Secret Service of the Air (1939)

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

W.H. Moran (material source)
Raymond L. Schrock (original screenplay "Murder in the Air")

Release Date:

4 MÁRCIUS 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

INTERNATIONAL SPIES! BEWARE! No one will learn important government air secrets as long as Uncle Sam's daring secret service men are here! (original poster)

Plot:

Illegal aliens are being flown in from Mexico by small plane. When a Secret Service agent finds out...

Plot Keywords:

Stock Footage | Archive Footage | 1930s | Undercover Agent | Held At Gunpoint

Cast

Ronald Reagan	...	Lieutenant 'Brass' Bancroft
John Litel	...	Tom Saxby
Ila Rhodes	...	Pamela Schuyler
James Stephenson	...	Jim Cameron
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Gabby Watters
Rosella Towne	...	Zelma Warren
Larry Williams	...	Dick Wayne
John Ridgely	...	Joe LeRoy
Anthony Averill	...	Hafer
Bernard Nedell	...	Earl 'Ace' Hemrich
Frank M. Thomas	...	Doc
Joe Cunningham	...	Agent Dawson
Morgan Conway	...	Edward V. Powell
John Harron	...	Agent Cliff Durell
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Admiral A.C. Schuyler

Runtime:

61 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:(Banned) (1939) | USA:Approved (PCA #4706)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Guy Usher is in studio records for the role of "Morrow", but that role was played by Pierre Watkin.

Quotes:

Gabby Watters: I'll bet their going to be married.
Tom Saxby: I'm afraid you’re right.
Gabby Watters: Well, that finishes him as a secret service man.
Tom Saxby: What, Why?
Gabby Watters: Well, he won't be unable to keep a secret now.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Murder in the Air (1940)

Soundtrack:

She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain When She Comes

For a "B", it ain't bad

The film begins with some criminals transporting illegal aliens into the US from Mexico. However, this is NOT the typical group of illegals--many are criminals and those running the business are evil scum. This becomes apparent when the plane is almost captured by a Secret Service agent. How he and the rest of the passengers were done away with in an early scene was truly horrifying and shocked me.

Later, airline pilot Ronald Reagan is approached by the Secret Service and asked to join. The problem is, they need to ruin his clean reputation so that the mob will believe he is their kind of person, so government frames Reagan and sends him for a short stint in prison--after which time he makes contact with the crooks and infiltrates the gang.

This was an obvious B-movie from Warner Brothers due to the style of film (emphasizing action and a very fast pace), the fact that the movie is filled with unknown actors (even star Ronald Reagan was a definite newcomer to the screen) and its short length (at just over one hour). Often, over the years' "B" has come to mean bad or second-rate, though this movie is pretty good considering that it was meant to be a lesser film in a double-feature. Sure, you can't compare it to the very best films of the time, but this breezy little film is a good showcase for Reagan and helps to hide his relatively wooden screen persona. I liked Reagan but gotta admit he wasn't the most charismatic actor of his age. About the only other negatives are common in B's and these are plot holes--little inconsistencies or logical errors that were never effectively dealt with, such as how easy it was for Reagan's cover to get blown--but what do you expect for 63 minutes?!