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Chain Lightning

  • 1950
  • Approved
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Humphrey Bogart and Eleanor Parker in Chain Lightning (1950)
Trailer for this action romance film starring Humphrey Bogart
Play trailer2:08
1 Video
50 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

Former World War II flying ace Matt Brennan takes a position as a test pilot for a commercial aircraft corporation and bumps into his old girlfriend, Jo Holloway, who now works as a receptio... Read allFormer World War II flying ace Matt Brennan takes a position as a test pilot for a commercial aircraft corporation and bumps into his old girlfriend, Jo Holloway, who now works as a receptionist for the company.Former World War II flying ace Matt Brennan takes a position as a test pilot for a commercial aircraft corporation and bumps into his old girlfriend, Jo Holloway, who now works as a receptionist for the company.

  • Director
    • Stuart Heisler
  • Writers
    • Lester Cole
    • Liam O'Brien
    • Vince Evans
  • Stars
    • Humphrey Bogart
    • Eleanor Parker
    • Raymond Massey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stuart Heisler
    • Writers
      • Lester Cole
      • Liam O'Brien
      • Vince Evans
    • Stars
      • Humphrey Bogart
      • Eleanor Parker
      • Raymond Massey
    • 36User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Chain Lightning
    Trailer 2:08
    Watch Chain Lightning

    Photos50

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    Top cast46

    Edit
    Humphrey Bogart
    Humphrey Bogart
    • Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan
    Eleanor Parker
    Eleanor Parker
    • Joan "Jo" Holloway
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Leland Willis
    Richard Whorf
    Richard Whorf
    • Carl Troxell
    James Brown
    James Brown
    • Maj. Hinkle
    Roy Roberts
    Roy Roberts
    • Maj. Gen. Hewitt
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • Ed Bostwick
    Fay Baker
    Fay Baker
    • Mrs. Willis
    Fred Sherman
    Fred Sherman
    • Jeb Farley
    Lucienne & Ashour
    • Apache Dancers
    • (uncredited)
    Claudia Barrett
    Claudia Barrett
    • Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Biby
    Edward Biby
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Tex Brodus
    • Military Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Bud Cokes
    • Pub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Coleman
    • Officer at Test Flight
    • (uncredited)
    James Conaty
    • Willis' Butler
    • (uncredited)
    John Crawford
    John Crawford
    • Radio Operator
    • (uncredited)
    Herschel Daugherty
    • Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Stuart Heisler
    • Writers
      • Lester Cole
      • Liam O'Brien
      • Vince Evans
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the plane in the film resembles the Bell X-1, a realistic full-scale JA-3/JA-4 model created by Paul Mantz, the aerial sequence director, was built for $15,000. The jet was constructed on the frame of a highly-modified Bell P-39 Airacobra. The Warner Bros contract called for completion of a realistic fighter able to taxi, eject exhaust, and deploy parachutes.
    • Goofs
      After Brennan starts the JA-3's engine, Bostwick yells 'clear!' This should have been said before starting the engine, to make sure no one is standing near the exhaust.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan: [after helping her out of a badly damaged plane that she brought in for a rough landing] Are you all right?

      Pilot: I guess I hit the brakes too hard.

      Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan: Yeah... yeah, I see what you mean.

      Pilot: I'll do better tomorrow.

      Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan: There isn't gonna' be any tomorrow. You just put the Brennan School of Aviation out of business.

      Pilot: I'm sorry.

      Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan: Forget it.

    • Connections
      Edited from The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      Bless 'em All
      Written by Fred Godfrey (1917)
      Revised lyrics by Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake (1940)
      Additional lyrics by Al Stillman (1941)
      Sung by various characters at the cafe with piano accompaniment
      Also sung by various characters at the party with piano accompaniment
      Played occasionally in the score

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10

    Absolutely routine romance and heroics

    In 1950, jet planes were a relatively recent phenomenon and their emergence offered new possibilities for the long-defunct test-pilot genre of film…

    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…

    However, there is as little value in a film in which a line like "JA-3 to Fort George. I am fifty miles North of you—ooooops, I just passed you!" is fairly commonplace…

    Eleanor Parker offers the only creative acting in the role of Raymond Massey's secretary and Bogart's love interest
    • Nazi_Fighter_David
    • Apr 6, 2005
    • Permalink

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Chain Lightning?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 31, 1950 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Des Teufels Pilot
    • Filming locations
      • Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA(test center)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,477,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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