Lost in the Stratosphere1934

James Cagney was such a big star by 1934 that producers were eager to find less pricey equivalents, notably Jimmy's younger brother William, a lookalike who made his brief bid for stardom in two "B" productions that year. He plays Tom "Soapy" Cooper, a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot (this was before the Air Force became a separate military branch) who's inseparable best pals with fellow flyer Richard "Woody" Wood (Edward J. Nugent). They spend the comedic first-half playing pranks and trying to steal women from each other; then things get more serious as they spar over Woody's glam fiancé Evelyn (June Collyer) and get sent on a dangerous scientific ballooning mission. Given lots of hard-boiled wisecracks ("A storm is just a flock of raindrops trying to get tough..."), top-billed William Cagney is personable enough but lacking his sibling's distinctive voice and charisma. He soon abandoned acting to become an agent and occasional producer. Billed last is the performer here who would become most famous: Evelyn's maid is played with considerable esprit by Hattie McDaniel who, five years later, would become the first African American Oscar winner for her unforgettable “Mammy” in GONE WITH THE WIND. - Dennis Harvey