ISLAND IN THE SKY

DIRECTED BY WILLIAM A. WELLMAN
MUSIC BY EMIL NEWMAN
WAYNE-FELLOWS/ BATJAC PRODUCTION
WARNER BROS

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/200px-islandinthesky.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/island.gif

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/Annex-WayneJohnIslandintheSky_01.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/johnwaynepromo1.jpg

Plot Summary
A transport plane crash-lands in the frozen wastes of Labrador, and the plane's pilot, Dooley, must keep his men alive in deadly conditions while waiting for rescue.
Summary written by Jim Beaver

Full Cast
John Wayne .... Capt. Dooley
Lloyd Nolan .... Captain Stutz
Walter Abel .... Col. Fuller
James Arness .... Mac McMullen, pilot
Andy Devine .... Willie Moon, pilot
Allyn Joslyn .... J.H. Handy, pilot
Jimmy Lydon .... Murray, Dooley's navigator (as James Lydon)
Harry Carey Jr. .... Ralph Hunt, Moon's co-pilot
Hal Baylor .... Stankowski, Dooley's engineer
Sean McClory .... Frank Lovatt, Dooley's co-pilot
Wally Cassell .... D'Annunzia, Dooley's radioman
Gordon Jones .... Walrus
Frank Fenton .... Capt. Turner
Robert Keys .... Maj. Ditson
Sumner Getchell .... Lt. Cord
Regis Toomey .... Sgt. Harper
Paul Fix .... Wally Miller
Jim Dugan .... Gidley
George Chandler .... Rene
Louis Jean Heydt .... Fitch, pilot (as Louis Heydt)
Bob Steele .... Wilson, Moon's radioman
Darryl Hickman .... Swanson, McMullen's radioman
Mike Connors .... Gainer (as Touch Connors)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer .... Sonny Hopper, Stutz' co-pilot (as Carl Switzer)
Cass Gidley .... Stannish, pilot
Herbert Anderson .... Breezy, Stannish's co-pilot (as Guy Anderson)
Tony De Mario .... Ogden
Dawn Bender .... Murray's wife (uncredited)
Gene Coogan .... Stutz's Navigator (uncredited)
Ann Doran .... Moon's wife (uncredited)
John Indrisano .... Mechanic (uncredited)
Tom Irish .... Dusty, McMullen's co-pilot (uncredited)
Fess Parker .... Fitch's co-pilot (uncredited)
Richard Walsh .... (uncredited)
Michael Wellman .... Mike Moon (uncredited)
Tim Wellman .... Jim Moon (uncredited)
Phyllis Winger .... Margaret, Girl in flashback (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Ernest K. Gann also novel

Produced
Robert Fellows .... producer (uncredited)
John Wayne .... producer (uncredited)

Original Music
Emil Newman
Hugo Friedhofer (uncredited)

Cinematography
Archie Stout

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew V. McLaglen

Trivia
The little yellow radio shown in the movie was a actual radio. Its design is based on a WWII German emergency transmitter. It is a BC-778/SCR-578/AN-CRT3 emergency transmitter (it could not receive) affectionately called 'Gibson Girl', a name taken from the narrow-waisted female drawings of 1890s fashion artist Charles Gibson. Its shape allowed the operator to hold it between the legs while cranking it the necessary 80 RPM to produce enough electricity to operate. It could be set to automatically send an SOS signal or switched to send Morse Code signals. Early models transmitted only on 500kHz, later models also could transmit on 8280kHz (later modified to 8364kHz). It was notorious for being tough to crank.

The general plot is based on a true story that the author, Ernest Gann related in his 1961 autobiographical book about his flying career, "Fate is the Hunter". He and other pilots searched successfully for a lost fellow pilot in the wilds of northern Canada during World War II.

Goofs
* Continuity: The stranded crew had arranged branches in the snow into the shape of a cross so the planes could spot it. Then they rearrange the branches to spell out a message when they fly over. The planes fly over one more time, and the branches are back in the shape of a cross.

* Revealing mistakes: When the crewman is lost in the blizzard, you can see some white fabric in the "snowbank" behind him flapping in the wind.

* Factual errors: As the plane begins its crash landing on the lake three crew members - not the pilots - are standing up behind the pilots looking out the windows. Under no circumstances would the non pilots be there. They would be in crash position in the rear area, not standing in the cockpit.

* Miscellaneous: Just before their plane goes down, when Wayne and the co-pilot look out the windows, the wings are covered in ice, and the fuselage and windows are covered in snow - the camera then pans to a full view of the plane and there is no snow or ice anywhere. After the plane lands there is only a small amount of snow on it.

* Factual errors: Hearing an incorrect latitude reading, Dooley says it could put them in Paris, Vladivostok, or Bangor ME, "all on the same latitude". The last two cities are at latitudes 43.1° and 44.8° north, which might be considered roundly the same, but Paris is significantly farther north at 48.8°. As a pilot with experience on Atlantic flights, Dooley would certainly know this.

* Continuity: When Lovatt died, he had curled up into a fetal position. He would have frozen in that position. When the crew buried him, he was straightened out.

Memorable Quotes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045919/quotes)

Filming Location
Donner Lake, Truckee, California, USA

Watch the Trailer:-

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTAzMzgzMjkxMTReQTJeQWpwZ15BbWU3MDk5MjY5OTE@._ V1._SX200_SY150_BO200,0,0,0_PIimdb-blackband-204-28,BottomLeft,200,-199_PIimdb-bluebutton-big,BottomLeft,372,-201_CR200,200,200,150_ZATrailer,4,121,19,200,verde nab,8,255,255,255,1_ZAIsland%20in%20the%20Sky,4,13 6,19,200,arialbd,7,255,255,255,1_ZA02:43,164,1,14, 40,verdenab,7,255,255,255,1_FMpng_.png (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi761528345/)Island In The Sky (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi761528345/)

Previous Discussion:-
Island In The Sky (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=1157)

We did a search for Island in the Sky through this message board's search engine, and came up with 434 references. Many of them are in the threads about The High and the Mighty.

Anybody who wants to go back and sift through this "ancient history" can check HERE (http://www.dukewayne.com/index.php?act=Search&CODE=simpleresults&sid=3a1b016190e0933e0c9812e85b349c4c&highlite=%2Bisland+%2Bsky).

Because of last year's much anticipated release of this film, it is very available, from all the "usual" internet sources, as well as every store that sells DVDs. :lol:

Chester :newyear:

Originally posted by chester7777@Feb 17 2006, 08:04 AM
We did a search for Island in the Sky through this message board's search engine, and came up with 434 references.* Many of them are in the threads about The High and the Mighty.

Anybody who wants to go back and sift through this "ancient history" can check HERE (http://www.dukewayne.com/index.php?act=Search&CODE=simpleresults&sid=3a1b016190e0933e0c9812e85b349c4c&highlite=%2Bisland+%2Bsky).

Chester :newyear:
27376


Hi Jim and Sue,
Thanks for your post, and it underlines, once again,
that all this fragmentation, was not helpful.
Now at least, we can now have all this, in one forum.

Hi all,
I watched Island in the Sky several times and with audio commentary too, but still have some technical questions. For the firse about this ice. Why it was so dengerous and why they didn't take nessesery precoutions? I remember when I flew at December aierfield crew put something at the winds I think it was against freesing.
And I was also surprised that this area was uncharted. I thought that in 20 century almost everything was put on maps.
It is interesting that in this movie there is strong religios theme. Duke two times is reading the pray our Father, once from the beginning to end and he didn't stop it even when radioman came with importaint news.
And I absolutly love this final line of him about the 6 kids. He at the time of filming had 3 I guess.
Regards,
Senta :rolleyes:

Vera;

You ask about Ice and the Aircraft in the Film? In the days before Jet Aircraft most Aircraft of that time could not go much above 20,000 Feet unless they were Turbo Super Charged. The B-29s that I flew in the early 1950s were Turbo Super Charged and we could go up to about 35,000 Feet but the Aircraft that was in the Film could Not go High enough to get above the bad Icing Weather. :stunned:

In The Film "Island in the Sky" they did a good job on making the Film and showing how Ice on the Wings Effects the Wing of the Aircraft . :) If you watch the Film again You will see when the Plane is Icing Up you can see Duke breaking up the Ice on the front of the Wing with what are called Deicing Boots that are Black in color. They are made of Rubber and expand with Compressed Air and Break some of the Ice off of the Front part of the Wing. :fear:

If the Ice builds up to much on the Wing you loose the Lift on the Wing, and there is no other place to Go But Down! :fear2:

After the Jet Age Began, they had all the Heat from the Jet Engines that they needed to Heat the Front of the Wing with Hot Air and this is called a "Hot Wing." :jump:

And in Very Bad Weather sometime they Spray Anti-Icing Liquid on the Wings and the Tail of the Aircraft.

In 1978 I got myself into a Bad Icing Condition coming back from Oregon up by where Chester is Going when He retires. :wacko:

If you would like to Read the Story that was in the "Flying Magazine" you can go to

WING ICE AND A TRIP I WILL NOT FORGET!!! (http://www.ranch26bar.com/BONANZA1.html) :fear2:

Bill :cowboy:

Well that was a scary one Bill.

Did you guys have to change your britches later? :fear2:

Do you still have your Bonanza?

Tbone;

I know that I did not have to change my pants, :D But I do not know about the Young Instructor that was with me, ;) and he Quit Flying after that Flight and went to work for the Local Police Department and stayed on the Ground!!! :fear2:

Bill :cowboy:

Hi Bill,
thank you very much for the post and fashinating story. What experience you have! Excuse me that I don't know much about planes and flying but I'm sure like to watch movies about that and hear stories.
If I finally came to the 26 Bar ranch will it be possible to fly with you at your plane. Or if don't seat a little at the cokpit of it?
I remember that at our airport they put some kind of anti-icing spray on wings. Interesting why? You write that modern jet planes are flying higher then freezing.
In Island in the Sky there is real great cinematograpty of planes. It is hard to imagine that it is all real planes and big ones flying so beautifully.
You remember Andy Devine talking to Harry Carey Jr. about knife, that he had to go out and clear up. Is he joking or means that he really must go through the window?
Regards and thanks,
Vera :rolleyes:

Vera;

You get as far as Arizona and I will Fly You to the 26 Bar Ranch. :D

I meant that the Jet Aircraft can go over most of the Bad Weather and most of the time you must be in the Clouds or Freezing Rain to Ice up the Wings and the Tail of the Aircraft. :(

Bill :cowboy:

Hi Bill,
Thanks. It is very generous of you.
Regards,
Vera :rolleyes:

My father was chosen by Ernie Gann to fly in Island In the Sky. He wrote some interesting accounts of making the movie. Is there someone who might be interested in this? I've transcribed his journal into WORD and could attach it if anyone's interested. Let me know.

Hi Tabitha,

First of all a big

WELCOME to the JWMB

I am sure you will meet many friendly and knowledgeable
folk here, on this great Board.

What you posted is very interesting, and I feel
sure, lots of our members would be interested.

Is it possible you could copy and paste, your
fathers accounts, here in this thread?

Hi Tabitha

Welcome to te board and I certainly endorse Kieths remarks I would think that most people would be interested in reading the account.


Regards

Arthur

Tabitha,

We, too, welcome you to the John Wayne Message Board!

I can't imagine there would be anyone here who wouldn't be interested in your father's account, and think Keith's suggestion of perhaps cutting and pasting into this thread is a good one.

Welcome, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Chester :newyear: and the Mrs. :angel1:

Originally posted by Tabitha@Oct 26 2006, 11:54 PM
My father was chosen by Ernie Gann to fly in Island In the Sky.* He wrote some interesting accounts of making the movie.* Is there someone who might be interested in this?* I've transcribed his journal into WORD and could attach it if anyone's interested.* Let me know.
36393


Hi Tabitha,
May I add my welcome to the board too. It's a fine place and it will be really great if you can put you fathers memories here.
Thanks a lot for letting as know about it,
Regards,
Senta :rolleyes:

I havent actually seen this JW film although I am familar with the storyline of the movie. I have just bought of Play.com so on arrival I will give it a screening and give you my synopsis soon

Watched Island in the Sky today. Good strong movie with Duke showing a more sensitive side. I would rate it as a better movie than The High & The Mighty.

Mike

DukePilgrim, I agree, its better than High and Mighty. I found the passengers in H&M a little over the top...all of them except Paul Fix were basket cases. Then the end of H&M was a little anti-climatic...after all they went through in the air....the plane lands. They stand around, they go home.

I just found the Island in the Sky to be a much richer plot, with Wayne in the role of protecting everyone, and looking out for everyone. They talked about the other crew's families etc., and then at the end, oh by the way, Dooley has a wife and six kids.

GSP

Hi GSP

I know I was nearly expecting Robert Newton to go into a Long John Silver impersonation at some point. LOL Also,when they all arrive you think it was
a film premiere.

Mike

Check out the expression on Duke's face on this poster for Island in the Sky.

Hi

Island in the Sky was released yeserday in the UK and of course I bought my copy picking it up last night. i came complete with a reproduction poster which unfortunately was folded up so that it would fit into the DVD case.

But beggars can't be choosers.


Regards

Arthur

this movie is one of my favourites!

This was on TCM just a few days ago and I watched it again. This is one movie that just gets better and better everytime you see it. Myself, I would give it a 9. And I love the music to it. I think Island In the Sky is ten times better than the majority of garbage they stick in the theaters these days.

More conventional movie than the High and the Mighty, but (even) more enjoyable with the simple yet exciting survival story. I noticed I miss northern conifer forest

I watch this whenever they show it on AMC. It seems to get better every time I see it. I really liked two big things from this movie: The star power and many recognizable "faces" that were in it, and tnd that it was in black and white which to me; makes it all the better.

I still have not bought this one but plan on doing so.

My father was chosen by Ernie Gann to fly in Island In the Sky. He wrote some interesting accounts of making the movie. Is there someone who might be interested in this? I've transcribed his journal into WORD and could attach it if anyone's interested. Let me know.
I don't know if THIS (http://www.taloa.org/island_making.html) is the story to which Tabitha was referring, but I noticed she had made only two posts, and in her other post (way back when, in the Duke Stories thread - I missed it the first time around) was a link which led me to the one above. INTERESTING story about this film, by someone who "was there."

Chester :newyear:

At last,I watched this movie Dvd released september 2007 in Japan.

The story is very simple, but have storng on tenterhooks, express pilot' s friendship.
and beautiful photography DC-3 in the sky .
Duke does a great job in his role ,exhibits his good leadership.

Andy Devine, Lloyd Nolan,themselves best performance like real pilot.
Specially I'm surprised Andy's serious performance!

regards,
H.sanada

It was a shame James Arness ruined this film with his awful overacting. Otherwise, not bad, although not as good looking as The High and the Mighty.

Yes, he was annoying to the point of extreme. I think he pilots for Ryan Air on a regular basis. Would you ever fly with that airline???? NEVER

Duke was right, Arness was never going to be a big star in the movies, only on television. And not just because he was so tall. That scene with him coughing was so annoying. He also overplayed his part in "Big Jim McLain".

He wasnt too bad in Big Jim Mc Lain. What about The Thing?

In this movie, James Arness takes a role of comedy relief, doesn't he?
But i have been watching tv "Gunsmoke"every week,of course when i was a kid.

I think some people forget that Films or Movies are for the Enjoyment of the people that are watching the Film. Most of the time, in the type of Film, if you Do Not Know anything about the Aircraft that they are useing and what it takes to Get Out alive you may Not Care for a Film Like This.
:glare:
In the Air Force we were Training for this Type of thing, every year back in the Early 1950s.
:wink_smile:
The Film "Island in the Sky" for a Pilot is Fun to Watch because it was Mostly Technicaly Correct when they were Flying the DC-3 or as we called them at that time in the U.S.A.F. C-46 and C-47, and I had Flown them Many Times.
:teeth_smile:
After W.W. 2 there were Hundreds of C-46 and C-47 Stored at Kingman and Litchfield Arizona and You Could Buy them for $750.00 Apiece, if You Had the $750.00.
:hyper:
This was Why this Aircraft was used in this Film and Many other Films in the Late 1940s and the 1950s.
:shades_smile:
You must Remember that at this time in Films Many New Actors would over Act trying to get More Parts. And as far as James Arness, He Must Have Done Somthing Right, as His T.V. Show "Gun Smoke" was Number One On T.V. for Many Years !!!
:laugh:
Chilibill
:cowboy:

Here is an example of the book. Enjoy!

Mark

http://www.dukewayne.com/imagehosting/2147f8e89cb3626.jpg

I bought the 100th Anniversary release of this movie over the weekend and I don't recall ever having seen it before. One (of several) I missed.

It is a good movie, but why did Duke appear to throw away the packet of Spam that was in the bag that was dropped by parachute? Was he not hungry?

Bob

Was in my local Sams Club today and lo and behold, there was a copy of Island In The Sky sitting there for $7.98. Scooped that up real quick. I've been wanting to get a copy for awhile.

I bought the 100th Anniversary release of this movie over the weekend and I don't recall ever having seen it before. One (of several) I missed.

It is a good movie, but why did Duke appear to throw away the packet of Spam that was in the bag that was dropped by parachute? Was he not hungry?

Bob

Spam, even back then was reviled.

i only saw this film for the first time about 2 weeks ago.it's a very good movie.i really enjoyed it.the cast was excellent.it is well directed by william a wellman.pity he didnt do a western with john wayne.

http://i17.servimg.com/u/f17/11/97/59/03/mon_fi20.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=1314&u=11975903)

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:wink_smile:

Un grand merci à Lasbugas pour ce résumé en Français et pour ces magnifiques photos...

A big thank you to Lasbugas for this summary in French and for these beautiful photos ...

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk414.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8829&u=11975903)

Thanks for all the great images. This has to be one of my all time fave Duke films. It's real edge of your seat stuff and his performance is superb and nuanced. I find it a far superior film to The High and Mighty.

two thumbs up! Shows the Duke in a role i've never seen before, a desperate man! trying to hang on to save his crew. One of my favorites!

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk716.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=9161&u=11975903)

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Another thing i don't understand, Why is it some of his movies, ( like this one ) are RARELEY seen on tv? My Dad ( who is 80 years old and a big JW fan ) until recently has never seen this movie before! He said, he thought he'd seen them all! They go back before the DVD era, so if they don't show it on tv, you don't see it. I'd like to see AMC or some western channel, devote one day or even one afternoon a week just for JW movies! Rotate them, so there's always a different one on! I think it would be a BIG HIT!

Right now, the DVD translated into French is available . Perhaps I'll buy it!:wink:

[QUOTE=wtrayah;107791]Another thing i don't understand, Why is it some of his movies, ( like this one ) are RARELEY seen on tv? My Dad ( who is 80 years old and a big JW fan ) until recently has never seen this movie before!

Totally agree, I class myself as a pretty avid fan yet had never seen this on TV in the UK. I bought it when it came out on DVD and couldn't believe it had been so overlooked. In my opinion it's one of JW's best non western with a great performance, superb supporting cast and genuinely tense. Not sure if some networks only have access to the more mainstream offerings. Luckily it's now widely available so it may finally get the recognition it deserves.

http://i47.servimg.com/u/f47/11/97/59/03/a_duk938.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=9405&u=11975903)

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