Sky Liner

I am sure that in time the overall rating of this film will change, but for now it's only 4.8. You'd think this would indicate that the movie is rather poor, though I thought the film was actually a bit better--and well worth seeing. However, one thing I need to point out is that although it's now on a DVD entitled "Forgotten Noir", this is really not an example of film noir--nor are many films in this series. It lacks the camera-work, dialog and grittiness you'd expect in noir. Instead, it's a rather straight-forward example of a crime film.

The film is set aboard an airliner (a Lockheed Constellation, if you really care). According to IMDb, the markings on the plane kept changing--a silly mistake but it didn't exactly ruin the film. A federal agent is on the plane--following a woman who is involved in some sort of espionage. However, when a dead body is found aboard, it's obvious that there is a killer on the plane! Who did it and how must be discovered before the killer is able to escape.

The film is enjoyable...even if the actual murder weapon is a bit far-fetched. Well-paced, interesting and a very good time-passer.

Richard Travis with a slight, sexy drawl was the love interest for Bette Davis in ' The Man Who Came For Dinner ' and he was very good in it indeed. He should have gone on to do other equally good films and many people must have taken notice of his presence in the Davis vehicle. He is very watchable in this, and so is Rochelle Hudson as a mysterious woman he is trailing for helping spies during the Cold War. Most of the action takes place on a plane and this works very well in focussing in on character, and a lot of the short running time is set among the passengers. Only the climax at the end ( and no spoilers ) brings the viewer down to earth, and in fresh bright air. Good atmosphere too as the plane seems to be going through a constant fog and this adds to the claustrophobia, and lots of rather amusing visits to a washroom ( a toilet for the English!! ) which appeared to be quite a chat room. I wondered at one point how many more could get in there, and the climax so to speak comes with murder as well. It is on YouTube and worth seeing, and saying that I am going to hunt down ' The Man Who Came to Dinner. ' Watch that too if you can, as it is a Bette Davis classic, and unlike a lot of her films not a melodrama.

To be honest, I got a little lost as far as the plot of this one.

Most of it takes place on a plane, and it's fun to look at how it was in the old days, with large, comfortable seats, people who could walk right into the cockpit, a washroom large enough for 3 or 4 people - which I doubt was ever the case, but never mind.

The biggest name in the cast is probably Rochelle Hudson, and Richard Travis plays a federal agent who is following someone involved involved in espionage. Then a dead body is found, and obviously, the killer is on the plane.

Also on the plane is a man carrying a great deal of money to take to his country, and two old biddies.

When there's a murder, the plane has to land unexpectedly.

Just okay.

SKY LINER is a 61-minute B picture - short, effective, and reflective of the beginning of the Cold War and of commercial aviation (great publicity for the now defunct TWA. How the world changed in some 40 years!)

I do not know the actors but they do not compromise the product in any way. It is a riveting film from beginning to end, and characters have proper motivations for their actions.

No waste of time, this!

Yet another gem in the Forgotten Noir Collection Vol. 4 DVD set. I'm quickly becoming a fan of the late director William Berke. Although he worked mostly in B-movies, he was one of the better directors in that field. He has a knack for pacing and getting the best out of actors, in this case no name thespians. These films are usually short, some just over an hour and others just under an hour, but Berke makes the best of low budgets and fast pacing. This film involves espionage in the air, on the Sky Liner of the title. It's definitely not typical noir, but it is decent little film. Richard Travis plays a sky marshal for the government tailing a spy network and the story goes on from there. The cast of no names is pretty good led by Rochelle Hudson, the always steady Herbert Evans, Steven Geray and others. The script is good so credit should be given Maurice Tombragel and John Wilste. At less than 50 minutes long, this is a surprising little treat.