of stunt possible in a plane. Tex is also regarded as one of the busiest men in Hollywood. He instructs flying, arranges flight formations, flys for the movies, and in his spare time writes stories for several leading aviation magazines. At the Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles air shows, Rankin was one of the leading stunters. He competed against noted pilots from all over the country and was adjudged by fans as the best flyer to produce hair raising airobatics. “Mystery Plane” is one of the most timely features to be made in Hollywood. It concerns a ring of spies who endeavor to steal a deadly bombing device from three pals who hope to sell it to the United States government. The feature is also the first in a series of six based on the daring exploits of Tailspin Tommy from the newspaper cartoon strip by Hal Forrest, John Trent, a former transport pilot, portrays the title role of Tommy. Milburn Stone is seen as Skeeter and Marjorie Reynolds plays Betty Lou. Others in the cast include Lucien Littlefield, Polly Ann Young, Jason Robards, Peter George Lynn and Tommy Bupp. and Paul Malvern produced. George Waggner directed (oS Read °’Em At A Glance % Milburn Stone, who is seen as Skeeter in Monogram’s “Mystery PAW Ot OPATIVC cs Wis Speen, theatre, is a nephew of Fred Stone, the noted Broadway star. “Mystery Plane’ is based on the popular “Tailspin Tommy’ newspaper strip with John Trent seen as Tommy. *% “Tailspin Tommy”, the newspaper strip which Monogram’s “Mystery Plane” is based on, appears in more than 400 daily newspapers. This HCUUUNE OPGNS sortie. OE NPE) AA ama ae theatre with John Trent in the leading role. George Waggner directed. oe (Review ) % The adventures of daredevil Tailspin Tommy are the latest local screen fare, and Monogram’s “Mystery Plane”, now playing at the................. theatre, introduces the new series in a thrilling story of men with wings. “Mystery Plane” starts with the early life of Tommy Tomkins, and tells of his devotion to Captain Brandy Rand, former famous war ace. When Tommy grows up, he becomes “Tailspin Tommy”, “world’s greatest pilot”, according to Betty Lou, who loves him, and Skeeter, Tommy’s best friend. The three work for the government testing bombers, and then, when the plans are complete, all are captured by Winslow and his international spies, who want to steal the specifications. In this crisis of his life, Tailspin Tommy again meets Brandy Rand, idol of his childhood. But idols crash when Tommy finds out that Brandy too is a spy. C A dramatic climax ensues as Brandy makes a decision that saves Tommy’s life and the plans for the United States. “Mystery Plane” has everything — action, thrills, a sweet love story — and from the looks of this one the “Tailspin Tommy” series, based on the cartoon strip by Hal Forrest, is a sure fire winner. Three characters are in all the pictures. They are John Trent as “Tailspin Tommy”; Milburn Stone as “Skeeter”; and Marjorie Reynolds as Se pty elo. ‘Trent, a’ former transport pilot, knows flying, and adds authenticity to his role by actually flying in the picture. Stone makes “Skeeter” an excellent contrast to Trent’s seriousness. He is a happy-go-lucky, devil may care sort of a fellow. Marjorie Rey nolds is excellent as Betty Lou, the John Trent girl who loved Y% Col. Cut or Tommy from Mat No. 8 Childhood. George Wagener directed “Mystery Plane” from the screenplay by Paul Schofield and Joseph West. Paul Malvern was the producer. elie * John Trent has 3500 certified hours im the air. Trent was a transport pilot before he entered pictures. «dn Monogram’s “Mystery Plane’ at the ee theatre, he is seen as “Tail spin Tommy”, Discovered by film magnate B. P. Schulberg, John Trent, who plays “Tailspin Tommy’ in Monogram’s Ti ystery’ Plane® at tie wesce theatre, was a TWA transport pilot. be a pee ee FIRST MOVIE FLYING ROLE FOR AIR PILOT JOHN TRENT An ex-transport pilot, Trent had not played an aviator in motion pictures since his entry as an actor. “ flyer who can really fly. Naturally, it was a logical choice for Monogram to pick Trent from hundreds of other contestants for Tailspin Tommy” role in “Mystery Plane”. the prized Here is one actor who plays a No doubles for Trent. Trent is perhaps one of Hollywood greatest flying enthusiasts, along with other movie flyers including Paul Lukas, Wallace Beery, James Dunn and George Brent. Any one of these men can be seen at any of Southern California’s noted airports when not appearing before the cameras. SKY PIRATE John Trent is in a tight spot when Lucien Littlefield seeks to force him to divulge a valuable government air secret in “Mystery Plane,” high-flying air thriller now at the.................. theatre. Trent plays “Tailspin Tommy” in the Monogram picture, in which Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone. and Polly Ann Young have important roles. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 10 Trent has more than 3500 hours in the air and approximately 365,000 miles without an accident. Before he deserted his post as pilot on the Kansas City-New York run for a movie job, Trent kept busy writing for several air magazines. “Mystery Plane” is a thrilling and timely story of a ring of spies who try to obtain a bombing device designed by Tailspin Tommy and _ his two pals, Skeeter and Mary Lou. Milburn Stone is seen as Skeeter and Marjorie Reynolds as Mary Lou. “Mystery Plane’ was directed by George Wagener with Paul Malvern the producer. | Briefs Jason Robards first got his start in silent pictures appearing with the famous dog star, Rin-Tin-Tin. Robards has a prominent role in Monogram’s “Mystery Plane’’, first in a series of six features based on the newspaper _ strip, “Tailspin Tommy”, The film opens.................. BEEN ese. ae theatre. Paul Malvern, who produced Monogram’s “Mystery Plane’ at the theatre, started in the motion picture business as a stunt man. John Trent has the leading role in this feature.