"Air Devils" is a predictable, but lively, pre-World War II, aerial service comedy set in the South Pacific boasts some last-minute heroics. Think of it as an uprising western where the Indians are natives, the setting is the South Pacific, and the U.S. military the cavalry. Sun helmets replace Stetsons. Our heroes either fly planes or straddle horses. The final quarter battle with soldiers blasting it out with terrorists in a frontal assault adds an epic quality to the action. Larry J. Blake and Dick Purcell are well cast as the protagonist and they kindle his chemistry.
"Air Devils" opens with this preface. "The Pacific Ocean is strewn with tropical islands, large and small, to which drift adventuring souls. The island are policed and protected by constabularies which function under the local governments. These constabularies are well disciplined military organizations, splendidly equipped and officered by men who have completed enlistments in, and been honorably discharged from, the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, but who have succumbed to the magic spell of the South Seas." Interestingly enough, most of this exposition is regurgitated at intervals through the movie.
The imperialist action unfolds on the remote island of Taro Pago. The military is establishing air fields and outposts as their first line of defense throughout the islands. Our two stalwart heroes, John P. 'Horseshoe' Donovan (Larry J. Blake of "Time After Time") and Percy 'Slats' Harrington (Dick Purcell of the 1944 version of "Captain America) are former Leathernecks and rivals who compete for the love of the same woman, Lolano (Mamo Clark of "Mutiny on the Bounty"). They are also first-class aviators, and Horseshoe has been decorated with a medal for fighting native elements. As the story unfolds, Taro Pago is poised the precipice of civil war. The locals are planning to construct an air field, and the villains are determined to thwart them. Meantime, when Horseshoe gets off the ship, he embarrasses Slats and the girl that Slats is with tears off her dress in anger and throws it in his face.
These two guys spend more time fighting and feuding with each other in director John Rawlins' "Air Devils." At one point, Horseshoe has sergeant stripes, but he loses them when Slats frames him for starting a brawl. Captain Hawthorne falls for Slats' ruse and demotes Horseshoe back to the rank of private. The villainous but urbane Tom Mordant (Charles Brokaw of "Idol of the Crowds") has taken over ownership of the local watering hole café. Secretly, Mordant has been orchestrating a coup with his conspirators. While the construction crews are awaiting the arrival of their equipment, Mordant's saboteurs set about their work. During the sabotage, Slats catches the saboteur who shot at a constable. Later, in the fourth quarter, Horseshoe and Slats intervene in the big battle. Slats dives out of their plane and Horseshoe follows him as their aircraft spirals out of control. Aerial bombing concludes the battle, knocking out the opposition. Slats shoots terrorist who was about to kill Horseshoe.
"Air Devils" is a Universal Pictures B-movie with solid production values. For the record, future "Gunsmoke" bartender Glen Strange has minor role. The Alpha Video copy of this 1938 movie is outstanding compared to the usual public domain potboilers.
"Air Devils" opens with this preface. "The Pacific Ocean is strewn with tropical islands, large and small, to which drift adventuring souls. The island are policed and protected by constabularies which function under the local governments. These constabularies are well disciplined military organizations, splendidly equipped and officered by men who have completed enlistments in, and been honorably discharged from, the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, but who have succumbed to the magic spell of the South Seas." Interestingly enough, most of this exposition is regurgitated at intervals through the movie.
The imperialist action unfolds on the remote island of Taro Pago. The military is establishing air fields and outposts as their first line of defense throughout the islands. Our two stalwart heroes, John P. 'Horseshoe' Donovan (Larry J. Blake of "Time After Time") and Percy 'Slats' Harrington (Dick Purcell of the 1944 version of "Captain America) are former Leathernecks and rivals who compete for the love of the same woman, Lolano (Mamo Clark of "Mutiny on the Bounty"). They are also first-class aviators, and Horseshoe has been decorated with a medal for fighting native elements. As the story unfolds, Taro Pago is poised the precipice of civil war. The locals are planning to construct an air field, and the villains are determined to thwart them. Meantime, when Horseshoe gets off the ship, he embarrasses Slats and the girl that Slats is with tears off her dress in anger and throws it in his face.
These two guys spend more time fighting and feuding with each other in director John Rawlins' "Air Devils." At one point, Horseshoe has sergeant stripes, but he loses them when Slats frames him for starting a brawl. Captain Hawthorne falls for Slats' ruse and demotes Horseshoe back to the rank of private. The villainous but urbane Tom Mordant (Charles Brokaw of "Idol of the Crowds") has taken over ownership of the local watering hole café. Secretly, Mordant has been orchestrating a coup with his conspirators. While the construction crews are awaiting the arrival of their equipment, Mordant's saboteurs set about their work. During the sabotage, Slats catches the saboteur who shot at a constable. Later, in the fourth quarter, Horseshoe and Slats intervene in the big battle. Slats dives out of their plane and Horseshoe follows him as their aircraft spirals out of control. Aerial bombing concludes the battle, knocking out the opposition. Slats shoots terrorist who was about to kill Horseshoe.
"Air Devils" is a Universal Pictures B-movie with solid production values. For the record, future "Gunsmoke" bartender Glen Strange has minor role. The Alpha Video copy of this 1938 movie is outstanding compared to the usual public domain potboilers.