Not the sort of film Republic needed back in 1958.
In 1958, Republic Studios announced that it was closing up shop after more than two decades. "No Place to Land" was among the final films released by Republic...and with films like this you can understand their decision to close. It's not exactly a terrible film...but certainly not the type to put the studio into the black.
Iris (Mari Blanchard) is a screwy mess of a woman (today she'd likely be seen as having a Borderline Personality). When she and Jonas (John Ireland) split up, she quickly marries Buck (Robert Middleton) on the rebound and yet immediately begins flirting with Jonas! Not surprisingly, this makes her short-tempered and occasionally psychotic husband fly off in a rage...and Iris seems to enjoy doing this, as she enjoys being a tramp. Clearly the lady loves excitement and living on the edge and she seems to be sleeping with everyone except Jonas and Buck! As for Jonas, he's no idiot and does his best to avoid Iris...but you get a strong impression that Iris isn't done trying to manipulate him and getting him to play her game.
In the meantime, Jonas and his partner, Swede (Jackie Coogan), try to find work. The problem is that Buck controls most of the nearby dusting and Iris' actions have seen to it that Buck keeps Jonas from working. The pair find work when they find a very drunk pilot and the drunk man's wife, Lynn (Gail Russell) convinces them to help them. What's next? See the film...or not.
This is a silly, lurid movie. It's not terrible, exactly, but doesn't have a lot of depth nor does it seem like the sort of must- see film that Republic really needed at the time. An interesting ending...but otherwise...meh.
By the way, at the beginning of the credits it says that this film is brought to you in 'Naturama'. I looked this up and apparently that was the name Republic gave to its widescreen process--much like Paramount's Vistavision.
Iris (Mari Blanchard) is a screwy mess of a woman (today she'd likely be seen as having a Borderline Personality). When she and Jonas (John Ireland) split up, she quickly marries Buck (Robert Middleton) on the rebound and yet immediately begins flirting with Jonas! Not surprisingly, this makes her short-tempered and occasionally psychotic husband fly off in a rage...and Iris seems to enjoy doing this, as she enjoys being a tramp. Clearly the lady loves excitement and living on the edge and she seems to be sleeping with everyone except Jonas and Buck! As for Jonas, he's no idiot and does his best to avoid Iris...but you get a strong impression that Iris isn't done trying to manipulate him and getting him to play her game.
In the meantime, Jonas and his partner, Swede (Jackie Coogan), try to find work. The problem is that Buck controls most of the nearby dusting and Iris' actions have seen to it that Buck keeps Jonas from working. The pair find work when they find a very drunk pilot and the drunk man's wife, Lynn (Gail Russell) convinces them to help them. What's next? See the film...or not.
This is a silly, lurid movie. It's not terrible, exactly, but doesn't have a lot of depth nor does it seem like the sort of must- see film that Republic really needed at the time. An interesting ending...but otherwise...meh.
By the way, at the beginning of the credits it says that this film is brought to you in 'Naturama'. I looked this up and apparently that was the name Republic gave to its widescreen process--much like Paramount's Vistavision.
- planktonrules
- Feb 26, 2017