Directed by Stuart Paton and produced by Kier-Phillips for National Pictures, Clipped Wings is a lesser-known but ambitious crime-aviation drama that blends patriotic themes with undercover intrigue. With a cast led by Lloyd Hughes, William Janney, and Rosalind Keith, the film explores the emotional and moral complexities of two brothers caught between duty and deception.
Plot Summary
During World War I, pilot Captain Jerry Broun (Lloyd Hughes) volunteers to fly for Canada before the U.S. enters the war. His young half-brother Mickey idolizes him and dreams of becoming a pilot himself. Twenty years later, Mickey (now played by William Janney) tries to join the U.S. Army Air Corps but is rejected due to a lingering fear of thunderstorms from childhood trauma.
Meanwhile, Jerry—now working undercover for the U.S. Department of Justice under the alias Jim Lofton—is tasked with infiltrating a gang smuggling oil across the Texas border. The gang is led by Raoul McGuire (Jason Robards Sr.), a war veteran who once saved Jerry’s life. Mickey falls in love with Raoul’s sister Molly (Rosalind Keith), unaware of her brother’s criminal ties.
As the plot thickens, Jerry must balance his mission with protecting his brother and exposing the smugglers. The climax features aerial dogfights, a dramatic mid-air collision, and a parachute escape. Mickey ultimately overcomes his fear, flies Molly and the wounded Raoul to safety, and earns reinstatement in the Air Corps.
Cast Highlights
- Lloyd Hughes as Jerry Broun / Jim Lofton
- William Janney as Mickey Broun
- Rosalind Keith as Molly McGuire
- Jason Robards Sr. as Raoul McGuire
- Richard Cramer as Moran (gang leader)
Production Notes & Trivia
- Filmed at Los Angeles International Film Studios, with aerial scenes shot at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas
- Featured real aircraft including a 1930 Waco INF and a 1931 Fleet Model 7, the latter of which still exists today
- Aerial photography was handled by Elmer Dyer, known for his work on Wings (1927)
- The film used a mix of back screen projection and stock footage from operational fighter squadrons
- It was one of over 200 independent features made available for early television syndication in the 1940s
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