Steel Against the Sky

STEEL AGAINST THE SKY (1941) is one of Warner Brothers (W.B.) 'Working Man' pictures. This time featuring the building of a bridge. While building the bridge, competing Brothers vie for the affection of a comely young lass. The Brothers are Rocky Evans (Lloyd Nolan) -vs- Chuck (Craig Stevens) both with eyes on Helen Powers (Alexis Smith). Who wins out, well you should already know if you have seen THE IRISH IN US (1935).

Yes, S.A.T.S is T.I.I.U. recycled just six (6) years later. In that picture Pat O'Brien (Pat O'Hara) is out-pointed by James Cagney (Danny) for hand of the beautiful Lucille Jackson (Olivia De Havilland). The differences, rather then build bridges we have the Police. Instead of a eccentric inventor as Chuck Evan's protégé we have Cagney's Boxer, Carbarn Hammerschlog (Allen Jenkins). The remake, a gruff lovable Father 'Pop' Evans (Edward Ellis), the original a sweet and 'oh' so Irish Mother 'Ma' (Mary Gordon).

This is not the first or the last time the W.B. and all the other studios would recycle plots going back to there original 'Silent' incarnations. Some will even use the same exact footage. Which can be really jarring. Example, THE CROWD ROARS (1932) became INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY (1939). Do you think in seven (7) years both the Cars and Women's fashions would be noticeably different? Yes they are, but it did get the picture made quickly, under budget and profitable.

Steel Against the Sky is an engaging yet uneven blend of comedy, romance and melodrama set in the construction industry. Another example of the kind of quick and snazzy movies that Warner Brothers ground out like sausages in the early '40s, but it's scripted and directed so indifferently that the whole project cries out for the macho verve of a Raoul Walsh. Lloyd Nolan and Craig Stevens star as bickering brothers vying for the attentions of pretty Alexis Smith. What ensues is very predictable, but Stevens and Smith have undeniable chemistry (the couple latter married and stayed united until Smith's death in the 1990s) and the thrills come assuredly in the climax atop a huge, slippery bridge. For comedic relief, Walter Catlett annoys as a bumbling scientist. Luckily, his scenes aren't too long. A young and unknown Jackie Gleason has a funny little scene early on.

As long as you don't have overly high expectations, "Steel Against the Sky" is a pretty decent film. However, it clearly is a B-movie--with a relatively predictable plot. But, it's enjoyable and well made for what it is, so it's worth a peek--particularly if you like Bs.

The plot for this film is VERY similar to another Warner Brothers film ALSO from 1941! It's odd that two such alike films were made a short time apart. Both feature manly guys working in very dangerous jobs at very great heights (in "Manpower" it's power lines, in "Steel Against the Sky" it's bridge construction), both feature two men fighting over the same woman, both feature a guy ASSUMING the woman loves him even though there really isn't that much evidence and both feature a falling out--and a conclusion where all is forgiven and everyone is friends once again.

"Steel Against the Sky" features three ODDLY cast brothers (Lloyd Nolan, Eddie Brophy and Craig Stevens). The oldest (Nolan) is the foreman on bridge projects who is in love with the owner's (Gene Lockhart) daughter (Alexis Smith). However, the younger and seemingly irresponsible brother (Stevens) and the lady fall in love. They don't want to hurt the older brother's feelings--and when he learns, YES, his feelings are very hurt and there is a falling out between them.

In addition to this plot, the film features some comic relief from the Professor (Walter Catlett) and a TINY cameo by a young Jackie Gleason as an amiable drunk. Worth seeing and if you do watch, pay attention to Lockhart--he gets a chance to do some nice acting in a supporting role.

Steel Against the Sky (1941)

** (out of 4)

Boring mix of soap, comedy and melodrama has Lloyd Nolan playing Rocky Evans, a tough bridge builder who falls in love with the boss's daughter (Alexis Smith) but she ends up falling for his younger brother (Craig Stevens), which causes problems back at home. Warner will always be remembered for their gangster movies but they also did quite a few films that shined a spotlight on blue collar workers and this here would seem like a good subject but sadly everything is pretty much wasted for nothing. The entire film has a very weird pace and feel to it as we're dealing with dangerous situations where men are risking their lives to build these bridges and skyscrapers. That's fine but then it's mixed with some downright bizarre comedy and most of it dealing with a professor who the younger brother takes in in order to try and make some quick money. This stuff with the professor is just so unfunny but what's worse is that there's never any real reason for it to be here. The love triangle aspect doesn't work either because we're basically just told the situations of who loves who and we're never given any scenes where we believe what we're seeing. Nolan makes for a good leading man and I thought he was quite believable as the tough brother. Smith is as beautiful as ever but the screenplay gives her nothing to do. Stevens isn't too bad as the brother but he suffers from the same weak story. Gene Lockhart plays the boss and Walter Catlett appears as the professor. Jackie Gleason has a very small but memorable bit. STEEL AGAINST THE SKY could have been a good movie but the comedy needed to be dropped all together and the clichéd drama needed a major rewrite.

Blue-collar Warner Bros. loved recycling this blue-collar plot line, as others point out. Stick a couple guys on an industrial work site, have them fall out over a girl, then wind up with a big cliff-hanging calamity, and you've got a ton of built-in drama. Here it's Nolan and Stevens as unfriendly brothers working as bridge builders and falling out over the boss's daughter, Smith. Nolan may be no Jimmy Cagney, but he's got the drive to carry any movie, which he does here.

Actually, I was ready to dump things after the first half-hour, since there was too much silly humor with a plot yet to gel. But the second half really gels when the crew has to keep the bridge from falling apart during a wicked storm. Warner's production crew does a first-rate job simulating the besieged bridge and the high-wire acrobatics of Nolan and Stevens. All in all, this second half was worth waiting for.

The cast features two later TV stars in their early years, Stevens and Gleason. You have to look quickly for Gleason in the first half, as what else but a drunk. On the other hand, Stevens has a featured role in a very un-Peter Gunn workingman part. Ironically, he and his girl here, Smith, married several years later and remained hitched for a very unHollywood 49-years. Anyway, if you think you've seen the movie before, you probably have. But the effects are certainly worth sticking around for.