Yukon Flight


57m 1940

Brief Synopsis

When the plane owned by the "Yukon and Columbia Mail Service" crashes, RCMP Sergeant Renfrew (James Newill) and Constable Kelly (Dave O'Brien) suspect murder. Their suspicions are confirmed when Renfrew finds the control stick has been jammed, forcing the plane to fly in one direction until the gas ran out. Mine owner Louise Howard (Louise Stanley) reports that her superintendent is missing. The Mounties find him murdered and that too has been made to look like an accident. A new mail service pilot, Bill Shipley (Warren Hull), arrives. He had gone to training school with Renfrew but had been cashiered for misconduct. The Mounties discover that Raymond (Karl Hackett), who had been working for Louise, really owns the flying line managed by Yuke Cardoe (William Pawley.) They find proof that all the gold from the mine isn't being turned over to Louise, and suspect that Raymond and Yuke are stealing the gold and shipping it to Seattle by plane. Renfrew sets a trap and Yuke and Raymond try to escape in their plane.

Film Details

Genre
Action
Adventure
Release Date
Jan 2, 1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Criterion Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Monogram Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Renfrew Rides North by Laurie York Erskine (New York, 1931).

Technical Specs

Duration
57m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels

Synopsis

When pilot Rufe George's plane crashes, Sergeant Renfrew of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police suspects foul play. His suspicions are substantiated when Rufe's employer, Yuke, the owner of the Columbia Mail Service, testifies that the pilot was drunk, but Renfrew discovers that the plane's gas valve had been wired shut. An old friend of Renfrew's, pilot Bill Shipley, arrives to take Rufe's job and the Sergeant warns him of his suspicions. Renfrew discovers further evidence of foul play when Louise Howard's mine superintendent is found dead, and he finds an offer from mill owner Raymond to buy Louise's mine in the man's pocket. From this clue, Renfrew deduces that Raymond and Yuke have been stealing shipments of the miners' gold and flying it across the border to the U.S., and when Rufe tried to cut himself in on the action, his plane was sabotaged. To prove his theory, Renfrew has Contable Kelly substitute sand for Bill's shipment of gold and then hides in the plane, waiting for Yuke to attempt sabotage. His trap works, and after a shoot out in the skies, Renfrew wounds Yuke whose plane then crashes to the earth in flames.

Film Details

Genre
Action
Adventure
Release Date
Jan 2, 1940
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Criterion Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Monogram Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Renfrew Rides North by Laurie York Erskine (New York, 1931).

Technical Specs

Duration
57m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

This is one of three films based on the Laurie York Erskine novel Renfrew Rides North. The others were Renfrew on the Great White Trail (1938) and Murder on the Yukon (1940). For additional information about the series, consult the Series Index and see entry above for Renfrew of the Royal Mounted.