China Clipper (Warner Bros.) (1936)

SES RrUNeagrenerTeneeneeris sSegseress perginaggesaciie ame E83 Ets) oatennes A First National picture by Commander Frank Wead, U.S.N., Retired, with Pat O’Brien, Beverly Roberts, Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart, Marie Wilson and Henry B. Walthall. Directed by Raymond Enright. Fictionized by HARRY NEIMEYER, JR. CHAPTER ONE Dave Logan stood by the rail on the ‘‘A’’ deck of the 5.8. Toyen Maru and scanned the throngs on the dock below. The Toyen Maru was docking in New York harbor, and Dave, returned from a lengthy trip in Japan, was searching for his wite among the hundreds that had assembled on the whart to watch the steamer’s Suddenly he saw her. “Jean, darling!” he called, cupping his hands before his lips. “Pll be off in a minute!” United on the dock, they held each other in a long embrace, “You've been away so long I was beginning to think I’d never had a husband,” announced Jean as she kissed Dave for the third time. “I’m sorry you had such hard luck on your trip,” she added, soberly. Dave’s bronzed face clouded. “What could I do?” he asked. “An English outfit beat me there by five days and put through the deal. It’ll be tough to face Horn. He doesn’t send agents to Japan to see the scenery.” Their speech was interrupted by a.low deep throated chorus of whistles and bells. “Tt must be Lindbergh!” Dave shouted to his wife. “He’s due in from. Paris today. Let’s get through the customs and join the arrival. crowd.” Half an hour later the two were among the milling throngs assembled to weleome home the lanky young man who had amazed the world by making the first solo flight across the Atlantic. “Some day everybody will be making hops like that by air,” said Dave as he watched the young aviator drive by. Jean looked at her husband quizzically. “Is the aviation bug getting you again?” she asked. “Tt’s always had me,” he answered as he began to guide her through the crowd. “Let’s get over to Horn’s office. He’ll be expecting me.” While Jean waited in the outer office, Dave talked with Horn, his employer. “You had tough luck, and I don’t blame you,” Horn was saying. “The only thing to do is to keep trying. Take a look at these eens ae #8 & tage aE aciaedosesesHaceaaiise ae gaeoP aaa a tee ERR aera eeanatemesera? suugaesrassguuineeeora seater eerecaaeeeee eee Bane keane SRsKs ttt tseeee tetris suSennestrrorsesai@eueseuseeisctiansssceeggan swReeS RE, Bann ange siagaasgesucns,,/tasazaeaemEReeuanes gonmews ZaBStategegees rite Ambition Is Bese ey apece san seuasesse Btassend@s Re-Born The reception given Lindbergh on his triumphant return from France renewed Dave’s determination. Lifting Jean high in his arms he de clared, ‘‘I’l build you a bridge across the Pacific Ocean—a bridge of airplanes.’’ (Pat O’Brien and Beverly Roberts in a scene from ‘‘China Clipper,’’ First National’s new drama of the airways which opens at LNG we Se eee ERCOULC ON ais. iss steno ) de Barros files for Rio. Maybe youll have better luck next time.” “There isn’t going to be any next time,’ said Dave, quietly. As Horn started to rise, Dave motioned to him to sit down and then continued: “Maybe I’m dizzy, but I just saw a kid airmail pilot from St. Louis. He flew from here to Paris.: Alone. Well, I’m going to do things like-that . maybe bigger.” In the outer office he confronted Jean. She read the expression on his face. “You’ve quit?” “Yes,” answered Dave. “Let’s get on home and I’ll tell you about it. ’m going to build a bridge across the Pacific,” he announced. “—An air bridge,” he added quickly as Jean opened her mouth in amazement. They made their first plans that night; and a few weeks later they were in Philadelphia where Dave, with the help of friends, established a passenger air service between that city and Washington. Unfortunately for Dave and his plans, the venture proved unsuccessful. B. C. Hill, a business man who had backed the line, withdrew his support at a time when it was most needed. Dave’s only encouragement came from his two partners in the business—“Dad” Brunn, a veteran aircraft designer, and Tom Collins, wartime flying corps buddy of Dave’s. The trio were sitting around the airport office after Hill had left. Tom Collins, a lanky, darkhaired young man, voiced his opinion of the whole affair: “Here we are, just getting started, and—zingo!” He snapped his fingers and looked at Dave and then at Dad Brunn. Dad SBrunn spoke _ quietly. “From the time I built my first plane nineteen years ago, I’ve had many setbacks. Don’t let this discourage you.” He looked at Dave, kindly. “IT won’t be discouraged,’ answered Dave. He stood up wearily. He was tired. “Well, where to now?” Tom. “Pack up, I guess,’ answered Dave, as he started for the door. “Get hold of the girls and we'll have a nice long wake!” (To Be Continued) asked Synopsis of Preceding Chapter Dave Logan, a former war aviator, had resigned from a lucrative job to follow his dream of establishing an air route across the Pacific Ocean. He is aided by his partners, ‘‘Dad’’ Brunn, a veteran aircraft designer and his war buddy, Tom Collins. enthusiastic over the venture. Dave’s wife, Jean, is loyal but not The partners fail in an attmept to estab lish a flying service bewteen Philadelphia and Washington, despite the impetus given aviation by Lindbergh’s flight to Paris. CHAPTER TWO They met that night in a little table d’hote restaurant near the airport — Dave, Jean, Brunn, Tom Collins and Sunny Avery, Tom’s “‘Dad’’ Brunn and ‘‘ Mother’’ fiancee. Dad Brunn was drawing intricate little designs on the tablecloth and explaining his plans. “*T think I have something,’’ he announced, thoughtfully. “Tt won’t be as large as the ship we've talked about. But it’s a start. It will be as big as we dare build it ... passengers like company. It should be a flying boat—capable of flying oceans. Something like this... He roughly sketched what was to become the first Brunn Amphibian while the others stood and looked over his shoulder. Dave made the first suggestion. “How about putting retractable wheels on it?” he asked. “—So we could use landing fields or water.” “T had thought about that,’ answered Dad. He continued his drawing as the others stood by silently and watched. When he had finished, Dave picked up the table cloth, folded it gently and put it in Dad’s coat pocket. “Let’s get to work on it, Dad,” he said. “V’ll help you all I ean, and I know the others will, too.” They left the restaurant in high spirits. A few months later found them in Key West. While waiting for Dad to complete his plans, Dave took what money he had left and a few hundred dollars which he borrowed and formed an air service between Key West and Havana. It was the day before the inaugural flight, and Dave, Tom and Dad Brunn were busy on a last-minute check-up of the rather flimsy looking ship which Dave was to fly to Havana. As Dave worked over the instrument panel in the pilot’s cockpit, a dark, middle-aged man approached the ship and called up to him. Dave looked down and recognized the man. He was “Hap” Stuart, a wartime flyer who had been in the service with him. “Hap!” called Dave. “You're a sight for sore eyes!” He climbed out of the cockpit and jumped to the ground. “What on earth brought you here?” “You know me,” answered Hap, smiling. “Just barnstorming around—looking for a flying job wherever I can find one.” “You’ve found one,” announced Dave, as he took the flyer by the arm and pulled him over to the spot where Dad and Tom were checking the motor. “Dad and Tom, I want you to meet a new member of our crew, ‘Hap’ Stuart —we flew together in the war.” That evening, Dave insisted that Hap accompany him to his modest apartment in Key West to meet Jean. “She’s a swell kid,’ said Dave as he guided Hap up the stairs. “She will be tickled to death to meet you after hearing me talk about you all these years.” They entered the apartment, aud Dave shouted: “Jean, darling. Guess whom I’ve found. Hap Stuart!” There was no answer. Only a depressing silence. “Sit down, Hap,” said Dave, indicating a chair. “She’s probably asleep. V’ll go in and wake her up.’ He strode into the single bedroom which the two shared. Jean was not there. She had left a note on the table, and Dave’s hands trembled as _ he opened it. He read it and then let it drop to the floor. He couldn’t blame her for leaving him. She had led a drab life these past few months —sitting around the apartment while he spent days and nights at a time at the airport. Pulling his tangled thoughts together for a moment, he returned to a curious Hap in the living room. “Jean’s gone away on a trip,” he explained. “We'll go out and have dinner at a restaurant.” It’s The China Clipper! Henry B. Walthall (left) as a veteran aircraft designer shows Pat O’Brien a sketch of the airplane that would make it possible to establish Pacific air service in the First National drama, ‘‘China Clipper’’ com UNO COs UMC inn fare raticatecat essccs Trouble, they say, comes in cycles. The next day Tom Collins, the youngest of the pioneering band, had his share of it in a petty quarrel with his fiancee. It was a highly-depressed crew that made ready to take off that morning. Dad Brunn was nervous as he watched Dave put on his helmet and goggles. The first regular airmail was on its way to Havana. (To Be Continued) Theatre: 00 3.68 Ae. ALL YOURS! First two chapters of this 6-day serial are on this page. If you like them — and local editor evinces same sentiments, we’ll send you the whole set-up in mimeographed form ... with six still — AND THEY’RE FREE — for each installment. Write to Campaign Plan Hdi , 321 West 44th St., N.Y.C. Page Twenty-one