High Flyers

High Flyers

Year: 1937

Runtime: 70 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward F. Cline

Comedy

Two carnival aviators are hired to fetch photos for a reporter, but the cargo is stolen diamonds. After their plane crashes on a gem dealer’s estate, the dealer, mistaking them for police, offers his mansion for recovery. A kleptomaniac dog buries the jewels, leading his family, smugglers, cops and the aviators into a hunt across the grounds.

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Timeline & Setting – High Flyers (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of High Flyers (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Arlington Estate, Carnival Midway, Seaplane Base, Ocean Liner

The Arlington Estate is the opulent mansion that sits at the heart of the story, hosting the Arlingtons and providing a backdrop for deception and revelry. The Carnival Midway is where Jerry and Pierre perform as pretend pilots and mingle with show business energy. The Seaplane Base and Ocean Liner scenes connect the smugglers’ scheme to a transatlantic crime plot, culminating in a crash landing on the estate.

🎪 Carnival 🏰 Mansion ✈️ Seaplane 🚢 Ocean Liner

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

Main Characters – High Flyers (1937)

Meet the key characters of High Flyers (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jerry Lane (Bert Wheeler)

A buoyant midway pilot who dreams of flying for real. He relies on charm and improvisation to navigate the escalating smuggling plot, but his naivety makes him an easy pawn for Hanlon. He flirts with Arlene Arlington and Juanita, injecting lighthearted energy into the mansion and misadventures.

🎭 Charmer 🧭 Naive ✈️ Aspiring Pilot

Pierre Potkin (Robert Woolsey)

Jerry's quick-witted partner, equally at home with carnival patter and comic risk. He proves sharper than Jerry, yet retains a roguish charm that helps them survive the scheme. His banter and antics drive the musical interludes and chaotic pursuit around the Arlington estate.

🎭 Witty 🧭 Cunning 🎯 Comic Partner

Dave Hanlon (Jack Carson)

A smooth-talking smuggler who hires the pilots to steal a lifesaver and its contents. He manipulates both criminals and police to protect his operation and orchestrates the plan from behind the scenes. His scheming fuels the chaos and the mansion’s unraveling.

💼 Smuggler 🕵️ Schemer 🎭 Deceiver

Horace Arlington (Paul Harvey)

A wealthy, genial patriarch who hosts the Arlington estate. He welcomes the newcomers and shows hospitality, becoming entangled in the deception. His trust in guests and loyalty to his daughter set the stage for the unraveling of the plan.

🏰 Aristocrat 🎩 Generous 🤔 Gullible

Arlene Arlington (Marjorie Lord)

The Arlington daughter who becomes the object of the pilots’ flirtation. She is worldly and enjoys the chaos, yet proves resourceful enough to participate in the plan to outwit the criminals. Her social position makes her a center of comic romance.

👗 Socialite 💃 Flirt 🎶 Performer

Juanita - the Maid (Lupe Vélez)

The Arlington's maid who moves between the household and the scheming plot, adding practicality and humor. She interacts with Jerry and Pierre, offering support and a grounded perspective amidst the caper.

🧹 Maid 💃 Flirt

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

Major Themes – High Flyers (1937)

Explore the central themes of High Flyers (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

Misleading appearances drive the plot: criminals pose as doctors, a lifesaver hides illegal cargo, and the protagonists are mistaken for lawmen. The mansion and carnival settings amplify the tensions as disguises blur the lines between ally and adversary. The humor arises from how far the deception goes before the truth is uncovered.

🎶 Performance

Musical numbers punctuate the action, turning flirtation and scheming into staged entertainment. The pilots’ bravado and the Arlingtons’ hospitality create a lively contrast between high society and carnival life. These performances propel the narrative and deepen romantic entanglements.

🕵️ Investigation

Cops and criminals collide as the jewels vanish and the duo are pursued around the mansion. Disguises, mistaken identities, and frantic searches heighten the comedy while advancing the chase. The resolution hinges on piecing together a counterfeit truth behind the clues.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:31

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High Flyers Summary

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High Flyers Summary

High Flyers Timeline

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High Flyers Timeline

More About High Flyers

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High Flyers (1937) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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High Flyers (1937) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow