Tailspin Tommy (serial) - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia

Tailspin tommy in danger flight 1939

Tailspin Tommy is a 12-episode 1934 Universal film serial based on the Tailspin Tommy comic strip by Hal Forrest. It was the 97th serial of the 137 released by that studio (and the 24th with sound). The plot concerns a conflict over a government airmail contract.

Plot

Two cargo airlines clash over a government mail contract. "Tailspin" Tommy (Maurice Murphy), a young mechanic, gets a job with Three Points Airlines, who win the contract. Their opponents resort to sabotage in order to have the contact for themselves. Wade "Tiger" Taggart (John Davidson) becomes their enemy, a man who will do anything to stop the airline from doing business.

After Tommy becomes a pilot, he prevents a runaway aircraft from crashing into a crow of children, among other adventures that put him into the public eye. Eventually Taggert and his gang are brought to justice. Tommy goes on to win a movie contract, and win the heart of his sweetheart Betty Lou Barnes (Patricia Farr).

Chapter titles

Death Flies the Mail
The Mail Goes Through
Sky bandits
The Copper Room
The Night Flight
The Baited Trap
Tommy to the Rescue
The Thrill of Death
The Earth God's Roar
Death at the Controls
Rushing Waters
Littleville's Big Day

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Cast

Maurice Murphy as "Tailspin" Tommy Tompkins

Noah Beery, Jr. as Peter "Skeeter" Milligan

Patricia Farr as Betty Lou Barnes

Walter Miller as Bruce Hoyt

Grant Withers as Milt Howe

Charles A. Browne as Paul Smith

Bryant Washburn as Mr Grant, director of Midnight Patrol

Belle Daube as Mrs Martha Tompkins, Tommy's mother

John Davidson as Wade "Tiger" Taggart

Harrison Greene as the Air circus announcer

William Desmond as Sloane, Taggart's office henchman

Lew Kelly as Victor Martin, Three Point airport dispatcher

John Ince as Eric Peabody, one of Taggart's henchmen

Lee Beggs as Deacon Grimes

Ethan Laidlaw as Bart Dirk, one of Taggart's henchmen

Production

Tailspin Tommy was the first serial to be based on a comic strip. From 1936 to 1945, Universal almost made more serial adaptations of comic strips than both of their rivals, Columbia and Republic, combined. Jimmy Allen was a rival radio serial character to the Tailspin Tommy newspaper strip. He featured in the film Sky Parade. Grant Withers played the sidekick in this film as well as both Tailspin Tommy serials.