Ceiling Zero
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Howard Hawks
James Cagney
Pat O'brien
June Travis
Stuart Erwin
Barton Maclane
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Jake Lee, the hard-driving, fast-talking field boss for Newark's Federal Airlines, rehires his old friend, ace pilot Dizzy Davis, against the wishes of company supervisor Al Stone. Dizzy, famous for his daredevil flying and his success with women, arrives at the airline and immediately goes after female flyer Tommy Thomas. In order to further his romance, he feigns heart trouble, sending his pal, Texas Clark, out on a dangerous flight. Tex's plane crashes while trying to land in bad weather, and Tex is near death. When Jake learns that Tex was tricked and that his own wife Mary was once involved with Dizzy, his friendship wavers. Jake proves his loyalty when, after Department of Commerce Inspector Joe Allen revokes Dizzy's license, Jake agrees to Allen's suggestion that he buy a fleet of inferior planes from Fred Adams in exchange for using Adams' pull in Washington to get Dizzy's license restored. Nobly, Dizzy refuses Jake's offer. When the news comes that Tex has died, Jake consoles his widow Lou, leaving the guilt-stricken Dizzy in charge. Against Jake's orders to cancel Tay Lawson's night flight because of freezing conditions, Dizzy decides to fly the route himself. He knocks Lawson unconscious and appropriates the plane. Although Dizzy sacrifices his life during the hazardous flight, he manages to solve a design problem in the new de-icing mechanism before dying. Tommy can now marry Lawson, who is geniunely in love with her, while Jake resumes his duties with stalwart professionalism.
Director
Howard Hawks
Cast
James Cagney
Pat O'brien
June Travis
Stuart Erwin
Barton Maclane
Henry Wadsworth
Martha Tibbetts
Isabel Jewell
Craig Reynolds
Richard Purcell
Carlyle Moore Jr.
Addison Richards
Garry Owen
Edward Gargan
Robert Light
James Bush
Pat West
Gordon Elliott
Mathilde Comont
Jimmy Aye
Howard Allen
Mike Lally
Harold Miller
Jerry Jerome
Helene Mcaddo
Gay Sheridan
Mary Lou Dix
Don Wayson
Dick Cherney
Jimmie Barnes
Frank Mcdonald
J. K. Kane
Crew
Harry Joe Brown
Arthur Edeson
Leo F. Forbstein
Oliver Garretson
Howard Hawks
William Holmes
John Hughes
Paul Mantz
Morrie Ryskind
Les Selander
Jack L. Warner
Frank Wead
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to onscreen credits, the film is dedicated to the air mail pilot. According to contemporary sources, Warner Bros. backed the stage version of Ceiling Zero. Daily Variety notes that flying scenes were shot on location at United Airport in Burbank, CA. Daily studio production reports indicate that Ann Dvorak was originally cast as "Mary Lee." After participating in rehearsals and wardrobe tests, she was replaced by Martha Tibbetts. Modern sources list additional credits as: Pilot, Howard Batt; Jayne Manners (Tall girl), Maryon Curtiz and Margaret Perry. The 1941 Warner Bros. film International Squadron (also known as Flight Patrol), starring Ronald Reagan, was also based on the Frank Wead play.
