Ceiling Zero (Warner Bros.) (1936)

Jake Lee (Pat O’Brien), in charge of pilots at the Federal Air Lines, Newark, has located his buddy, Dizzy Davis, (James Cagney) and has given him a job. Dizzy is enroute to Newark but has been delayed by woman trouble. Dizzy is a devil with the women and one of his former sweethearts is Jake’s wife, Mary (Martha Tibbetts), although Jake knows nothing about it. Jake has had plenty of trouble trying to convince Al Stone (Barton MacLane), manager of the air line, of Dizzy’s reliability and Dizzy doesn’t help things any by flying into the airport upside down to be confronted by a Department of Commerce man who threatens to revoke his license. Dizzy has applied for a renewal of his license and there is a possibility it will not be given to him because of a physical disability. Dizzy is warmly greeted by Jake and by his other buddy Tex Clarke (Stuart Erwin). One of the first persons Dizzy sees is Tommy Thomas (June Travis), air hostess, who is engaged to Tay Lawson (Henry Wadsworth). Dizzy immediately starts making love to Tommy. On his first day at work Dizzy pretends illness so he can take Tommy out. Tex takes the run for him and is caught in the fog on his way back. He finally crashes to his death on the landing field. Though heartbroken over his friend’s death, Dizzy is so attracted to Tommy that he gives her the key to his apartment and arranges to meet her there. However, the meeting never’ takes place. Word comes through from Washington that his license will not be renewed. Faced with having to stop flying, Dizzy does the finest act of his life. Lawson, who has invented a de-icer for planes, is about to take off in the darkness and storm on a test run. Dizzy knocks him out and takes his place. He fights the snow and sleet and is forced lower and lower. Jake keeps in contact with Dizzy by radio urging him to jump out of the plane, but Dizzy has no parachute. Finally, the radio goes dead and later Dizzy’s plane whirls into a crash. Jake, broken and tense, hangs Dizzy’s tag under the ‘‘Washed Out’’ sign on the bulletin board. Jake Lee Tommy Thomas Texas Clarke Al Stone Tay Lou Clarke Buzz WROMON Stee a ese Director Stage and Screen Play by Photography oY .......0......0.ceccc0c000: Film Editor CEILING ZERO with James Cagney — Pat O’Brien June Travis — Stuart Erwin — Barton Maclane 40% Henry Wadsworth — Martha Tibbetts Isabel Jewell Directed by Howard Hawks A Cosmopolitan Production *NOTE ee, Mane Sean James Cagney kh Se Pat O’Brien oan einai ReROrISE June Travis a Stuart Erwin ARR eee Mea Barton MacLane We Nee ee Henry Wadsworth Coast ae ee Martha Tibbetts Seo Dien oe Isabel Jewell Wagsevein oe Craig Reynolds SSE ee eae Richard Pureell ‘See Coa Carlyle Moore, Jr. Vane Addison Richards Bran iia, aa ee, Gary Owen OF Cth ai AAG Edward Gargan See ee Robert Light SS visik te eS James Bush Ec ee Howard Hawks Rint ee Frank Wead cA eee Arthur Edeson Pee Shir ee ae William Holmes ES Soe John Hughes eS are Leo. F. Forbstein 100% 90% 20% 20% 25% 25% Released by First National Productions Corp. and the Vitaphone Corp. 5% *NOTE: This credit must appear in the same trade mark lettering as used on the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine. PRODUCTION INFORMATION Dramatized biographies, stressing highlights in the lives of the stars, as well as interesting personal notes of their hobbies and accomplishments, arranged so that editors may use them with a minimum of editing. The half column cuts may be used with or without the star silhouettes. JAMES CAGNEY He made a reputation as the toughest man on the screen — the film world’s deadliest gunman — He has the largest collection of guns and weapons in Hollywood — yet he has never shot at a living thing in his life — He is identified in the public mind with the quarrelsome, woman punching characters he so often portrayed — Yet he never drinks — He is a serious student of music — Is one of the country’s best amateur pianists — Is a talented artist — Has been a bell hop, a waiter (at the Friars Club), a broker’s clerk, a package wrap Mat No. 101—10e per in a department store — a chorus boy — dancing teacher — an actor in vaudeville — then got a chance on Broadway. Playing a bit in the same show was Joan Blondell — Both youngsters caught the attention of movie scouts — Both soon became stars — Cagney is married — Is not a mixer — Has starred in more than 20 feature pictures for Warner Bros. — Won world wide fame by remarkable portrayal of ‘‘Bottom’’ in the Reinhardt production of ‘‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’’ — Co-starred with Pat O’Brien in the tremendously successful pictures ‘‘ Here Comes the Navy,’’ ‘‘Devil Dogs of the Air’’ and ‘‘The Irish in Us’’ — Starred in the first of the many Department of Justice films ‘‘G Men’? — Now again co-starred with Pat O’Brien in ‘‘Ceiling Zero’? which comes to the ............. THERE ON: «....6ss.000---2 5 MacLANE He was born in Columbia, S. C. on Christmas day, 1902 — He was educated in the schools of Cromwell, Conn., and at Wesleyan University where he was an outstanding football and basketball star— His prowess as a football player won him a chance to go into pictures with Richard Dix in the football movie ‘‘Quarterback.’’?’ — His work in ‘‘G Men”? established him as the screen’s No. 1 Public Enemy — He is a playwright and has already authored one Broadway production ‘‘Rendezvous’’ — He plays golf for exercise and works about the small ranch he owns at Encino — He has formed, and captains, a basketball team composed of film actors — Has recently appeared in ‘‘Frisco Kid,’’ **Dr. Socrates’? and was the featured player in ‘‘Man of Iron.’’ —Now is appearing with James Cagney and Pat O’Brien in ‘‘CeilING AOL? at sthes serctcisvisk oecsiesees TAR CILNOUETTE Mat No. 102—10e 2 Theatre. James Cagney, co-star with Pat O’Brien in the great air drama ‘‘Ceiling Zero,’’ which comes to CRE Acorn ea PRCUUNE ON: S2.. Boe. A and June Travis, who won a lead ing romantic role in her second film. Mat No. 107—10ce CTAR CILuouETTE JUNE TRAVIS She has brown hair and green eyes — and a strange magnetic charm — She never had appeared on the professional stage and had absolutely no film experience — yet she won a contract from Warner Bros. and was Mat No. 104—100 *#8!gned to an important role in ‘‘Stranded’’ with Kay Francis — In her second picture she has the feminine lead — She was born in Chicago and is the daughter of Harry Grabiner, vice president and general manager of the Chicago White Sox — She is 20 years old — and at college starred in swimming, basketball and hockey — Now she plays badminton and swims for exercise — Her hobbies are music and painting — She still is considered one of the best feminine hockey players in the country and has organized a soft ball team in Hollywood — She was taught to fly by Amelia Earhart for ‘Ceiling Zero’’ and has gone in for aviation in a big way — She 18: COMING: 10-0G=. anise Theatre with James Cagney and Pat O’Brien in ‘‘Ceiling Zero’’ Length of Film 8761 ft. Running Time 95 mins. O’BRIEN He was a famous football star at Marquette University where he studied law — He served in the navy during the World War — He has the record of being the only man in history who quit the stage because he was referred to as being one of the ten ‘‘best looking actors’’ — He ecouldn’t stand being typed as ‘‘handsome’* — He went back on the stage for a leading role in ‘‘Front Page’’ and was ealled to Hollywood for the same part in the film version — Hig one ambition, above all others — ig to make a permanent independent home for his wife and child — Has a collection of more than 1,000 different kinds of smoking pipes, ranging from clays to a Turkish hookah — Is married to Eloise Taylor, whom Rudolph Valentino once called the ‘‘most beautiful girl in Iowa’’ — Owns a mansion in Brentwood Heights that is famous for its hospitality — Has been president of Hollywood’s Masquers’ Club — Has co-starred with James Cagney in several notable pictures, ‘‘ Here Comes the Navy,’’ ‘‘Devil Dogs of the Air’’ and ‘‘The Irish in Us.’’ — Is a clever dancer and has danced and sung before the footlights — Now again co-starred with Cagney in ‘‘Ceiling Zero’? which opens at the Theatre on Mat No. 103—10e STUART ERWIN Stuart Erwin was born on St. Valentine’s Day, February 14 — He wanted to play serious roles but his apple red cheeks and chubby countenance coupled to his Squaw Valley Calif., drawl, made him change his ambitions — Now he is always cast in humorous roles —Entered the University of California but quit in his sophomore year to study for the stage — In his first production ‘‘The Open Gate,’’ he played five parts, straight, bearded, German, Irishman and Negro — He was kept at the Morosco Theatre for a year, then went with the Edward Everett Horton players — Went into the movies for a role in ‘‘Sally of My Dreams’’ — Has appeared in many productions — Now with James Cagney and Pat O’Brien in ‘¢Ceiling Zero’? at the .......00.... 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