Chain Lightning

I first saw this in a theater when it first came out. I was 13 at the time, and knew nothing about piloting an aircraft. So I thought it was pretty keen. The next time I saw it, I was 49 years old and owned an aircraft. What a difference the years make! The story is simple: a pilot makes an epic flight in an experimental jet and sets a record. Spoilers ahead: One movie critic said that the flying footage was "uninspired." How charitable! They were awful! The shots of Bogie were all the same, a head shot in pilot gear, with only slightly more animation than a statue. All the views of him piloting use that same shot. As he flies the jet through the upper stratosphere, he encounters some sparklings outside the cockpit. He radios that he's flying through "meteor dust," with all the animation of pointing out that below and to the right was a famous landmark. And if the "meteor dust" was that prevalent, wouldn't he be concerned about what it might do to his engine? Understand: I like Bogart films. But this one would have been better if they'd cut the aviation sequences out.

After all, Humphrey Bogart reminded Ingrid Bergman that they always had Paris in 1943's "Casablanca." In this 1950 film, he could have reminded Eleanor Parker that they always had London. Bogie is an ace-pilot here. As always, no one can talk to him because he's Bogie,plain and simple. Parker was the gal he romanced in England while both were in uniform during World War 11 but did not wed. Back in the states, Brennan (Bogart) goes to work for Raymond Massey, an airplane tycoon hellbent on getting his plane off the ground. Brennan gets the job from a friend, the latter later killed off when the plane he was experimenting with crashes. The plot becomes should Bogie test the fallen pal's plane. Massey is rather subdued here in his quest for publicity when Brennan tests his plane. Ditto for Parker. She had always been accused of over-acting, but that's not the case here.

The JA-3/JA-4 full-scale model in this movie is more like the Bell X-2, which had swept wings, than the Bell X-1, which had short, stubby straight wings. The movie aircraft is like the Bell X-1/X-2 rocket planes in that it has no air intakes (inlets) and therefore is not a jet. Jet aircraft have air breathing engines with the necessary inlets while rockets do not. This movie had no bearing on the design of the F-16, which is a jet. I was an aerospace engineer in F-16 advanced programs, first at Wright Field (mentioned in the movie) in the 1970s, and then at General Dynamics in the 1980s. This is one of my favorite aviation movies, even though it reflects Hollywood's dramatic idea of how aircraft are designed and developed rather than the actual process.

Presently, test pilot Humphrey Bogart (as Matthew "Matt" Brennan) is on a dangerous flight, which worries pretty Eleanor Parker (as Joan "Jo" Holloway). She fears Mr. Bogart may crash. We will have to wait to see if he does, when flashbacks end. In the cockpit, Bogart begins his flight past, with 1943... During World War II service, bomber pilot Bogart flies dangerous missions from England to Germany, helping the Allies win the war. On the ground, he romances Parker, who serving as a nurse... After the war, Bogart is hired as chief test pilot for aircraft manufacturer Raymond Massey (as Leland Willis). He re-encounters Parker, who is being romanced by designer Richard Whorf (as Carl Troxell). Bogart eventually takes the jet plane "JA-4" on a dangerous flight, which leads us back to the opening scene. This appears to be a well-crafted story, but it is not presented well. Bogart looks inserted uncomfortably into the stock aviation footage and the romantic triangle never gets off the ground. **** Chain Lightning (2/18/50) Stuart Heisler ~ Humphrey Bogart, Eleanor Parker, Raymond Massey, Richard Whorf

I thought I had seen the worst when watching Errol Flynn in "Escape Me Never" right after "The Adventures of Robin Hood". Apparently it could get worse, I'm almost sorry I didn't see "The Big Sleep" before this, I would have died laughing. "Chain Lightning" is another story about test pilots and new air plains, lot of air stunt footage, men talking men talk, sing war songs and the typical boy-loses-girl-boy-gets-girl-back routine. And I really wonder why Boggie made this movie - I thought he was a Hollywood royalty and commended top salary? Surely Lauren Becall's dresses and his cigars don't cost THAT much for him to agree to do this film?!

As a pilot in the war you've been so brave, what are the chances you'd avoid finding a grave, the time comes round to go back home, to find a smaller aerodrome, leaving the one you love behind, without a wave. A new age of aeronautics ushers in, flying high where air and oxygen are thin, you get the chance to take a jet, new world records are then set, as you loop the loop, then twist and turn and spin. All in all the stories tame and rather plain, not really Top Gun but you are in the fast lane, alas there's little there to fuel, to make you salivate and drool, there is no lightening, and there's very little chain.

From 1950, "Chain Lightning" stars Humphrey Bogart, Eleanor Parker, Raymond Massey, Richard Whorf, and James Brown. Brown played Lt. Rip Masters on Rin Tin Tin and I believe was my first crush. This is one of those films Bogart probably made to fulfill his contract obligations with Warners, the other one being "The Two Mrs. Carrolls," a scream of a film in which he's really terrible. He's so rarely bad, and he's certainly not bad in this. Bogart plays Matt Brennan, a pilot, and in the beginning, he's testing a plane. His girlfriend Joan (Eleanor Parker) rushes up and begs her boss (Raymond Massey) to order him down, as she's afraid for him. The story then goes into flashback, with Matt and Joan during World War II. He was a bomber pilot, in love with Joan. He flew hazardous missions from England to Germany, while Joan is a nurse. He leaves for the states first - they want to get married, but he is unable to find anyone who can give him permission. Once back in the states, after bouncing around for a bit, Matt is hired as a test pilot by Leland Willis (Raymond Massey) an aircraft manufacturer. There, he re-connects with Carl Troxell (Whorf) who is now dating Joan, Willis' secretary. Apparently after he left England, Matt never contacted Joan, even though he wrote letters that he never sent. He felt the life that he could offer her wasn't good enough. Matt takes the new jet JA-4 on a hazardous flight, and that brings us back to the first scene. This is a pretty ordinary film, with Parker looking beautiful and Bogart acting tough - kind of Rick Blaine as a pilot. I will take issue with what one person on this board said, that Massey was playing Howard Hughes and doing a bad job. If the studio had wanted someone to play Howard Hughes, they would have hired someone else and named the character Howard Hughes. Massey was playing a Howard Hughes type, and he was fine. The aviation part of this film was ahead of its time for sure. The rest of it was not special. I've always loved Bogart's acting, and even though he's probably going through the motions here, I'd rather watch him go through the motions than almost anyone. Eleanor Parker, another favorite of mine, gives a lovely performance and is absolutely beautiful.

this is a by the numbers boggie romance. Seems like humphrey phoned this one in knowing it was a watered down casablanca rip off. bogart's the jilted lover who gets a second chance with the girl. but this time the claude rains character is the one who makes the sacrifice. pretty tepid and only for fans of mr bogart who've already cycled through his classics.

source: Chain Lightning

Trailer—Chain Lightning