Chain Lightning (1950)

I must say right up front that Humphrey Bogart is my favorite film actor of all time.That said, Chain Lightning won't be remembered as one of his best. In "Chain Lightning," Bogart is a World War H bomber pilot hired as a test-pilot who, after the death of his designer friend (Richard Whorf), successfully tries out a newly designed ejection cockpit...His fans may be able to suspend all disbelief and take some interest in Bogey testing jet planes and romancing the company secretary. Even so, Chain Lightning gives us the great Bogart one more time.Conclusion - This is not the best Humphrey Bogart movie ever. But that's like saying the sun isn't shining as well as it should. If you love Bogart, you will love this film!

The story begins at the height of WWII, where a group of Air Force pilots are seen battling the Germans in a show of air supremacy. Matt Brennan, and his crew, are amazed when they spot a German plane that flies so fast, they consider it a rival that will challenge them in the air. Alas, the idea of a new prototype of fighting plane ends just as WWII is over.Matt Brennan, in love with the lovely Jo Holloway, figures he wants to marry her. His only problem, the general that is supposed to do the ceremony is not to be found. Fate intervenes and the two lovers drift apart. After the war is over, Matt has to resort to start his own flying academy, a short lived attempt to make a go of his flying knowledge.Always at odds with Max Troxell, Matt is brought over to the Willis manufacturing company, where a new plane with brand new technology is being developed by Max and other friends from his Air Force days. Matt, an experienced pilot is engaged to put the plane through different tests. He feels he can fly it in record time, while Max is working in a detachable cockpit that will be separated from the jet in case of trouble. Matt surprises when he does the feat in record time."Chain Lightning" directed by Stuart Heisler, is almost a documentary, that chronicles the advent of technology that revolutionized the aerospace industry. The jet age followed as a result of these pioneer men that were instrumental in the changes. Humphrey Bogart appears as Matthew Brennan, the man with a mission. Eleanor Parker plays Jo, his love interest. Richard Whorf is Troxell, Brennan's rival. Raymond Massey, and the supporting cast, do their best to make the film work.

Chain Lightning is pretty clearly riding the early '50's interest which arose from the disclosure of Yeager's shattering of the sound barrier in '46. The plane Bogie flies is visually a cross between the Bell X1 and X2. (Paned flush windscreen, but swept wings.) "This is the JA-3, position 300 miles to the north of you...Oops! Just passed you." It's not really a Bogie movie, it's one of the first hot-plane movies. I liked it a lot, since I was a hot-plane fan as a little kid. Bogie does OK, certainly. Little details like the perforations in the bottom of his faceplate (in a "pressure suit"!) rather hint that some members of the crew didn't quite understand what they were creating, but I'd rather watch him trying to shake off that stuck rocket booster or land dead stick than sit through another run down some Death Star trench:). It fits into the genre occupied by The Dam Busters and 663 Squadron, fast flying, but none of their "combat" content. The people support the hardware adequately:).

I first saw this in a theater when it first came out. I was 13 at the time, and knew nothing about piloting an aircraft. So I thought it was pretty keen. The next time I saw it, I was 49 years old and owned an aircraft. What a difference the years make! The story is simple: a pilot makes an epic flight in an experimental jet and sets a record.Spoilers ahead: One movie critic said that the flying footage was "uninspired." How charitable! They were awful! The shots of Bogie were all the same, a head shot in pilot gear, with only slightly more animation than a statue. All the views of him piloting use that same shot.As he flies the jet through the upper stratosphere, he encounters some sparklings outside the cockpit. He radios that he's flying through "meteor dust," with all the animation of pointing out that below and to the right was a famous landmark. And if the "meteor dust" was that prevalent, wouldn't he be concerned about what it might do to his engine? Understand: I like Bogart films. But this one would have been better if they'd cut the aviation sequences out.