AERIAL GUNNER (1943)Richard Arlen,Chester Morris & Amelita Ward | Drama| B&W | Vintage Cinema

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Aerial Gunner is a 1943 American black-and-white World War II propaganda film produced by William C. Thomas and William H. Pine, who also directed. The film stars Chester Morris, Richard Arlen, and Jimmy Lydon. This was the first feature film directed by Pine, who produced other films through his company, Pine-Thomas Productions. Aerial Gunner was distributed by Paramount Pictures

Synopsis

Policeman Jon Davis (Richard Arlen) informs "Foxy" Pattis (Chester Morris) at his shooting gallery, that his criminal father has died. Foxy blames all policemen, feeling they harassed him all his life and were responsible for his death. John Davis enlists and "Foxy" Pattis is drafted into the United States Army Air Forces where Foxy becomes the instructor at an aerial gunnery school. He makes life miserable for Jon, now a "Flying Sergeant" student, trying to force the former policeman to resign.

Despite Foxy's hostility, Jon is able to pass the course. He later befriends a young Texas gunnery candidate, Sandy (Jimmy Lydon), whose father was an airman killed at Hickam Field during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sandy invites Jon and Foxy to his family's ranch, where both men fall for Sandy's sister Peggy (Amelita Ward).

After graduation, Jon is commissioned as a lieutenant and is assigned as a pilot of a light bomber, with many of his classmates now his crew. A belligerent Foxy serves as his gunner and is not accepted as a team player by the other members of the aircrew. During a bombing mission against the Japanese, however, he makes the ultimate sacrifice in trying to protect the other crew members when the bomber is shot down behind enemy lines.

Cast
Chester Morris as T/Sgt. "Foxy" Pattis
Richard Arlen as T/Sgt, later Lt., Jonathan "Jon" Davis
Jimmy Lydon as Pvt. Sanford "Sandy" Lunt
Amelita Ward as Peggy Lunt (credited as Lita Ward)
Dick Purcell as Pvt. Lancelot "Gadget" Blaine
Keith Richards as Sgt. Henry "Jonesy" Jones
William 'Billy' Benedict as Pvt. Jackson "Sleepy" Laswell
Olive Blakeney as Mrs. Sanford Lunt

Directed by: William H. Pine
Written by: Maxwell Shane
Based on: An idea suggested by Jack F. Dailey
Produced by:
William H. Pine
William C. Thomas
Cinematography: Fred Jackman Jr.
Edited by: William H. Ziegler
Music by: Daniele Amfitheatrof
Production Company: Pine-Thomas Productions
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: May 9, 1943
Running Time: 78 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English