Jet Pilot

1957

Jet Pilot

Critics Consensus

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60%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 5

39%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,713
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Jet Pilot Photos

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Movie Info

If Jet Pilot seems hopelessly out of date today, imagine how filmgoers in 1957 reacted when this relic from 1949 was taken off the shelf. Many, many years in the making due to the maniacal tinkering by producer Howard Hughes (who reportedly lost $4 million on it - a massive sum back then), the film was deemed unreleasable upon completion; only when Universal-International took over distribution of a handful of RKO Radio productions did it finally see the light of day. John Wayne stars as an air force colonel stationed in an Alaskan outpost only 40 miles or so from the Soviet Union. Wayne is put in charge of Russian jet pilot Janet Leigh, who claims that she wants to defect. Actually, Leigh is a Communist spy, but thanks to Wayne's affectionate attentions she is won over to the side of Democracy. Thus it is that Leigh rescues the Duke when he is kidnapped and nearly brainwashed by her Commie comrades. Jet Pilot was eventually bought back from U-I by Hughes for his personal collection; not only did he buy into the propagandistic plotline, but he was also enthralled by the aerial scenes, some of which were staged by legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager. The 1949 production date for a number of sequences explains not only why so many of the actors look young for 1957, but the existence of several supporting cast members who had died in the interim (such as Jack Overman and Richard Rober).
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy, Mystery & Suspense, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Josef von Sternberg
  • Written By:
    Jules Furthman
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Universal

Cast

Janet Leigh
as Lt. Anna Marladovna Shannon/Olga Orlief
John Wayne
as Col. Jim Shannon
Jay C. Flippen
as Maj. Gen. Black
Paul Fix
as Maj. Rexford
Richard Rober
as George Rivers
Roland Winters
as Col. Sokolov
Hans Conried
as Col. Matoff
Ivan Triesault
as Gen. Langrad
John Bishop
as Maj. Lester Sinclair
Perdita Chandler
as Georgia Rexford
Joyce Compton
as Mrs. Simpson
Denver Pyle
as Mr. Simpson
Elizabeth Flournoy
as WAF Captain
Jack Overman
as Sergeant
Louis Austin
as Saleswoman
Vincent Gironda
as Muscle Man
Armand Tanny
as Muscle Man
Ruth Lee
as Mother
Alan Dinehart III
as Fresh Kid
Phil Arnold
as Bellboy
Tom Daly
as Hotel Clerk
Keith McConnell
as Bartender
Herbert C. Lytton
as FBI Man
Nelson Leigh
as FBI Man
Al Murphy
as Waiter
Vince Gironda
as Muscle Man
Michael Lally
as Waiter
Theodore Rand
as Waiter
Harry Lauter
as Sergeants
Joey Ray
as Waiter
Smoki Whitfield
as Henry
Jane Easton
as Girl
Dorothy Abbott
as Girl
Janice Hood
as Girl
Allen Matthews
as Headwaiter
Darrell Huntley
as Officer
Billy Vernon
as Drunk
Gene Roth
as Sokolov's Batman
Jimmie Dime
as Russian Security Man
Paul Bakanas
as Russian Security Man
Michael Mark
as Russian General
Gregg Barton
as MP
Jack Shea
as MP
Gene Evans
as Airfield Sergeant
Bill Erwin
as GAC Sergeant
Richard Norris
as Russian Interrogator
Ruthelma Stevens
Dave Ormond
as Russian Interrogator
Mamie Van Doren
as WAF
Kenneth Tobey
Barbara Freking
as WAF
Wendell Niles
as Major
Bill Yeager
as Captain
John Chapin Morgan
as Lieutenant
Joan Jordan
as WAC Sergeant
Joan Whitney
as WAC Sergeant
Sylvia Lewis
as WAC Corporal
Paul H. Frees
as Lt. Tiompkin
Don Haggerty
as Sergeant
Carleton Young
as Technical Sergeant
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Critic Reviews for Jet Pilot

All Critics (5) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (2)

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for Jet Pilot

  • Apr 02, 2010
    John Wayne plays an Air Force Col. Jim Shannon who gets a surprise landing at his base by none other Janet Leigh (who was not overly convincing as a Russian Soviet Pilot because not once does she even give the least hint of a Russian accent.) The air force wants to get information out of her and give John Wayne the job. She proves to be a tough nut to crack so they decide to deport her but the Duke has fallen for her and knowing that they cannot deport the wife of an American Citizen, he marries her only to find out after they are married she is a spy and it's all just a Russian plot to get information to take back to the mother land.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 05, 2009
    The legendary talents of producer Howard Hughes, director Josef von Sternberg and actor John Wayne combine to bring a thrilling and often humorous Cold War adventure to the screen, accentuated by outstanding aerial photography and thunderous action sequences. The special effects in this film are quite convincing in spite of its age. Of course, the US Air Force helped everywhere needed to make the picture seem real. Wayne and Janet Leigh are especially good together as are the usual cast of colorful characters who help pad out the storyline.
    Dean M Super Reviewer
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