Stunt Pilot (Monogram) (1939)

rhe story of TAILSPIN TOMMY aa “STUNT PILOT”. SSSS SOSSS GOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS POSSS SSS SS SSS SSSSSSSSSSSS SOSSSSSS OS POSS SSSSS< 4 % bite *S SSSSSSSSSS SESS SIS SS SSS SSS SSS SCSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS A movie company is shooting a war picture at Three Point, i Tailspin Tommy (JOHN TRENT) is acting as a stunt pilot in ths film. A near accident results in a screen thrill, but Tommy is incensed by Director Sheehan's (PAT O'MALLEY) complete disregard for human life, so he quits. Sheehan sends for another pilot, and it is Earl Martin (GEORGE MEEKER) who arrives. Martin is a reckless pilot, trying any aerial stunt for a thrill. Tommy and he get into a fight when Martin takes Betty Lou (MARJORIE REYNOLDS) for a ride in a plane that is practically faliing apart. Sheehan offers Tommy $500 for a movie fight in the air with Martin, which Tommy refuses saying that the stunt is needlessly dangerous. But Skeeter (MILBURN STONE), Tommy's pal, who needs the money for his sick sister, takes the job. Tommy discovers this and binds Skeeter, taking his place. The two pilots go into a dog fight, using their machine guns. When the fight starts, Tommy opens up with the machine gun, and Martin is killed. It is discovered that real bullets had been used instead of blanks. Tommy is accused of murder. He and Skeeter and Betty Lou try to JOHN TRENT One Col. Cut or Mat No. 1 POSS OS SSS SSS SSSSS figure out who had a motive to kill Martin. Tommy remembers a conversation he had overheard between Martin and Sheehan, wherein they had quarrelled and Sheehan had said he would never forgive Martin for an incident that occurred in the past. Tommy secretly takes off in a plane to catch the train that is carrying the movie company back to Hollywood, with the police on his trail. In the meantime Skeeter's nephew Bobby (BUDDY COX) reveals that he had been in Tommy's plane before he took off on the fatal flight, and had been taking pictures with a camera gun. Skeeter and Betty Lou develop the pictures, and find one of Sheehan tinkering with Tommy's machine gun. They go to the sheriff, and a posse goes after the train in an airplane. Tommy catches the train and faces Sheehan with his theory of the murder. Sheehan admits killing Martin, saying that years before the flyer had eloped with Sheehan's wife. The director is about to shoot Tommy when Skeeter and the sheriff arrive. Sheehan kills himself, and the sheriff compliments Tommy and Skeeter and Betty Lou on their help in solving the case, and offers them a job with the Border Patrol, which they accept. Milburn Stone Had Heart Set On Acting Career Milburn Stone, who plays Skeeter in Monogram’s “Stunt Pill. «-DOW AL U0, .actecacsedcee te theatre, never ae any trouble deciding upon a career. His father, a grain merchant in Burrton, Kansas, wanted his son to become either a lawyer or an actor, but from the very first Mil decided he wanted to be an actor. Young Milburn was probably in SLUGGED fluenced in this decision by his distinguished uncle, Fred Stone, and his and Dorothy who are all in the theatre. cousins, Paula, Carol, Stone, When the boy finished high school, he got his first opportunity to enter the theatre when he was engaged as a juvenile in a stock company in his neighboring town, Katchican, Kansas. For six years the pride of Burrton toured the middle west in stock. In 1933 he made his Broadway debut in “Jayhawker”, and until 1936 appeared on the stage in vaudeville and in Broadway plays. In 1937 Milburn Stone came to Hollywood, and made his film debut in “They Gave Him a Gun”, with Spencer Tracy and Franchot Tone. He then made “Blazing Barriers”, “The Thirteenth Man”, and “Federal Bul lets” in rapid succession for Monogram. Stone is one of the most capable young actors in pictures. He can play comedy, juveniles, and villains with although he prefers vil lainous roles. Marjorie Reynolds discovers Milburn Stone in an empty hangar after he has been assaulted in Monogram’s “Stunt Pilot” at the. ..... faa Ren theatre. John Trent is the Tailspin Tommy of the new series, adapted from the popular cartoon strip. One Col. Cut or Mat No. 2 equal ease, When Monogram decided to make the “Tailspin Tommy” series with John Trent in the title role, Milburn Stone was the only one tested for the part of the likeable “personality kid”, Skeeter. Under contract to Monogram for the Tailspin Tommy series, Stone is allowed to make outside pictures. His most recent are “Blind Alley” and “Young Mr. SOSSt Authentic War Planes Used In Air Film! All the planes used in the Lincoln”. “Stunt Pilot” concerns the adven tures of Tailspin Tommy, Skeeter and Betty Lou, war sequences in and tells how they solve Monogram’s “Stunt Pilot’, a ads which is the story of the making of a war time mo: 3 tion picture, actually were Outstanding in the cast are Marused in the war. jorie Reynolds, Jason Robards, Pat “Stunt Pilot” stars John O'Malley, and Wesley Barry. Trent, with Milburn Stone and Marjorie Reynolds in George Waggner directed from the the supporting cast. screenplay by Scott Darling and Joseph West. | Stone, CAST = Tailspin Tommy ‘ JOHN TRENT : Betty Lou » MARJORIE REYNOLDS Skeeter MILBURN STONE f= | Pe eeerineee re .Jason Robards Sheehan.............. Pat O'Malley Earl Martin George Meeker Glentinineas..:. Wesley Barry Sheriff....George Cleveland fF -) aemeonee tees ceeateee Johnny Day Charilie............ Charles Morton \ thele cy eae Mary Fields Bobby. 2062208 Buddy Cox POSSSSS CSOSSSSSSS STAR CAST IN oe FILOa” AT ........ THEATRE Monogram has lined up a special cast for ‘Stunt Pilot”, the second o the “Tailspin Tommy” adventure story series, which is playing now at the Bre ter et theatre. John Trent, who plays Tailspin Tommy, is a former transport pilot, and thus ideally suited to his role of the daredevil of the air. Trent is also a Lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve, and flies his own plane. Marjorie Reynolds plays Betty Lou. Miss Reynolds was last seen in Monogram’s “Streets of New York”, which starred Jackie Cooper. She is now one of the “most in demand” of the younger actresses. Two old favorites appear in prominent roles. Pat. O’Malley, beloved silent star, is seen as the motion picture director, Sheehan, and his assistant director is Wesley Barry, one of the sereen’s first child stars. Others in the cast include Milburn George Cleveland, Jason Robards, George Meeker, Mary Fields, and little Buddy Cox. “Stunt Pilot” continues the adventures of Betty Lou, Skeeter and Tailspin Tommy, and tells how they solve a Hollywood murder. George Waggner directed from the screenplay by Scott Darling and Joseph West. John Trent’s Break Came Like Bolt From The Blue Star of “Tailspin Tommy” Films Discovered Piloting Airplane A review of John Trent’s life reveals romance, high adventure, singular courage, but nothing to indicate his ultimate arrival in Hollywood. Trent, who plays “Tailspin Tommy” in Monogram’s “Stunt Pilot”, now at thessn FB theatre, was born 29 years ago in Orange, California, on his father’s extensive ranch. Trent’s real name is LaVerne Browne, and _ his father, Edwin J. Browne, is a prominent Southern California orange grower. Then one day in 1936, B. P. Schulberg of Paramount was flying home from New York. Feminine members of his party pointed out the attractive young pilot to the producer, and Schulberg, after a talk with Trent, was so impressed with his personality that he offered the flyer a_ sereen test. And without benefit of experience, the aviator played his first role in “John Meade’s Woman” soon after. Next he played a lead in “A Doctor’s Diary”. The fan mail poured in, from John became interested in aviation ; men as well as women. after graduation from high school, set his heart upon becoming a pilot, "and learned to fly at the Air Tech School at San Diego, California. Later, upon perceiving that modern pilots must have technical knowledge, John attended the Hancock Foundation College, at Santa Maria, California, and was graduated as an accredited engineer. By dint of hard work, stinting, and saving, John bought himself a plane, an old Fairchild cabin job, in order to get the 2000 certified air hours required before a pilot can set foot in a passenger plane, even as a co-pilot. TWA hired John as a co-pilot in the summer of 1934, and he served in that capacity for about 18 months, flying between Hollywood and Kansas City, Mo. He was then made a Captain Pilot and transferred to the Kansas City, New York run. Trent has made about eight pictures since then, including “Let’s Talk About Love” and “Blossoms on Broadway”. Then came his biggest break. When Monogram bought the rights to the “Tailspin Tommy” cartoon strip for picture purposes, John Trent seemed a natural for the top role. “Mystery Plane”, the first in this series, proved this fact, and now Trent is garnering all sorts of fan mail as “Tailspin Tommy”. The second of the series “Stunt Pilot”, is a mystery action drama, and concerns murder in the movies, with Tommy and Skeeter acting as stunt pilots for a motion picture company, and solving the crime. Outstanding in the cast are Milburn Stone, Marjorie Reynolds, Wesley Barry, Pat O’Malley, and Jason Robards. AN ENTERTAINMENT SALUTE Reading from right to left are John Trent as Tailspin Tommy, Marjorie Reynolds as Betty Lou, and Milburn Stone as Skeeter in Monogram’s “Stunt Pilot” , now playing at the... theatre, based on the famous cartoon strip. Two Col. Cut or Mat No. 3