Thirteen Hours by Air (1936) DVD-R

Starring Fred MacMurray, Joan Bennett, Zasu Pitts, Alan Baxter, Fred Keating, Brian
Donlevy, John Howard
Directed by Mitchell Leisen

Print: black/white
Runtime: 77 min.
Genre: mystery
Print Quality: B

Making a transcontinental plane flight in only thirteen hours was quite an achievement when
this film was made in 1936-but it was not an impossible achievement, as indicated by
Paramount's last-minute decision to 'downsize' the film's original title, Twenty Hours by Air.
In anticipation of Airport 34 years later, womanizing pilot Jack Gordon (Fred MacMurray) is
called upon to safely guide his plane through a blinding blizzard. His task is complicated by a
trio of crooks who are escaping from the law after pulling a jewel heist, and by a shady
nobleman (Fred Keating) who offers Gordon a large amount of money if he will land the
plane before San Francisco. In the climax, one of the passenger hijacks the plane, only to be
foiled by-of all people-an obnoxious brat of a youngster (Bennie Bartlett). And, oh, yes,
before this eventful flight has reached its conclusion, self-style Lothario Jack has decided
to settle down with one girl, wealthy Felice Rollins (Joan Bennett)-who during one of the
many crises is briefly pressed into service as Jack's copilot. Thirteen Hours by Air was
produced with the technical assistance of United Airlines.