To me, this movie is perfection.

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Victor Fleming directed this film called " Test Pilot " and although it is remade several more times, each has it's own quirks. In this version we have Clark Gable, playing Jim a fun loving, joy seeking test pilot out to tame a plane and the sky-mistress. Spencer Tracy, plays Gunner he dutiful, loyal side kick who tries to play guardian angel over his reckless best friend. Myrna Loy is Ann a beautiful farm's daughter who becomes his girl and later his wife. With Lionel Barrymore playing Drake, his employer, the film dwells mostly on the personal relationship between the main characters and their ambitions. As such the movie is a soft but lofty tribute to foolhardy aviators and dwells painfully on the personal aspects between those who fly and those who expect the inevitable disastrous outcome of a failed aircraft. Though Tracy and Gable are a great team in other movies, they seem at odds in this one. Still, for an early war time propaganda film, it's acceptable, but hardly a classic for either star. ***

The flying shots are often very good, particularly since they look to have been taken from another aircraft. The planes are antique, even by late 30s standards. The sleekest fighter resembles a P-36, already obsolete (vs. the Zero and the Me 109). The B-17 is the early model sans tail gun. Loy is an improbable farm girl and her conflict with the flamboyant Gable (in love with the wild blue dress yonder) is unconvincing compared to the witty interchanges with Powell in the Thinman films. Tracey, without a great part, shows how good he is. He just raises an eyebrow or lowers a lip -- no wonder Gable envied his acting! But watch this one as part of a "history of flight" course -- not necessarily how it was done back then but how it was depicted. And there is some truth to the mythology that inter-war flying in this country was done by a bunch of loners, rogues, and madmen. We were only a few years from the more mechanized approach to turning out pilots in great and necessary quanities, in schools where "training" was really done.

The first 40 minutes features some sharp, witty dialog, much of it by Myrna Loy as she puts down the arrogant Clark Gable.Then the story just gets too silly and begins to bog down with a one-day romance that results in marriage, of course (only in Hollywood!). Then you get a predictable death scene and then Gable shown winning a big race. However, after the race he goes on a four-day drunk with no explanation of why he did it.The film continues with this kind of stupidity and ovedoner melodramatics by both Gable and Loy, ruining what started out to be a very promising two-hour film. Instead, after awhile I just couldn't wait for this to end. Not recommended.

This second pairing of Gable and Tracy was a great follow-up to the exciting "San Francisco" which was their first film together. Tracy was fast-becoming a very big star had an expanded role, but was still Gable's side-kick; something he would soon tire of. But all three stars, Gable, Tracy and Myrna Loy have a wonderful chemistry together. They play both the comedy and drama of the film with great ease and truthfulness. This trio, along with the wonderful Lionel Barrymore really make the film work.This isn't quite standard MGM fare. Underneath the fun-loving natures of the leads there is a slowly building sense of doom that begins to wear on them all. Tracy's character gives the tension a voice in his quietly stated mantram "Three Roads". As with the earlier film pairing, "San Francisco", "Test Pilot" was considered quite a fine action film with terrific special effects. Although, the latter suffers greatly in the special effects department today, while "San Francisco" still holds up quite well due to the excellent camera work, editing and creative special effects.There is one scene in particular that is fun to watch when you know the back story. It takes place rather early on with Gable driving a car with Loy sitting in front with him, and Tracy sitting in the back. The scene's lines are only between Loy and Gable with Tracy sort of listening and chewing gum. Gable was quoted after the premier complaining in an envious but lighthearted manner about that "damn Tracy, we're acting our asses off, we have all the lines and he's still the only one you watch!" Gable had a life-long respect for the great acting prowess of his co-star.Also look for Gable's last speech at the end of the film. While lecturing a group of air force recruits he suggests that the're either "cracking wise or giving him the bird!" The first time that gesture was ever mentioned on screen!A great 1930's MGM classic. Don't miss it!