Series: All Stars w/The Boy Friends Director: George Stevens Producer: Hal Roach Dialogue: H.M. Walker Photography: Art Lloyd Editor: Richard C. Currier Sound: Elmer Raguse Stars: David Sharpe, Gertrude Messinger, Mary Kornman, Mickey Daniels, Betty Bolen, Grady Sutton Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 09 May 1931 Length: 2 reels Production No.: S-38 Filming dates: December 22, 1930 - January 13, 1931 Rating: 4/10

Air-Tight

As the group attend a trial flight being demonstrated by pilot Dave, Secretary of the club Alabam tries to pose for his photograph whilst sitting in the cockpit of a glider. But he accidentally ends up in the air when Mickey drives away in his car with a rope attached between them. For the next ten minutes Dave and Mickey try their best to entice him down to safety but through a series of their own mishaps on the ground they fail to make much of an impression.

Favourite bit The scene with Charlie Hall, Mary Kornman and Grady Sutton near the beginning. Charlie's brief moment steals the entire film.

Trivia • Copyrighted March 19, 1931. • Released as part of the 'All Star' series, this was the 7th 'Boy Friends' film. • When Mary tells glider owner Charlie Hall she was going to call him Lindberg she is referring to Charles Lindberg, an aviation pilot. Incidentally, you may notice in this scene that both Kornman and Hall are exactly the same height: 5'3". • At around 4:14 into the film when Alabam takes off there is a sound of fright which sounds very much like Billy Gilbert's voice? • The painted text on the side of Mickey's car reads "Nero Fiddled - He Was To Fat To Fly". The first usage of the word "to" is misspelled (should say "too"). • Once again David Sharpe demonstrates the need to show off his stunt skills in scenes that really just didn't require them. Gets a bit predictable after a while. He is SO ANNOYING! • The airport scenes were shot in San Diego, though one (usually unreliable) website claims Holywood Riviera Field, Redondo Beach, California. The name "Bowlus" is the name that was on the hangar in the film and Mr. Bowlus did operate out of San Diego. • Director George Stevens was supposedly very proud of the film. • There is a scene near the end of the film where the car drives through the field with the tent over its roof. If you look in the distance you can see the cars on the orad driving extremely fast, indicating that this shot was sped up. My opinion • An ambitious film which is nothing more than a twenty minute showcase in aerial footage - poorly filmed, cut in with a nothing plot and irritating actors who seemingly do their very best to be at their very worst. Easily one of the worst films in the series... but then, that isn't saying much. Throughout the film I kept saying (referring to Grady Sutton's character) "just jump - and get this film over and done with!"

	David Sharpe Dave
	Gertrude Messinger Gertie
	Mary Kornman Mary
	Mickey Daniels Mickey
	Betty Bolen Betty
	Grady Sutton Alabam
	Charlie Hall Glider pilot
	Jack Hill Pilot who is knocked over
	Gordon Douglas Onlooker in crowd
	UNIDENTIFIED Crowd of onlookers

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

STILLS (click any image to enlarge)

SHOT ON LOCATION (click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: Chris Bungo (information regarding shooting locations) Jesse Brisson (identification of Gordon Douglas) This page was last updated on: 09 May 2023