Watch Murder in the Clouds For Free

To me, this movie is perfection.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Director: D. ROSS LEDERMAN. Story and screenplay: Roy Chanslor, Dore Schary. Photography: Warren Lynch. Aerial photography: Elmer Dyer. Film editor: Thomas Pratt. Art director: Jack Holden. Costumes: Orry- Kelly. Music played by The Vitaphone Orchestra, conducted by Leo F. Forbstein. Associate producer: Sam Bischoff.Copyright 3 December 1934 by First National Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Rialto: 25 December 1934. Australian release: 25 February 1935. 7 reels. 61 minutes.SYNOPSIS: An aviator and his girl friend battle spies who have sabotaged a plane carrying a new type of explosive.COMMENT: Not a murder mystery, but a straight thriller, routinely if competently directed. However, it's unusual to find a little "B" picture decked out with such impressive aerial photography. And not stock shots either. All the aerial footage was obviously shot especially for this production. Unfortunately, "Murder in the Clouds" is far less stunning on the ground than in the air. Not that the players don't try their damnedest to make it all succeed. The problems all lie in the script. It's such a wearily routine, totally tinpot affair, that it's very hard to believe that famous writers of the caliber of either Roy Chanslor (Final Edition, Front Page Woman, Johnny Guitar, Cat Ballou) or Dore Schary (Boys Town, Act One) had any hands whatever in its composition. Maybe they were just kidding around and assumed that the movie would be played for laughs rather than thrills!

Quicky 'B' picture (61") featuring now 2nd tier Stars of WARNER BROTHERS (W.B.). Lyle Talbot and Ann Dvorak were first rate Stars in the early days of the Sound-Era at the W.B. By 1934 they had fallen out of favor with Jack Warner, head of production at the Studio. Mr. Talbot because of his involvement with the Actors Labor movement. Ms. Dvorak because She felt over-used in trite material, complained too much and would not play casting-couch politics.MURDER IN THE CLOUDS (1934) is another of those Aerial Adventures all the studios cranked out, with RKO leading the pack. This time a new 'secret explosive' must be shipped by air too our Government. What is needed is crack pilot 'Three-Star' Lyle Talbot. '3'Star is waylaid by enemy agents, the explosive stolen and Judy Wagner's (Dvorak) Brother is killed along with the Government Agents. Have no fear, with the help of Wings Mahoney (George Cooper) taking time off from 'comedy relief' both the explosive and Judy are rescued. The Villains meeting their just rewards.Talbot's '3'Star is the typical overbearing ASS that was passed off as a 'hero' in that era. All of his irresponsible actions are forgotten and glossed over in the last reel. Dvorak only needs to look good and hit her mark, which She has no problem in doing. The Villains, Gordon 'Weasel' Westcott and ever dependable Russell Hicks are particularly ruthless. The murder of the Agents and Judy's Brother is merciless and as cold-blooded as you can imagine, told in flash-back. The film shows up on TCM and can be picked up either through www.oldies.com or at your local flee-market. Where I got my copy.

The airline in the film flies Ford Trimotors. One in particular, an AT-4, is identified: NC5578. Full details of the history of this aircraft can be found in the Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register. It was apparently exported to Ecuador in 1945; there is no further information after that.Three Star flew a biplane, registration NC406N which would indicate it was a Travel Air D-4000. The company, founded in 1925, initially built a series of sporting and training open-cockpit biplanes, including the Model A, Model B, 2000, 3000 and 4000. It was forced into liquidation in 1929 and its assets were purchased by the Curtiss-Wright corporation, which continued to manufacture some of its designs.The airline company's base is said to be Los Angeles, but it doesn't look like that today.The main reasons for watching this film are the excellent flying and aerobatic sequences, and the extremely attractive Ann Dvorak who certainly knew how to act in this sort of film.

A Mickey Finn saves Lyle Talbot from "Murder in the Clouds" in this 1934 B movie from Warner Brothers. Talbot plays a daring pilot named 3-Star, who is capable of great stunts in the air. His boss chooses him to transport a secret weapon; but the situation is manipulated so that his harmless drink is spiked, and two other men go up in his place, one of whom is the brother of his girlfriend (Ann Dvorak).Not very realistic but some really fun aerial scenes and a good cast. The film moves quickly and isn't overly long. I remember Lyle Talbot from his TV days when I was growing up, and I love seeing him in these early films. He lived to be 94 years old, which is pretty impressive. A long and prolific career.Enjoyable.