Lazy Cow Day
Cripes, I hope I get a job soon, because I am turning into a lump. An even bigger lump than I ever would have aspired to be. Woke up at six a.m. dreaming about having the dream job, preparing lessons for the dream job, being told I didn't get the dream job (I should find out in about a week), and finally had to get up and finish chapter 25. Went back to bed and slept til almost noon, then ate instant porridge and analyzed all the slashy bits in Test Pilot (1938), with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy.
Cripes, I hope I get a job soon.
I loved Test Pilot long before I got into slash, because I love old films, and I'm kooky for Spence. He's arguably the best film actor of all time, and his performance here is flawless. He and Gable made four movies together, mostly buddy pictures like this one, although Test Pilot's a bit of an anomaly as far as buddy pictures go. There's plenty of cute grab-assing and "I love you"s-- including a hilarious bit where Gable holds up a pink nightie against Spence to see if it might fit Loy--but that's typical of buddy movies. It's clear from the beginning that they have a close relationship, with mechanic Gunner (Spence) playing nursemaid to the irresponsible, cocky pilot Jim (Gable); Gunner fusses, and Jim complains he never lets him have any fun.
Again, nothing unusual, until you hit the scene where Jim is taking off on a long-distance flight. They exchange what becomes their trademark goodbye--Gunner sticks his gum on the fuselage behind the cockpit in a good-luck ritual, blows Jim a kiss, and Jim gives the thumbs-up sign--and then the plane is roaring down the runway. Since the plane is loaded down with fuel, the takeoff is difficult. The action cuts between Gunner's reaction and the plane, and the look on Gunner's face is..more than you'd expect from a guy watching his buddy. When the plane finally clears the treetops at the end of the runway, his relief is palpable.
Most importantly, the dynamic in such movies usually involves a girl (think the Road pictures with Dorothy Lamour) about whom both men are gaga, and with whom only one goes home in the end (hey, these are the days of the Production Code, people!) But in Test Pilot, when Ann (Loy) enters stage left, married in a minute to the dynamic, self-centred Jim, it's pretty clear that Jim's mechanic Gunner is jealous--but not in the typical way. Ann and Gunner are obviously set up as rivals, until a fateful race where they stand together, watching from the ground as Jim's engine catches fire:
GUNNER (whispered): Come on down, Jim, come on, don't be a fool--
ANN: Oh, Gunner!
(The ANNOUNCER says that Jim Lane appears to be trying to finish the race in spite of the fire. GUNNER's demeanour changes to a sort of wild-eyed enthusiasm)
GUNNER: One more lap!
ANN (shocked): He's on fire!
GUNNER: Aw, don't be crazy, that's nothin'! It's nice to have a little fire, you don't know how cold it gets up there!
ANN (calling as if he can hear her): Jim! Jim!
GUNNER: Besides, the guy is made of asbestos.
ANN (rounding on him): How can you talk like that? How dare you?
GUNNER (furious): Why, you little fool. Who're you talking to? Whaddaya think this game is? It's death every time you move. It ain't safe to sit in one of ‘em. It ain't even safe to look at one of ‘em. And you married him without giving it a thought. I'll say you're a sucker! (His eyes begin to fill with tears) And let me tell you another thing, if you're with that guy long enough, you'll-- (He cuts himself off and turns away, looking up at the sky. ANN stares at his back for several seconds, a dawning comprehension in her eyes.)
ANN (quietly): Bless you, Gunner.
GUNNER: He's got a good chance, Ann. He's awful good up there.
The two form a strange bond after that, calling each other "pal", united in their addiction to Jim. In one scene, Ann speculates on their future. There are "three roads", and each one of them looks bleak. In the most likely scenario, she goes quietly insane waiting for Jim to die.
GUNNER: How do you like ‘em?
ANN: You know, don't you?
GUNNER: No, no, no. I've only had it for ten years. And you hit it right on the nose, too. You just sit and wait for it.
ANN: What do I do it for?
GUNNER: Because there's nothing else to do. He gets you. There's no fun being with anyone else.
ANN: What's fun about waiting for someone to die?...I won't love him that much. I won't do it...
Of course, the situation worsens, with Jim blissfully oblivious to Gunner and Ann's pain, until Jim and Gunner test the ceiling on a bomber prototype. When the plane crashes, Gunner lies dying in Jim's arms:
GUNNER: Jim!
JIM: What?
GUNNER: Are you all right?
JIM: Sure. Hey, can you move any?
GUNNER: Sure. I'm just taking it easy.
JIM (beginning to look worried): Don't do anything dumb on me, now. (His hand is cradling the side of GUNNER's face, fingers moving over the streaks of blood)
GUNNER: Jim.
JIM: What?
GUNNER: Just listen. I got so many words. Let me string ‘em. (Beat) Don't take anyone in my place. You're so dumb. You don't know how good I was. You just loved me. I was awful good, see? (Beat) Give Ann a kiss.
JIM: Gunner--
GUNNER: Here's a break for me, though. I won't ever have to go home and break the news to her. I leave the roads first.
JIM (crying): Don't die. For my sake.
GUNNER: That's all I'd come back for--if I could.
All in all, a truly gorgeous piece of Classic Slash. Rent it at your local video store today! *g*
Cripes, I hope I get a job soon.
I loved Test Pilot long before I got into slash, because I love old films, and I'm kooky for Spence. He's arguably the best film actor of all time, and his performance here is flawless. He and Gable made four movies together, mostly buddy pictures like this one, although Test Pilot's a bit of an anomaly as far as buddy pictures go. There's plenty of cute grab-assing and "I love you"s-- including a hilarious bit where Gable holds up a pink nightie against Spence to see if it might fit Loy--but that's typical of buddy movies. It's clear from the beginning that they have a close relationship, with mechanic Gunner (Spence) playing nursemaid to the irresponsible, cocky pilot Jim (Gable); Gunner fusses, and Jim complains he never lets him have any fun.
Again, nothing unusual, until you hit the scene where Jim is taking off on a long-distance flight. They exchange what becomes their trademark goodbye--Gunner sticks his gum on the fuselage behind the cockpit in a good-luck ritual, blows Jim a kiss, and Jim gives the thumbs-up sign--and then the plane is roaring down the runway. Since the plane is loaded down with fuel, the takeoff is difficult. The action cuts between Gunner's reaction and the plane, and the look on Gunner's face is..more than you'd expect from a guy watching his buddy. When the plane finally clears the treetops at the end of the runway, his relief is palpable.
Most importantly, the dynamic in such movies usually involves a girl (think the Road pictures with Dorothy Lamour) about whom both men are gaga, and with whom only one goes home in the end (hey, these are the days of the Production Code, people!) But in Test Pilot, when Ann (Loy) enters stage left, married in a minute to the dynamic, self-centred Jim, it's pretty clear that Jim's mechanic Gunner is jealous--but not in the typical way. Ann and Gunner are obviously set up as rivals, until a fateful race where they stand together, watching from the ground as Jim's engine catches fire:
GUNNER (whispered): Come on down, Jim, come on, don't be a fool--
ANN: Oh, Gunner!
(The ANNOUNCER says that Jim Lane appears to be trying to finish the race in spite of the fire. GUNNER's demeanour changes to a sort of wild-eyed enthusiasm)
GUNNER: One more lap!
ANN (shocked): He's on fire!
GUNNER: Aw, don't be crazy, that's nothin'! It's nice to have a little fire, you don't know how cold it gets up there!
ANN (calling as if he can hear her): Jim! Jim!
GUNNER: Besides, the guy is made of asbestos.
ANN (rounding on him): How can you talk like that? How dare you?
GUNNER (furious): Why, you little fool. Who're you talking to? Whaddaya think this game is? It's death every time you move. It ain't safe to sit in one of ‘em. It ain't even safe to look at one of ‘em. And you married him without giving it a thought. I'll say you're a sucker! (His eyes begin to fill with tears) And let me tell you another thing, if you're with that guy long enough, you'll-- (He cuts himself off and turns away, looking up at the sky. ANN stares at his back for several seconds, a dawning comprehension in her eyes.)
ANN (quietly): Bless you, Gunner.
GUNNER: He's got a good chance, Ann. He's awful good up there.
The two form a strange bond after that, calling each other "pal", united in their addiction to Jim. In one scene, Ann speculates on their future. There are "three roads", and each one of them looks bleak. In the most likely scenario, she goes quietly insane waiting for Jim to die.
GUNNER: How do you like ‘em?
ANN: You know, don't you?
GUNNER: No, no, no. I've only had it for ten years. And you hit it right on the nose, too. You just sit and wait for it.
ANN: What do I do it for?
GUNNER: Because there's nothing else to do. He gets you. There's no fun being with anyone else.
ANN: What's fun about waiting for someone to die?...I won't love him that much. I won't do it...
Of course, the situation worsens, with Jim blissfully oblivious to Gunner and Ann's pain, until Jim and Gunner test the ceiling on a bomber prototype. When the plane crashes, Gunner lies dying in Jim's arms:
GUNNER: Jim!
JIM: What?
GUNNER: Are you all right?
JIM: Sure. Hey, can you move any?
GUNNER: Sure. I'm just taking it easy.
JIM (beginning to look worried): Don't do anything dumb on me, now. (His hand is cradling the side of GUNNER's face, fingers moving over the streaks of blood)
GUNNER: Jim.
JIM: What?
GUNNER: Just listen. I got so many words. Let me string ‘em. (Beat) Don't take anyone in my place. You're so dumb. You don't know how good I was. You just loved me. I was awful good, see? (Beat) Give Ann a kiss.
JIM: Gunner--
GUNNER: Here's a break for me, though. I won't ever have to go home and break the news to her. I leave the roads first.
JIM (crying): Don't die. For my sake.
GUNNER: That's all I'd come back for--if I could.
All in all, a truly gorgeous piece of Classic Slash. Rent it at your local video store today! *g*