Absolute Quiet

... because it really is a suspenseful and busy little film. It's like Petrified Forest meets Airport meets A Star Is Born meets Bonnie and Clyde meets The Senator is Indiscreet and I don't think I'm spoiling anything to tell you that.

Gerald Axton (Lionel Atwill), a wealthy industrialist, is told by his doctor that he'll have a fatal heart attack if he doesn't rest awhile, so he decides to retreat to his ranch. Axton has sent an actress he has romantically tired of away to Hollywood for a screen test, and she is scheduled to fly there the next day with an actor she is in love with (Louis Hayward), The fact that she chose another man and has bruised his ego is why Axton wants her out of his sight. On the same plane is the windbag governor of the state, with whom Axton is currently having a feud. A cynical world-weary reporter is also onboard.

Axton is currently in love with his assistant, Laura, and has convinced her to come to his ranch with him. He has sent her husband on a rather dangerous aerial mission given the weather, and hopes to seduce Laura while her husband is otherwise occupied in the air. At the same time, murderers Jack and Judy escape from the sheriff near the Axton ranch and are looking for a place to temporarily hole up.

All of these people - and their planes - end up at the Axton ranch. Since Axton doesn't particularly like any of these people he plays psychological games with them, with unclear motives, although it's safe to say he'd be OK with all of them winding up dead with the exception of Laura. Complications ensue.

This is a rare B movie for MGM, with none of their familiar contract players, not even their supporting ones. The role of the hardened and hard drinking reporter would have probably gone to Lee Tracy in better days, but is well played by Stuart Erwin. The fact that he and Atwill are the most recognizable members of the cast just burnishes the film's B credentials.

It has a seemingly code busting ending that is oddly sympathetic to the escaped criminals. I'd recommend it as an entertaining B that looks like nothing else MGM did during the 30s.