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PARADISE CANYON (Monogram Pictures, 1935) directed by Carl R. Pierson, stars John Wayne in his 15th western for Lone Star Productions. Being one of his last for the company before making his move to Republic Pictures, this edition results for some changes from its previous efforts. Other than not having George Hayes, later known as "Gabby," in support, Carl Pierson, credited film editor through much of the series, now assumes his position in the director's chair. Still labeled a Paul Malvern Production, it's still quickly produced with high action as priority, though production values are still limited as are underscoring used solely for opening and closing credits. Having John Wayne as its leading star is the sole reason these Lone Star quickies to have commercial value today, seeing the "Duke" working his way from cowboy matinee to top major status performer that began with the John Ford classic STAGECOACH (United Artists, 1939).

With original story by Lindsley Parsons, the plot introduces John Wyatt (John Wayne) coming to a western town entering the office of Colonel Peters (Henry Hall) introducing himself as an undercover government agent assigned to round up a gang of counterfeiters. Acquiring much needed information to help with his assignment tracing counterfeiters currently on the Mexican border line and suspecting the money being passed from a medicine show. The only way to gather enough evidence to arrest the culprits is for John to join the medicine show himself. Tracking down the labeled wagon of "Dr. Carter's Great Medicine Show" being chased from a posse from the previous town, to avoid arrest, John conveniently escorts Carter safely across the border. John, identified as John Carter, teams up with Carter (Earle Hodgins), an ex-con who innocently served a ten-year sentence in prison; Linda (Marion Burns), his daughter, and comedy entertainers Ike (Perry Murdock) and Mike (Gordon Clifford). Upon arrival to Paradise Canyon, Carter finds himself ordered to leave town by saloon keeper and gang leader "Curly Joe" Gale (Yakima Canutt). After the mysterious abduction of Carter and Linda finds John doing some further investigation. Other members of the cast include Reed Howes, Gino Corrado and Joseph Domingues. Songs featured during medicine show include "When We Were Young and Foolish" and "Once Again."

Not quite the classic as John Wayne's latter masterpieces of RED RIVER (1947) or THE SEARCHERS (1956), PARADISE CANYON plays like an episode to a television anthology episode of the 1950s western show, yet in spite of limited production values, still works as entertainment, thanks to the fine support given to Earle Hodgins performing in the manner similar to W. C. Fields. Other than being a smooth talker never gives a sucker an even break, he has a passion for a wonder tonic Indian remedy that happens to be 90 percent proof. Aside from always being run out of town, like Fields, he has a pretty daughter to at least attempt to set him straight. Featuring some nice outdoor scenery for a black-and-white movie, and the feel-good presence of young John Wayne, PARADISE CANYON is short enough (53 minutes) to not bore its viewers.

Being one of the Lone Star/John Wayne westerns rediscovered on both commercial and public television with distribution on video cassette in the 1980s, PARADISE CANYON has become available on DVD and presented on cable television as American Movie Classics (1997-2002) and Encore Westerns, the latter cable company broadcasting PARADISE CANYON with intrusive and inferior underscoring that does help this to become recommended viewing. Stick to the original theatrical prints instead. (** elixirs).

TEST PILOT (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938) directed by Victor Fleming, stars Clark Gable in an original story written by Frank "Spig" Wead. Reuniting Gable for the second of three films opposite Spencer Tracy, TEST PILOT offers Tracy with more to do here than in their initial collaboration of SAN FRANCISCO (1936). For their final collaboration being BOOM TOWN (1940), Tracy and Gable were of equal star status. A blockbuster hit upon release TEST PILOT earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture though no nomination for Gable as Best Actor. Although still quite entertaining, it's one of those movies that has dimmed a bit through the passage of time though its aviation flying sequences are still first-rate. Regardless of some flaws for this lengthy production, TEST PILOT has reportedly been labeled a personal favorite of Myrna Loy. Many fans might disagree feeling she has done better elsewhere but here shows she can handle both light and heavy dramatics with conviction.

In a plot summary that deals with the experimental phase of flying and the dangers that go with it, the story introduces Jim Lane (Clark Gable), a former Army veteran now a test pilot by profession. He is best friends with airplane mechanic Gunner Morse (Spencer Tracy) and both work under the supervision of Howard B. Drake (Lionel Barrymore). On the night Jim is to take his airplane "Drake Bullet" coast to coast flight to New York in record breaking speed testing starting at 1 a.m., his oil pump later gives out forcing Jim to crash land on a Kansas farm. Upon landing at 6 a.m., Jim is confronted by Ann Barton (Myrna Loy) who offers him assistance, breakfast and company of her parents (Arthur Aylesworth and Claudia Coleman) while awaiting a call back phone call from Gunner pertaining when he is to arrive to come and fix the airplane. With extra time to spare, Jim and Ann spend the afternoon together before picking up Gunner at the airport. Back at the Barton farm, Jim meets Joe (Ted Pearson), a neighboring farmer who loves Ann. After their evening out, he proposes marriage to her. With the airplane repaired, Jim takes off the following morning only to return to the farm and take Ann along with him. Their marriage news while in Indianapolis distresses both Gunner and Drake feeling his marriage would impose on his assigned missions. With Drake nicknaming Ann "Thursday," Ann's goal is to make her marriage work and have Gunner like her. Although their brief courtship started out with fun and enjoyment, Ann slowly finds the true meaning of married life to a carefree test pilot. Other members of the cast include Samuel S. Hinds (General Joe Ross), Gloria Holden (May Benson); and Louis Jean Heydt (Ed Benson).

With the previous box-office failure of Gable and Loy's pairing of the Biographical life of PARNELL (1937), TEST PILOT returns Gable and Loy to formula material much to the pleasure of critics and audiences alike. Gable gives a winning performance as a ladies' man with pilot experience. While he and Loy work well together, Loy's Ann appears out of place being a well-dressed glamourized farm girl during her opening scenes. Being MGM gloss and glamour, naturally the studio wouldn't present her with uncombed hair, no facial make-up and sporting overalls. Another flaw is not showing her telephoning her mother where she has suddenly gone after going off in the airplane with her prince from the sky Jim. Once her character is further developed, Loy becomes more convincing playing a worried wife trying to hide her true feelings from her husband. Scene stealing honors go to Spencer Tracy as a gum-chewing mechanic and tag-along best friend. Even when not doing or saying anything in a scene where the attention and dialogue falls on its principal players, Tracy is the one gathering the most attention from his viewers. Lionel Barrymore, shortly before becoming wheelchair bound, gives fine support as the aviation head. He's often seen mostly seated, leaning on a desk or platform, and having the support of a cane during his occasional walking scenes. Marjorie Main is nearly unrecognizable as the landlady, being all glamourized instead of her usual comedic style presence. Obvious scene shifts to mid-opening fades indicate the original director's cut might have been longer than its release two-hour length, making one wonder if TEST PILOT might have proven better in longer length or trimmed down further by 15 minutes. With a cast like that, how could it fail either way?

Available on video cassette and DVD format, TEST PILOT can be seen in its all high and the mighty glory whenever broadcast on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (***1/2)

WINGS IN THE DARK (Paramount, 1935), directed by James Flood, is an agreeable little 75-minute story that centers upon a pilot named Ken Gordon (Cary Grant), attempting to perfect instruments for safe flying through darkness and fog. While working with some chemicals, a gas explosion occurs, blinding him before he can ever prove his experiments successful.

Top billing goes to MGM star Myrna Loy, in her first film for Paramount since LOVE ME TONIGHT (1932) where she played the secondary role opposite Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald in the now regarded classic musical. Seeing Loy in this Paramount programmer comes as a surprise, especially since the studio had a roaster of contract players ranging from major names as Sylvia Sidney or Carole Lombard, to less important but familiar actresses as Frances Drake or Mary Brian (all who have worked opposite Grant at one time or another), but for the standpoint of the story as to whom would possibly be more satisfactory and believable in assuming the role as an aviatrix, or whose name on the marque would be important enough to draw attention, Loy, reaching the height of her career, became the chosen one. She is well cast as Sheila Mason, a woman flier who, feeling responsible for his accidental blindness, acquires a seeing eye dog (played by Lightning) for Ken. Not wanting to be pitied, he rejects the animal. Taking up residence in the country with his faithful mechanic/ friend, Mac (Hobart Cavanaugh), Ken attempts on becoming a writer in his spare time while adjusting to his life in darkness. As for Sheila, she secretly attempts in earning back Ken's finances by flying her airplane from Moscow to New York, only to risk her life going through intense fog and darkness.

Others in the cast include Roscoe Karns (Nick Williams, Sheila's manager); Dean Jagger (Tops Harmon); Bert Hanlon (Yip Morgan); Russell Hopton (Jake) and radio broadcaster Graham McNamee appearing as himself. Hobart Cavanaugh, a familiar face of countless movies throughout most of the 1930s and '40s, usually appearing without credit from minor to bits parts, ranging from drunks to mousy husbands, is given a sizeable part to good advantage as he did in, I COVER THE WATERFRONT (United Artists, 1933) opposite Ben Lyon and Claudette Colbert.

Not an important film by any means in spite of a its two leading actors, WINGS IN THE DARK could have been an important project with such a fine premise that might have worked into a powerful and dramatic theme. A fine mix of its central character coping with blindness and a well-scripted aviation story explores Grant's skill as a fine dramatic actor, especially how he handles himself as a blind man. Also recommended in similar themes are Grant's aviation adventure story of ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (Columbia, 1939) and PRIDE OF THE MARINES (Warners, 1945), starring John Garfield in a fact-based story of a soldier adjusting to life after losing his sight in battle during World War II.

With WINGS IN THE DARK being the initial pairing of Grant and Loy, they are best remembered today for THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY SOXER (1947) and MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948) for RKO Radio Pictures. While these films have become notable comedy classics, thanks to frequent television revivals and availability on video cassette and later DVD, WINGS IN THE DARK, having played sporadically on commercial television in the 1960s and 70s, remains in the dark as being the least known of their three collaborations.

Close to being largely forgotten today, this little item has become available for viewing on DVD format. It is made watchable due to the fine combination of Myrna Loy and Cary Grant before they became superstars. (***)