Role: Student Pilot
Film Presence: Very small
Role Type: Inexperienced student, in distress
Film Information and Summary: IMDb, TCM, Wikipedia
Release Date: March 29, 1939
Douglas Walton's role as Student Pilot
Famous ballroom dancer turned World War I pilot Vernon Castle (played by Fred Astaire) was set to train a student (played by Douglas Walton) in flying a plane at a military base in Fort Worth, Texas. The student was about to climb on the front seat of the plane but Vernon stopped him, insisting that he will be in the front and the student in the back--instructors were supposed to be in the back and students in the front. While in session, another plane flew out prematurely and was flying at close proximity to Vernon's plane. Vernon avoided the collision with the other plane, but that in turn had his own plunging towards the ground. The nervous student from behind covered his eyes and screamed in terror as he witnessed the inevitable. The plane violently crashed to the ground as components and gears ricocheted from the impact.
The student lived and was not badly hurt. Unfortunately because he was in the front seat, Vernon Castle did not survive the crash.
Watch the clip below. Clip includes Walter Brennan as...Walter :
Douglas Walton often worked in musicals, but hardly partake in the dancing and singing portions of them. There were a close few where he had some sort of participation. A small sing along bit in "I Conquer the Sea!" (1936) and an awkward dance in "Bring on the Girls" (1945). Hmm maybe that's why he hardly did any dancing in musicals. Others he appeared in was "Too Many Girls" (1940) with Lucille Ball and "Wallaby Jim of the Islands" (1937).
This is the first time Douglas Walton shared the screen with Walter Brennan. They appeared together again in "Northwest Passage" (1940).
Release Date: March 29, 1939
Douglas Walton's role as Student Pilot
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| Douglas Walton (left) and Fred Astaire (right) in "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" (1939). |
Famous ballroom dancer turned World War I pilot Vernon Castle (played by Fred Astaire) was set to train a student (played by Douglas Walton) in flying a plane at a military base in Fort Worth, Texas. The student was about to climb on the front seat of the plane but Vernon stopped him, insisting that he will be in the front and the student in the back--instructors were supposed to be in the back and students in the front. While in session, another plane flew out prematurely and was flying at close proximity to Vernon's plane. Vernon avoided the collision with the other plane, but that in turn had his own plunging towards the ground. The nervous student from behind covered his eyes and screamed in terror as he witnessed the inevitable. The plane violently crashed to the ground as components and gears ricocheted from the impact.
The student lived and was not badly hurt. Unfortunately because he was in the front seat, Vernon Castle did not survive the crash.
Watch the clip below. Clip includes Walter Brennan as...Walter :
Douglas Walton often worked in musicals, but hardly partake in the dancing and singing portions of them. There were a close few where he had some sort of participation. A small sing along bit in "I Conquer the Sea!" (1936) and an awkward dance in "Bring on the Girls" (1945). Hmm maybe that's why he hardly did any dancing in musicals. Others he appeared in was "Too Many Girls" (1940) with Lucille Ball and "Wallaby Jim of the Islands" (1937).
This is the first time Douglas Walton shared the screen with Walter Brennan. They appeared together again in "Northwest Passage" (1940).
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