Emergency Landing

Emergency Landing

Year: 1941

Runtime: 64 mins

Language: English

Director: William Beaudine

RomanceWarActionDrama

A reckless test pilot teams with his weather‑observer to build an experimental automatic control system that could fly an aircraft without a crew. When word reaches hostile agents, they launch a covert assault to steal or destroy the technology, sparking a high‑stakes struggle to protect the groundbreaking invention.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Emergency Landing yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Emergency Landing (1941)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Emergency Landing (1941). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

The plot sits in the early WWII era, when aviation technology and espionage were prominent. Army Air Forces observers witness tests, underscoring a period of rapid technological advancement and national security concerns. The setting reflects the urgency and optimism of experimental flight during a formative moment in aviation history.

Location

Arizona, Lambert Field, Indian Springs

The story unfolds across a desert town in Arizona centered on a private aircraft company and its testing facilities. Key locations include Lambert Field where tests occur, Doc Williams' workshop in Arizona, and the desert roads around Indian Springs. The arid landscape and small-town air culture frame a tale of innovation, danger, and aerial ambition.

🏜️ Desert setting 🛩️ Aviation hub 🗺️ Arizona

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:50

Main Characters – Emergency Landing (1941)

Meet the key characters of Emergency Landing (1941), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jerry Barton (Forrest Tucker)

A capable test pilot and local FAA official who believes in progress but remains pragmatic about the limits of new tech. He leads the test flights, bases judgments on safety, and calmly coordinates with Doc Williams. When things go wrong, he stays focused and helps recover the situation, illustrating duty and resolve.

🛩️ Pilot 🛡️ Duty 🧠 Pragmatic

Doc Williams (Emmett Vogan)

Arizona inventor of the wireless remote control for aircraft. He pursues aviation advancement with passion, pushing the device toward real-world testing while recognizing its flaws. His partnership with Jerry drives the plot, and his invention becomes a catalyst for both achievement and danger.

🧪 Inventor 🧠 Visionary ⛔ Risk-taker

Betty Lambert (Carol Hughes)

George Lambert's daughter, initially haughty and eager to head to Hollywood. Her attitude sets off a series of events that lead to a lesson in humility, orchestrated with the help of others. Her arc centers on growth and the consequences of vanity.

💁‍♀️ Spoiled 🎬 Hollywood Dream 🗣️ Headstrong

Maude Lambert (Evelyn Brent)

Betty's aunt, a practical and perceptive presence who helps pull off the corrective plan. She balances affection with cunning, nudging the others toward a teachable moment. Her actions shape the story's moral turn while keeping the tone light.

🧓 Family matriarch 🧠 Schemer

George Lambert (William Halligan)

Millionaire aircraft company owner who funds the tests and believes in innovation with a measured hand. He provides the resources behind the dream, acting as a stabilizing, supportive force amid the drama of experimentation and youthful mischief.

💼 Millionaire 🛩️ Industrialist

Judge Gildersleeve (Billy Curtis)

The town judge, described as a midget in the cast notes, who appears to administer the law with a mix of sternness and comic timing. He fines the girls, delivering a capstone moment of accountability to the hijinks earlier in the story.

⚖️ Judge 😂 Humour

Karl (I. Stanford Jolley)

One of two undercover enemy agents who hijack the bomber, driving the espionage subplot. He remains a threatening presence as the plot unfolds toward a rescue and capture.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy 🗺️ Agent

Otto (Stanley Price)

The other undercover agent involved in the hijacking scheme. His role underscores the film's tension between innovation and covert threats.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy 🗡️ Antagonist

Pedro (Thornton Edwards)

An additional agent in the espionage plot, contributing to the undercover threat surrounding Lambert Aircraft and the prototype.

🕵️‍♂️ Spy ✈️ Bomber Tech

Jones (George Sherwood)

A member of the staff or support figures connected to the Lambert operation, present in the cast and involved in the ongoing aviation drama.

🧰 Staff 🛡️ Support

'Pappy' Clayton (Budd Buster)

A bit part providing comic relief, adding local color to the desert aviation setting.

😂 Comedy 🧓 Senior

Cowboy Offering Help (Joe Hartman)

A minor character who appears in a scene offering help, contributing to the film's Western-flavored touch and small-town atmosphere.

🤠 Helper 🗺️ Local

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:50

Major Themes – Emergency Landing (1941)

Explore the central themes of Emergency Landing (1941), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💡 Innovation

The central premise revolves around a wireless remote control for aircraft, highlighting both the promise and peril of cutting-edge technology. Inventions are chased with zeal by dreamers like Doc Williams and test pilots like Jerry Barton, but success remains elusive. The narrative repeatedly weighs scientific ambition against real-world safety and reliability.

🕵️‍♂️ Espionage

Foreign agents undercover at Lambert Aircraft threaten to steal or subvert the prototype, injecting tension and secrecy into the story. The hijacking of a Lambert-designed bomber escalates the stakes beyond a mere technical demo. The intrusion underscores the fraught climate of wartime intelligence and infiltration.

⚖️ Justice

The conclusion brings a humorous yet firm sense of accountability through Judge Gildersleeve, who fines the misbehaving Betty and Maude. Authority and consequences are used to restore order and discipline in a lighthearted way. The moral arc emphasizes responsibility, especially in a world teeming with risk and temptation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:50

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Emergency Landing

Don't stop at just watching — explore Emergency Landing in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Emergency Landing is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Emergency Landing Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Emergency Landing, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Emergency Landing Summary

Emergency Landing Timeline

Track the full timeline of Emergency Landing with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Emergency Landing Timeline

More About Emergency Landing

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Emergency Landing: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Emergency Landing