Film Overview"Parachute Jumper" is an American film released in 1933 by the Warner Bros. subsidiary First National Pictures. The film is directed by Alfred E. Green and stars Hollywood icons Bette Davis, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Frank McHugh. As a pre-code movie, it represents different styles that were considered controversial for its era, such as drug trafficking and aspects of sexuality.
Plot Summary"Parachute Jumper" informs the story of Bill Keller (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and Toodles Cooper (Frank McHugh), 2 ex-marines turned barnstorming plane stuntmen who have a hard time to make a decent living during the Great Depression. When they run out of money, they transfer to New York City looking for brand-new chances. There, Bill unexpectedly lands a job as a pilot for a strange business person, the wicked Anthony Farnum (Leo Carillo), who is secretly involved in drug smuggling operations.
On the personal front, Bill falls in love with Patricia 'Alabama' Brent (Bette Davis), an out of work actress, and struggling to make her method the city. While she at first abhors him for his adventurous and unstable way of life, Alabama ultimately falls for Bill's charm.
Main CharactersDouglas Fairbanks Jr. gives a remarkable performance as Bill, an identified and daring ex-marine attempting to make a living during severe economic times. He is impulsive, courageous and has a flair for getting himself into predicaments.
Frank McHugh plays Toodles, Bill's ever-loyal good friend and fellow stuntman. His character offers the needed comical relief, stabilizing the movie's drama with light-hearted minutes.
Bette Davis, in an early function, depicts Alabama. She is an independent and career-focused woman determined to make her method the Big Apple regardless of her dissatisfactions and battles.
Key ScenesIn a turning point for the narrative, Bill discovers that his employer utilizes his piloting abilities for smuggling drugs. After narrowly getting away an ambush by rival gangsters, he decides to face Farnum, leading to a thrilling climax, total with an airplane chase scene.
On a parallel track, Alabama, at first wary of Bill's high-risk career, finds herself falling for him. Their love story unfolds in the middle of the mayhem, providing the movie a psychological depth. A significant scene occurs when Bill easily 'parachute jumps' into Alabama's window, making it one of the film's most remarkable minutes.
Reception and LegacyUpon its release, the movie dealt with criticism for its loose plot and failure to fully explore its characters. In spite of this, Bette Davis's efficiency was praised, and the movie remains unforgettable for its pre-Code elements.
Today, "Parachute Jumper" is viewed by fans as an early glance of Bette Davis' career and as an example of the sort of material Hollywood produced prior to the implementation of the Hays Code, which further regulated movie material a year after this movie was launched.
To date, "Parachute Jumper" remains a fascinating relic of early 1930s Hollywood, showcasing a time when movies attempted to be bolder and darker whilst recording the challenges and romance of the Great Depression age.
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