Mercy Plane (1939) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Speed works to clear his name after the Mercy Plane is stolen, using a planned mountain crash to expose the aircraft theft operation.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Sabotage and a New Assignment

Speed's racing planes malfunction as Brenda becomes a rival on the air racing circuit. He takes a test-pilot job with Benson, while Big Jim and Rocco's aircraft scheme remains hidden from him.

Key Events

• Brenda Outraces Speed — Speed loses races as his plane malfunctions while Brenda emerges as a competitor. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Air racing circuit
• The Sabotage Scheme — Big Jim and Rocco are behind the race-plane sabotage and aircraft theft operation. Characters: Rocco Wolf, James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon Location: Not specified
• Speed Seeks Test Work — Speed applies to test Benson's secret hospital aircraft. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Benson Location: Benson aircraft factory
• Brenda Takes Speed Out — Brenda persuades a suspicious Speed to go out to eat with her. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Hamburger joint

A Theft Blamed on Speed

Rocco and Skid stage a road incident, and Speed is jailed. Rocco steals the Mercy Plane during Speed's scheduled test, leaving Speed accused and stripped of his pilot's license.

Key Events

• Roadside Framing — Rocco and Skid run Speed's car off the road and report the crash as a drunk-driving accident. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Rocco Wolf, Skid (as Edwin Miller) Location: Road near Brenda's house
• Speed Rejects Brenda's Help — Brenda offers to bail Speed out, but he refuses; Big Jim gives Curly the money for the bail. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon, James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon, Curly Location: Jail
• Mercy Plane Stolen — Rocco flies the Mercy Plane away before Speed's scheduled test, and Speed is accused of the theft. Characters: Rocco Wolf, 'Speed' Leslie Location: Benson aircraft factory
• Pilot License Revoked — Speed is blamed for the plane's theft and loses his pilot's license. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie Location: Not specified

Evidence in the Factory

Determined to clear his name, Speed searches Big Jim's office and finds aircraft parts at the factory. He evades Rocco and Skid, then takes Brenda on a deliberately off-course flight that ends in a mountain crash.

Key Events

• Speed Searches Big Jim's Office — Speed sneaks into Big Jim's office to look for evidence in the sales records. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon Location: Big Jim's office
• Parts Hidden at Factory — Speed discovers boxes of aircraft parts waiting to be shipped. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie Location: Aircraft factory
• Intruders Bound — Rocco and Skid find Speed, but he outwits them and leaves them bound and gagged. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Rocco Wolf, Skid (as Edwin Miller) Location: Aircraft factory
• Mountain Test Flight — Speed takes Brenda on a test flight far off course and crashes; both survive. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Sierra Nevada Mountains

The Mountain Trap

Stranded for five days, Speed finally tells Brenda that the crash was a plan to lure Big Jim into bringing the stolen plane. The criminals arrive, and the confrontation ends in a shootout that kills Big Jim and wounds Rocco.

Key Events

• Five Days Stranded — Speed pretends the radio is damaged, while search efforts fail and the pair are presumed dead. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Sierra Nevada crash site
• Speed Reveals His Plan — Speed explains that he planned the crash to lure Big Jim into sending the Mercy Plane. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Sierra Nevada crash site
• Criminals Reach the Crash Site — Big Jim sends Rocco to rescue Brenda; the group lands the Mercy Plane at the site. Characters: James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon, Rocco Wolf, Skid (as Edwin Miller), 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Sierra Nevada crash site
• Shootout at the Crash Site — After Speed's deception is exposed, Rocco shoots Big Jim; Big Jim fires back and wounds Rocco. Characters: James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon, Rocco Wolf, 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Sierra Nevada crash site

A Clear Name and New Future

Speed is the only one left able to fly the Mercy Plane back to Los Angeles. His suspicion is removed, his license is restored, and he and Brenda head to the marriage license bureau.

Key Events

• Speed Flies Home Cleared — Speed flies the Mercy Plane to Los Angeles, clears suspicion, and has his pilot's license restored. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon, Rocco Wolf Location: Flight to Los Angeles
• Marriage License Bureau — Speed and Brenda head to the marriage license bureau. Characters: 'Speed' Leslie, Brenda Gordon Location: Marriage license bureau

Story Breakdown

• Racing Sabotage — Speed's reputation is challenged as his aircraft malfunction while Brenda competes successfully.
  • Brenda Outraces Speed — Speed begins losing races as Brenda becomes a leading competitor.
  • Hidden Criminal Scheme — Big Jim and Rocco are behind sabotage efforts and aircraft theft.
• Test Pilot Job — Speed accepts an opportunity to test Benson's new hospital aircraft.
  • Benson's Assignment — Benson needs Speed to test the top-secret Mercy Plane.
  • Brenda's Invitation — Brenda persuades a suspicious Speed to go out with her.
• Speed Is Framed — A staged accident and the Mercy Plane theft put Speed under suspicion.
  • Roadside Incident — Rocco and Skid run Speed's jalopy off the road and report a drunk-driving accident.
  • Stolen Mercy Plane — Rocco flies away with the plane before Speed's scheduled test.
• Search for Proof — Speed investigates Big Jim's operation in an effort to clear himself.
  • Office Records — Speed sneaks into Big Jim's office to search sales records.
  • Factory Parts — Speed finds boxes of aircraft parts waiting for shipment.
• Mountain Deception — Speed takes Brenda to a remote crash site and uses the situation to draw out the criminals.
  • Planned Crash — Speed takes the plane far off course and crashes it in the Sierra Nevada.
  • Five-Day Ordeal — Speed keeps up the appearance of a damaged radio while search efforts fail.
• Rescue and Shootout — Speed's deception brings the criminals to the crash site, where their operation collapses in violence.
  • Mercy Plane Arrives — Big Jim sends Rocco to rescue Brenda, and the group lands the plane at the site.
  • Big Jim Is Killed — Rocco shoots Big Jim, who fires back and wounds Rocco.
• Restored Future — Speed returns to Los Angeles with the Mercy Plane, clears suspicion, and reunites with Brenda in a romantic resolution.
  • License Restored — Speed flies the plane back and has his pilot's license restored.
  • Marriage Plans — Speed and Brenda head to the marriage license bureau.

Directed by

Richard Harlan

Key Cast

• James Dunn — 'Speed' Leslie
• Frances Gifford — Brenda Gordon
• Matty Fain — Rocco Wolf
• William Pawley — James J. 'Big Jim' Gordon
• Harry Harvey — Curly