A grounded pilot gets a dangerous job flying in the Andes mountains
and brings his wife, who is courted by other pilots.
At the Trans-Andean Air Service camp Paul Smith (Chester Morris)
lands and says another pilot was killed. He complains to boss
Ellis (Onslow Stevens) that they need better planes. Ellis sends
for grounded stunt pilot George Wilson (Van Heflin), who arrives
with his pretty bride Lee Wilson (Whitney Bourne). They learn
the room and food will be charged to his pay. Wilson is told the
old plane he came in is the best. Smith says that Hanson (Richard
Lane) was grounded but flies well, and the old-timer crashed a
plane that killed ten. Wilson admits he borrowed a plane and killed
a man while flying drunk. Jones (Paul Guilfoyle) is an alcoholic
and killed two in a crash, maiming his girl, who committed suicide.
Smith tells Wilson and Lee he can't afford to leave. Wilson asks
Ellis for a loan so that Lee can go back to the U. S., but Ellis
says that Wilson already owes him.
Wilson flies an old crate with Smith carrying acid. Mechanic
Col. "Mousey" Mousialovitch (Solly Ward) gives Lee blue
towels to make curtains. Garth Hilton (Douglas Walton) lands and
tells Lee she is beautiful. Smith brings back Wilson drunk. Wilson
tells Lee he wants to live for her, and she gets Ellis to give
him the coast route. Smith offers to help Lee and Wilson leave;
she says no, but he kisses her. Hanson tells Ellis he won't renew
his contract. Wilson flies, following Hanson to the mines. Mousey
steals two bottles from Molly (Rita La Roy). Lee asks Molly not
to sell Wilson liquor, and Smith makes her agree. Wilson sees
a wing come off Hanson's plane before it crashes. Ellis tells
Smith that Hanson's money will pay for the plane. Lee suggests
that Smith leave. Drunk Wilson flies stunts before a bouncy landing.
Lee tells him that they can borrow from Smith or Hilton to leave,
and she won't drink with him. Hilton tells drunk Wilson that he
can't fly and takes his place. Wilson tells Lee that Hilton and
Smith are in love with her. Wilson tells her to go. Smith tells
Wilson that Hilton crashed and died. Smith tells Lee that Hilton
left her much money. Wilson calls Ellis a murderer and gets his
gun. Smith tells Lee to go, and she tells Smith she loves him.
Wilson takes Ellis up in a plane and jumps out. Ellis tries to
fly and crashes. In the final scene Smith and Lee say goodbye
to Mousey, who says he is getting new planes.
This melodrama of desperate pilots being exploited by a
ruthless boss suggests the misery that comes to those whose negligence
has ruined others.