20,000 MEN A YEAR (1939)
starring Randolph Scott
Storyline by Les Adams courtesy I.m.d.b.
Jim Howell, a Civil Aeronautics Authorty official, has grounded Brand Reynolds for reckless flying. Reynolds starts a flying school but has little success until Howell has the CAA make Brad's school a center in its civilian pilots' training program. Howell does this anonymously as Brad still bears a grudge against him. Among the college students taking flying lessons are "Skip" Rogers, whose sister, Ann Rogers, opposes his flying until she meets and falls in love with Brad. Jim Howell's brother, Tommy, is also a student. Tommy confesses to Brad that he is afraid to fly, and Brad takes him up on a special training flight which ends in disaster. The engine stalls, Tommy faints and Brad opens his parachute and throws him out of the plane in order to save his life. Brad lands the plane safely in a tree. (Actually, Paul Mantz lands the airplane safely in a tree.) Brad then takes another plane to search for Tommy, and "Skip" goes along as a stowaway.
7/10 Rescue In The Grand Canyon - review by “bkoganbing17” courtesy I.m.d.b. August 2011
“20,000 Men A Year” (1939) refers to the number of new pilots expected to be turned out annually with a new program that the Civil Aeronautics Agency has authorized certain schools. This film was one of the first of the preparedness films that the studios were starting to turn out though no name of a potential enemy is specified.
To give the film a ring of real aeronautical authenticity it was written by the legendary Frank 'Spig' Wead who certainly captures the love of aviation among the veterans and the eager young kids learning the ropes.
There are three components in the plot of 20,000 Men A Year. The first is the rivalry between by the CAA administrator Preston Foster and veteran flier Randolph Scott. Foster grounds Scott after disobeying orders, in fact I thought Scott used good judgment. The second component is the rivalry, but possible romance developing between Scott and Margaret Lindsay as Scott tries to persuade her to let younger brother George Earnest learn to fly and join the school program he has now become the head of.
Lastly though is a hair raising rescue of some of the principal players in the Grand Canyon. Some really nice aerial sequences are done here. All the elements mix nice to form a nice and entertaining film..