Jet Pilot (1957)
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60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
47% of users liked it
(1,682 ratings)
If Jet Pilot seems hopelessly out of date today, imagine how filmgoers in 1957 reacted when this relic from 1949 was taken off the shelf. Many, many years in the making due to the maniacal tinkering by producer Howard Hughes (who reportedly lost $4 million on it - a massive sum back then), the film… More If Jet Pilot seems hopelessly out of date today, imagine how filmgoers in 1957 reacted when this relic from 1949 was taken off the shelf. Many, many years in the making due to the maniacal tinkering by producer Howard Hughes (who reportedly lost $4 million on it - a massive sum back then), the film was deemed unreleasable upon completion; only when Universal-International took over distribution of a handful of RKO Radio productions did it finally see the light of day. John Wayne stars as an air force colonel stationed in an Alaskan outpost only 40 miles or so from the Soviet Union. Wayne is put in charge of Russian jet pilot Janet Leigh, who claims that she wants to defect. Actually, Leigh is a Communist spy, but thanks to Wayne's affectionate attentions she is won over to the side of Democracy. Thus it is that Leigh rescues the Duke when he is kidnapped and nearly brainwashed by her Commie comrades. Jet Pilot was eventually bought back from U-I by Hughes for his personal collection; not only did he buy into the propagandistic plotline, but he was also enthralled by the aerial scenes, some of which were staged by legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager. The 1949 production date for a number of sequences explains not only why so many of the actors look young for 1957, but the existence of several supporting cast members who had died in the interim (such as Jack Overman and Richard Rober). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Josef von Sternberg
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1957 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Sternberg uses the espionage and counter-espionage of Jules Furthman's screenplay to depict the mysteries of relationships
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The only way to enjoy this Hughes-Wayne propaganda vehicle is as high camp (Janet Leigh realizes the Soviet System doesn't work when doorknobs come off)--it's a footnote in Josef von Sternberg's career.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A major disappointment.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Camp value only. Poor Sternberg!
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Despite its drawbacks and its overall silliness, I most heartily recommend Jet Pilot.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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John Wayne
as Col. Shannon
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Janet Leigh
as Anna
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Jay C. Flippen
as Maj.Gen.Black
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Paul Fix
as Maj. Rexford
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Richard Rober
as George Rivers
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Roland Winters
as Col. Sokolov
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Hans Conried
as Col. Matoff
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Ivan Triesault
as Gen. Langrad
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John Bishop
as Major Lester Sinclair
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Perdita Chandler
as Georgia Rexford
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Joyce Compton
as Mrs. Simpson
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Denver Pyle
as Mr. Simpson
- Dorothy Abbott
-
Phil Arnold
as Bellboy
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Louis Austin
as Saleswoman
- Gregg Barton
-
Alan Dinehart III
as Fresh Kid
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Bill Erwin
as Sergeant-GAC
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Gene Evans
as Airfield Sergeant
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Elizabeth Flournoy
as WAF Captain
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Vince Gironda
as Muscle Man
- Don Haggerty
-
Harry Lauter
as Sergeants
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Ruth Lee
as Mother
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Nelson Leigh
as FBI Man
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Sylvia Lewis
as WAC Corporal
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Michael Mark
as Russian General
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Keith McConnell
as Bartender
- Al Murphy
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Wendell Niles
as Major
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Jack Overman
as Sergeant
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Joey Ray
as Waiter
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Gene Roth
as Sokolov's Batman
- Ruthelma Stevens
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Armand Tanny
as Muscle Man
- Kenneth Tobey
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Mamie Van Doren
as WAF
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Smoki Whitfield
as Henry
- Carleton Young
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Paul H. Frees
as Lt. Tiompkin
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John Chapin Morgan
as Lieutenant
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Jack Shea
as MP
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Bill Yeager
as Captain
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Joan Whitney
as WAC Sergeant
- Jane Easton
- Michael Lally
- Herbert C. Lytton
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Allen Matthews
as Headwaiter
- Theodore Rand
- Jimmie Dime
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Barbara Freking
as WAFs
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Tom Daly
as Hotel Clerk
- Richard Norris
