Dirigible (1931) Movie Script
1
The admiral will see you now,
Commander Bradon.
Thanks.
Excuse me.
- How are you, Bradon?
- Fine, thank you, admiral.
Bradon, is your dirigible in shape
to take a good long trip?
Yes, sir.
Well, how would you like
to take a trip to the South Pole?
What?
Sit down, Bradon. Think it over.
Think it over, sir?
Why, I'd give my right eye,
my left arm, and both legs to go.
Sounds like you're interested.
Rondelle is in town.
I suppose you know why.
Well, the papers have hinted
he's here to get the Navy
to back him
on his flight to the South Pole.
The papers are right,
and the Navy has agreed.
That is why I asked you
to come to Washington.
Oh, have a cigar.
Thank you, sir. And you were saying?
Now, understand.
Rondelle has been talking airplanes
and not dirigibles.
What do you think?
Well, sir, I've spent
my whole life with balloons.
I know it.
And we appreciate your efforts, Bradon.
But most of this country's from Missouri,
as far as dirigibles are concerned.
But the planes have had the spotlight.
We've never had a chance to demonstrate
what lighter-than-air craft can do.
Exactly. Now, this is your chance.
Rondelle's idea is to go
to the Antarctic by boat,
and then try to reach the pole in a plane.
But that would take a year or more.
With my dirigible,
I could do it in a month.
All I'd need to do is to establish
fueling stations on the way--
And convince Mr. Rondelle.
Let me at him. Where is he?
Give me an hour of his time.
- I'll convince him, sir.
- You shall have a whole day.
I'm bringing him up
to Lakehurst on Navy Day.
The public will be there, commander.
But you're going to put on a show
especially for Mr. Rondelle.
I understand, sir.
And if it's a good show, who knows?
You may be needing some winter underwear.
Just give me a chance to do it,
and I'll go in my bathing suit.
Good. Good.
Thank you, sir.
Well, here we are,
right at the official stand.
There's Admiral Martin.
The man sitting next to him
is Louis Rondelle, famous explorer.
He spent the last 30 years of his life
commuting to the North and South Poles.
He hasn't gotten there yet,
but he looks like a persistent old fellow.
You know, the order to release
those free balloons came from Bradon
by radio telephone from the dirigible.
You mean to say
that he can give orders from up there?
Oh, yes.
Would you like to talk to him a minute?
- Could I talk to him from here?
- Why, certainly. Certainly.
Orderly, get me Commander Bradon
on the phone.
Aye, aye, sir.
Just a minute, sir.
No, no.
Thank you, thank you.
Hello?
Commander Bradon talking.
Oh, how do you do, sir?
Oh, I feel lighter than air.
Hope we haven't bored you.
Commander, I've seen magic in my life,
but never anything like this.
Thank you very much.
Is there anything else we can do for you?
I was wondering, commander,
just what would happen
to your men up there
if something went wrong with your ship?
All right. We'll try and show you.
Rowland, 130 the crew. Abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
- Three engines idle.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Well, does that satisfy you?
Right.
Well, well. Well, we ought to see
another record broken today.
- Yes?
- Yeah.
Lt. Pierce started from San Diego
12 hours ago
in a coast-to-coast race against time.
Well, we are getting
our money's worth today.
Why, he ought to be roaring
along here any minute now.
Put me through to Lt. Pierce's plane.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hello? Hello?
This is Pierce. Pierce.
This is Pierce. Pierce.
Hello, Lakehurst?
Hello, Lakehurst?
Lieutenant Pierce, Lakehurst calling.
Hello, Frisky.
Jack Bradon.
What's holding you back?
Oh, my modesty's holding me back.
Hey, is it much of a crowd?
Oh, about 100,000.
What do you mean, "Is that all"?
And say, listen,
when you come in for a landing,
none of your monkey business.
The air is filled with balloons.
Listen, you better get
those playthings out of the way.
I can't suffer windbags.
Well, talking of windbags,
how are you feeling?
Oh, commander. You're killing me.
Say, listen. Tell my wife
I'll be home for dinner, will you?
And tell her not to forget the artichoke.
Okay, pal.
Okay, pal.
- Prepare to land.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Landing stations.
I think he's about to make a landing.
Just watch and see how easily he does it.
Let go of trail lines.
Full power turn!
- Great show, Bradon. Great show.
- Thank you, sir.
- Rondelle, sorry you weren't up with us.
- Thank you.
Your ship's a marvelous performer.
Not a bit temperamental.
No, sir, and what's more, she'll perform
that way any place in the world.
- Even over the Antarctic?
- Especially over the Antarctic.
Lt. Pierce is sighted to westward.
Look, folks! Here comes Frisky Pierce now!
He's coming this way too.
Looks like he's coming right for me.
Boy, if he does that again,
he's gonna take my toupee off.
He's gonna fly through the hangar.
That's marvelous.
The young fool.
I think he's gonna make a landing.
Yes, sir, he's gonna...
That boy is stealing this show today.
He's broken the record.
Well, I suppose I must congratulate him.
Say hello for me, will you there?
That boy's got more nerve
than anybody I ever saw.
Hello, Jack.
Hello, Helen.
How are you tonight?
All right, thanks.
- Say, this has been a day, hasn't it?
- Yes.
Gosh, I'll say so.
Say, haven't you had your dinner yet?
Where's Frisky?
Well, Frisky hasn't come home yet.
Well, he's probably been
interviewed to death
and is now having his back slapped off.
You ought to feel pretty proud, Helen.
I've been waiting to do
some back slapping myself.
Only, how can you slap a back
when there isn't any back to slap?
Tell me something.
- Have you been crying?
- No, Jack, of course not.
Don't be silly. Come on, sit down.
- You want a cigarette?
- Please.
Well, we have another cup
to add to the collection.
I don't think there's room
for another, is there?
Thank you.
We'll make room.
That's not a trophy, it's a relic.
Doesn't belong up here.
- This doesn't represent conquest.
- Jack.
That represents friendship.
Give it to me, Jack.
Aren't you going to sit down?
"Winner, first place, Navy Pursuit Plane."
"Winner, Minneapolis Air Show."
"Winner, first place,
free-for-all high-speed Schneider Cups."
It's Frisky!
- Frisky!
- Helen.
Frisky.
- Oh, darling, I'm so glad to see you.
- I'm glad to see you.
Oh, you don't mind the Navy, do you, dear?
Of course not. Hello, boys.
How do you do?
Gee, I meant to call you all day, dear,
but I didn't get a minute. Did I, fellas?
No, no, no.
- Now, lieutenant, now?
- Not now.
Well, Jack. I missed you at the station.
You know all these mugs.
- Come on, you fellas. Drape yourselves.
- Thank you.
Jim, get on that piano.
Oh, no, you don't.
Nix on that, boys.
I've gotta talk business with Frisky,
and I've only got a few minutes,
so you've got to scram.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Is this our senior officer talking?
Yes, sir, and you take orders
from me right now.
Come on, boys.
Great party.
- Goodbye. Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
We'll be seeing you.
It's great to see you again, sweetheart.
Why weren't you there?
Oh, I know.
You're afraid that I'd do one of those:
But I got a surprise for you.
It only cost two cents.
Printed this morning on the Pacific
and here it is delivered
on the Atlantic the same day.
There, take a look.
Read all about your disgusting--
Distinguished husband.
Say, front page, how about eight
or ten seconds of your distinguished time?
Well, I might consider.
I've got news.
Don't tell me you're gonna make
a nonstop flight to Coney Island.
I'm gonna make a nonstop flight
to the South Pole.
How do you like them for apples?
- You're going to what?
- You heard me.
Don't spill it
to any of your newspaper pals.
Because it's no pipe dream.
I'm going to the South Pole.
Me and my gas bag and Rondelle, and...
And what?
How would you like to go along?
Me? The South Pole?
What would I do?
I can land a plane
on the dirigible and take off.
- How?
- I'll show you.
Well, look. See, here's your dirigible,
and here's the plane, and...
Wait a minute.
Come on. Hurry up. Give me.
- You got me all excited.
- Now listen. Right here.
Here's the dirigible.
Hanging down here,
there's a gadget, like a trapeze.
- I remember, you made a drawing.
- Yeah.
And on your plane, there's a hook.
Now follow this.
Here I am floating along.
- That's me.
- This is you.
Here you come down like this.
Now you fly along
and jockey into such a position
as to engage this hook into the trapeze.
- Do you get the idea?
- Oh, I get the idea, all right.
- It's no cinch.
- I can see that too.
It's like threading a needle.
That's why I had you detailed
to Lakehurst.
Oh, what are you laughing about?
I see myself hanging
onto your belly and looking very swell.
Oh, listen, you poor fish.
You'll probably fly over more
unexplored territory than we will.
We'll send you out on side trips.
- How does that strike you?
- Well, I'll consider the matter.
Listen, big boy, don't let it get you down
or give you a headache
or keep you up at night.
Because there's 101 pilots
that's just dying for this chance.
Yeah. Well, you just try
and keep me away.
Attaboy. Now listen.
You help me put this over,
and we're a cinch for the South Pole.
Sounds swell, Jack.
Rondelle won't have an argument left.
And by the way, kid,
you knocked him into a flat spin.
- Does he know?
- No, he doesn't.
But when he finds out, he'll be--
- Why didn't you give me a load of this?
- I couldn't
- I've been working it out.
- Have a drink.
Don't bother about Helen.
Can I count on you for this?
Say, if there's any plane
flying over any pole, I'll be there.
Attasailor.
- Listen, I wanna come down--
- Come down and I'll show you.
Early. See, I'd like--
Don't bother Helen. Say goodbye for me.
See you in the morning.
Okay, pal.
Helen?
Helen.
Helen.
You waited for me.
You haven't had your dinner yet, have you?
- Did you read my letter?
- Letter?
Don't you remember?
I asked you to read it.
I didn't forget it. Honest, I didn't.
I was thinking about it all the way,
but I was mobbed when I came down and...
I'll read it now.
"Sweetheart, thousands are cheering you,
but I'm the only one who loves you.
Helen."
Somebody ought to give me
a good swift kick in the pants.
Will you forgive me?
Of course you will. You always do.
You flew through the hangar today
and you promised you wouldn't.
I was just giving the crowd
a run for their money.
You love the crowd, don't you?
Not as much as I love
my little wife, though.
When you've got a reputation,
you've got to live up to it.
- Even if you have to die for it?
- Well, you can only die once.
Oh, no.
You could die a hundred times.
I have.
Ever since the first time I saw you crash.
I know, I know.
That time I crashed out in Chicago
with that old crate.
And every time it whirled
on its way down...
- I died, Frisky.
- Oh, darling.
And the awful sound of that crash.
But I walked away from it, didn't I?
Without a scratch.
And wasn't it funny?
Instead of me passing out, you did.
I'll never forget how glad you were
to see me when you came to.
Frisky, how long have we been married?
- You know, a couple of years, I guess.
- It's really only a couple of months.
That's all I've seen of you
these last two years.
I'm in the Navy now. I'm not--
Can I help it if they give me
all the tough jobs?
Can I help it if some of these pilots
get seasick every time they go up?
Can I?
I've never complained, Frisky.
But I couldn't stand it
if the next two years
are going to be like the last two.
They won't be, sweetheart.
I'll never fly through the hangars again.
I'll read your letters on the minute
and I'll be home for dinner every night.
Give me a kiss, will you?
And you won't go
to any South Pole with Jack Bradon.
What's that?
Frisky, I couldn't help hearing
what you were talking about.
And I could just hate Jack
for even suggesting it to you.
But, dear, that's different.
It's science.
You wouldn't want me to give up
the greatest chance of my life,
- the biggest flight ever attempted.
- Yes, I would.
- He could easily get somebody else.
- But he can't. That's the point.
He has asked for me.
It means an awful lot to him.
You wouldn't want me to turn down
a friend like Jack, would you?
Then if Jack didn't
want you to go, you wouldn't?
Absolutely not, sweetheart.
Now, come on. Let's forget it
and be like we've always been.
Yes?
Some guy just made
30 outside loops, did he?
That's nothing.
I'll give you a little scoop
for that paper of yours.
If you wanna see a real stunt,
come out to the hangar in the morning.
I'm gonna hook that plane of mine
onto that dirigible in flight.
Yes, and--
I'll see you in the morning.
Helen?
Good morning, lieutenant.
- Oh, good morning, sir.
- Well, do you think you can make it?
You know, the plane will be a great
auxiliary to the dirigible on our trip.
Auxiliary?
You think the dirigible
is the auxiliary, eh?
Signal, sir.
Yeah.
Pardon me while I imitate a baby pig
hooking onto its mama pig for lunch.
Good luck, boy. Good luck.
Here he comes!
Five engines full speed ahead.
Standby for hook-on.
- May I borrow your glass, please?
- Why, surely.
Thank you.
Where'd he go?
Hey! Hey!
That guy must be crazy.
Hey!
Cut out that stunting
and get busy on the hook-on!
I mean it.
Go ahead.
All right, now.
Hold it there. Hold it steady.
All right, now.
He's trying for the hook-on.
He's nearing it.
He made it!
He's on.
Attaboy, Frisky.
I couldn't have done better myself.
When I get back to Lakehurst,
I'll give you a little kiss.
Now try to release, yeah.
Well, boys, that means
we take a plane along.
I guess the commander was right after all.
A great step for lighter-than-air craft.
I've tried three times to reach it.
The closest I ever got to it
was within 200 miles.
But in those days, we didn't have any
flying machines, nor radio telephones,
just dogs and men.
- I can believe the men part.
- Thank you.
No more, thank you.
Well, from Punta Arenas, here at the tip
of the South American continent,
which you say will be our last stop.
- Yes, we'll have to refuel there.
- Yes.
Well, from there to the South Pole
is a flight of 7000 miles, that is,
there and back.
When we're near the pole,
our greatest difficulty comes, because...
Maybe this will illustrate it.
You see, the South Pole
is in the center of a great ice cap, huge,
that rises almost abruptly,
almost perpendicularly,
10,000 feet above the Antarctic continent.
That's our great barrier.
Once past that,
it's an easy flight of 600 miles.
- And then, you see--
- What do you think about it, Clarence?
- Does you want my personal opinion, sir?
- Certainly, yes.
Well, I couldn't help from listening,
especially when I hear you
talking about ice jams and pelicans
and compasses and sextets
and mountain ranges.
How about some gas ranges?
How about some eatments?
Eatments?
We never gave it a thought.
Well, it appears to me while
y'all is trying to climb that pole,
- you ought to have some rations.
- Yes.
- Permanent and frequent.
- How did we happen to overlook that?
- I can't imagine.
- Well, sir, that's where I comes in, sir.
You? What do you know
about the South Pole?
Well, wasn't I born South?
Ain't Birmingham South?
- Oh, yes.
- Commander.
Yes. Oh, thank you.
Tell these women to lay off.
You're in training now.
Don't you worry about me.
Will you pardon me, Mr. Rondelle?
I'll be back in just a second.
- Hello, Helen.
- Hello, Jack.
What good luck brings you here?
I hope I didn't take you away
from anything.
Now how could anything else
be important when you call?
You haven't forgotten
how to say nice things, have you?
I came here because I thought you
hadn't forgotten how to do nice things.
Well, tell me.
What nice thing can I do for you?
It's about Frisky.
He's only been home a short time, Jack.
And he talks of nothing else
but going away again.
This time, it's to the end of the world.
Jack, I want you to take
Frisky off the trip to the pole.
Take Frisky off?
- But, Helen--
- You won't miss him.
You've a hundred other pilots
to choose from.
I heard you say so.
I know, but after all--
This is only a stunt to him.
What will he lose if he doesn't go?
A little applause and a few headlines.
And those would only make it
more difficult for me.
You think I've been happy all this time?
I haven't.
I've been absolutely miserable.
And if he does go now,
I won't be here when he comes back.
Take him off it, Jack.
Please do that for me.
Helen, you know that I'd do anything
in the world for you, but...
I pulled every wire in Washington.
I couldn't have--
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have asked you.
I didn't know how important it was.
Thanks, Jack. Never mind.
- Helen. Please.
- Don't, Jack. Let me go.
Well, I can't let you go this way.
Please, Helen.
Oh, Jack, if you only knew.
Now, come on now.
I'll see what I can do, Helen.
What will you do about your family
while you're away?
- Family? Oh, you mean my wife?
- Yes.
- Oh, she's a million.
- Fine.
I could go away for 10 years,
and when I came back,
she'd be waiting for me.
- Wonderful.
- I've got her trained.
Well, that's good.
Because, you know, sometimes wives
and South Poles don't mix.
You will do it, won't you?
And you won't let Frisky know I asked you.
Promise me that, Jack.
He'll never know.
Jack!
- Jack, have you told Frisky yet?
- No, but I promised you, didn't I?
- Yes, you promised.
- All right, I will.
- Mrs. Martin.
- How do you do?
When am I gonna dance with my little wife?
Say, Frisky, let's go out
and smoke a cigarette.
- Let's have "Anchors Aweigh."
- Wait a minute.
Say, if it's the one about the dame
that said her husband wasn't home,
I've heard it.
Frisky, you're pretty keen about making
this trip to the South Pole, aren't you?
Why, certainly, Jack.
You should have read the story
I gave the papers this morning.
Why?
Well, I was just thinking.
Let's step in the hangar.
Say, is this a six-day bicycle race?
Say, Jack, why did you ask me
if I was anxious to go?
- Because it'd be easier if you weren't.
- Easier for what?
To tell you that you're not going.
I'm not going?
Say, for a minute, boy,
you had me winging.
Come on, what's the gag?
When do I laugh?
I hate to tell you this, Frisky,
but I want you
to withdraw from the flight.
Withdraw?
Why, Jack,
you asked for me, didn't you?
Yes, I did. But I changed my mind.
Why?
I can't give you any explanation.
I want you to do it as a favor to me.
Why, you're crazy, Jack.
I can't do that now.
People will think I was yellow.
Besides, the newspapers and--
Oh, listen. No, they won't.
After all the glory
that you've won this year,
who would think you were yellow?
- Glory?
- Yeah.
Oh, I'm just beginning
to get it for the first time.
You're afraid I'll steal your show.
You don't want anybody else
to get any of the glory.
Well, that's as good as any.
Okay.
We'll let it go at that.
After all, it was my original idea
in the first place, wasn't it?
Yes, it was your idea,
but it's my reputation.
- I'm not going to withdraw for anybody.
- Then I'll have to go to the admiral.
- Yeah, what can you tell the admiral?
- I can tell him plenty.
In the first place, I ordered you
not to stunt when you made the hook-on,
but you disobeyed that order.
This trip to the South Pole
isn't an exhibition.
It's a job.
There'll be no crowds
down there for you to play to.
Frisky, you're a grandstander.
What I need is a pilot.
Now, do I have to go to the admiral,
or will you step out?
That's a very pretty speech.
Okay, I'll step out.
But get this in your head.
Whatever Frisky Pierce starts,
he finishes.
I'm going to the South Pole
whether you like it or not,
if I have to crawl
on my hands and knees.
And if I don't get there before you do,
you can bet your neck I'll arrive in time
to pick up your pieces.
My pal.
They're saying goodbye to us.
Hear the whistles?
Sounds like New Year's Eve,
doesn't it?
- Head for the Statue of Liberty.
- Aye, sir.
- Three points starboard.
- Aye, sir.
Goodbye, old lady.
Well, sir, we're on our way.
- Fine, fine.
- Radio, sir.
- Trouble?
- I don't think so.
That's the hurricane belt, isn't it?
Yes, but I think we'll pass through
that area before anything can touch us.
Fine.
- What's your course?
- 180 degrees, sir.
- Keep her due south.
- Aye, sir.
Steady on that wheel.
What's the matter with you men?
A little storm bother you?
What, are you fair weather flyers?
Lexington wants to know
if we're in distress, sir.
- Of course we're not in distress.
- Aye, sir.
Go aloft
and see how our covering's holding.
Aye, sir.
- How's our altitude?
- Ship's getting heavy, sir.
- How much ballast have we left?
- All overboard, sir.
Open up valve number three.
McCarthy.
Cut the two center tanks of gas.
Cut two gas tanks.
Center gas tanks?
Yes, cut away two center gas tanks.
Now, keep your men steady.
Aye, aye, sir.
- How's our altitude now?
- Thirteen thousand, five hundred, sir.
Keep climbing.
I'll take it.
Hello?
What?
I'll be right up.
- Keep climbing. I'm going aloft.
- Aye, sir.
- Where is it, McCarthy?
- There, sir.
Get all hands forward
in the nose of the ship.
- Now, keep steady, do you hear?
- Aye, sir.
-All hands forward! Step lively, boys
-Rowland.
SOS Lexington. Ship cracking up.
Aye, sir.
All hands forward!
Come on out here, men. All hands forward!
Come on out here, men. All hands forward!
Up in the nose of the ship, come on.
Step forward, come on!
Forward here,
everybody, up in the nose of the ship.
Up forward, all hands forward.
Up in the nose, come on, hurry along.
All hands forward!
Come on, all hands forward!
Hurry up, up in the nose!
All hands forward!
Everybody up in the nose.
Watch your step!
Steady! Steady!
Everybody hold your posts!
All right, men.
Come on up here. Come on.
Shake a leg, come on. Get up, come on.
Hurry, everybody.
- Get up in the nose. Hurry up.
- Man overboard!
Pass up a line!
Get that line overboard!
Come on! Hurry up! Everybody.
Get up here. Come on.
How many more men?
Hard luck, Bradon.
What's the matter? Your arm?
I'm all right. Some of my boys there
need looking after.
I'll take care of them.
How do you do, Mr. Rondelle?
How do you do, sir?
I received word from Washington you're
to proceed there by air immediately.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- That's tough, Jack.
Thank you, Pete.
- Mr. Rondelle.
- How do you do?
- There's your plane waiting for you.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- So long, fellas. Thanks.
- Lots of luck.
Well, well, hello, Frisky.
How's the ace pilot, baby?
Oh, swell.
Hey, what do you got there?
Sailing orders?
Oh, I'm not taking orders anymore.
This is my leave of absence,
breaking your hearts.
- I'm a civilian now.
- No kidding?
No Wisecracks. I'm a very important gent.
I got a half interest
in the South Pole expedition.
- Yeah, who's the other half?
- Rondelle.
- No!
- No! When are you leaving?
Soon as I get enough money
together to outfit our boat with.
You've no idea how much money it takes
to be an explorer.
I'm in hock now up to my neck, I may have
to pawn some of my wife's jewels.
What are you going to all this trouble
to reach the South Pole for?
Yeah.
An old friend of mine
will be very delighted to hear about it.
- Well, so long, slaves.
- Well, good luck, Frisky.
Skip the gutter.
Frisky.
Yeah?
I didn't think I'd see you
before you left.
- I sure hope you'll make it.
- Thanks.
I wouldn't disappoint you for the world.
There won't be crowds down there
to play to.
Tough break for a grandstander.
But watch the papers.
It may get in the headlines anyway.
You see, we're depending
completely on the plane this time.
Yes.
Hello, hello, Frisky. Well, all set?
- All set, sir.
- Fine.
- Good evening, Mrs. Pierce.
- Good evening, Mr. Rondelle.
Sorry you couldn't come earlier.
You're coming out to the boat with us?
Everybody is at that boat.
- Of course she is.
- Fine.
You promised you wouldn't make me go.
- I know, but--
- Please, I'll just be in the way.
- What's this?
- Oh, wait a minute.
You know, I won't be the last one
to see my husband off.
But I do want to be the very first one
to congratulate him.
Look, folks, it says, "Not to be opened
until you've reached the South Pole."
My little optimist.
I won't forget to read it.
- You'll remind him, Mr. Rondelle?
- You bet I will.
And now, really, we must say goodbye.
- Goodbye. Good luck.
- Thank you.
Let's all get down to the boat
and see Frisky off.
Good night.
Good night.
Frisky, we'll wait outside for you.
Good night.
Sweetheart, I'm going to keep this here,
and I'll read it as soon as I get there.
Oh, don't go, Frisky.
I don't want you to go.
Listen. We could just go out the back door
and they wouldn't know anything about it.
Frisky, I want you to stay.
You're not gonna act like this.
Why, you've been great up until now.
Come on now, sweetheart.
I've got to hurry.
Come on now, give me a smile.
Give me a smile.
Come on, will you give me
one of those big smiles? Come on.
Come on.
That's it. Come on, a little more.
Let her go.
That's the girl.
Oh, you sweetheart,
why, the biggest kick I'll get
out of going to the South Pole
is coming back to you, dear.
- Goodbye, dear.
- Goodbye.
Goodbye, sweet.
That song you sing gives me the creeps.
Sing it again, will you, Clarence?
Go on out of here, will you?
- Kind of makes me homesick.
- It's enough to make anybody homesick.
We've got to carry
a weight of 17,000 pounds.
Yes, but I think you're carrying
too much food and not enough gasoline.
I know, but if we come down,
we can't eat the gasoline.
Well, you can limit my rations
to breakfast and lunch.
- Here you are, skipper.
- Oh, thanks.
The Wind's blowing harder and harder.
Wind 105 miles per hour,
temperature 42 degrees minus.
What's the last reading?
The last on the Wind was 90
and the temperature, 40.
Well, then I think it's clearing up
in three days.
Oh, I sure wish I was back in Birmingham.
You know, you haven't heard
a word I've been saying.
- Yes, I have.
- What did I say?
You told me there was something wonderful
you wanted to show me tomorrow.
What is it?
It's the Los Angeles, my new ship.
It's here and ready for the first flight.
I'll be there, Jack.
Well, I promise you one thing.
You won't be bored.
It's the finest ship of its kind
ever built.
I don't know about that.
But there's one thing I am sure of.
It has the finest commander in the world.
Say, one more wisecrack like that
out of you and I'll bury you in the sand.
What do you say
we go down and see it this afternoon?
Thanks, Jack.
But I'd rather loaf here with you.
What are you dreaming about?
Of snow and ice.
Lonely?
Not a bit.
How could I be lonely with you here?
- Jack?
- Yes'?
If I should start swimming
in a straight line from here,
I'd land in Paris, wouldn't I?
Yes, but why Paris?
That's where they go to get divorces,
isn't it?
Emergency rations. Ten boxes.
Here, chicky.
Come away from there.
See what she puts up.
Oh, 1980, not so bad.
- All set, lieutenant?
- Raring to go.
Fine. Got everything?
I forgot something. I'll be right back.
Hey, Frisky, take one for me.
He forgot his pilot's license.
- Lieutenant Fogarty?
- Aye, aye, sir.
You will have charge of the base
until we return.
Keep in constant touch with the radio
and relay all of our messages north.
Yes, sir.
We expect to return within 20 hours.
If not, pack everything at once
and move it aboard the ship.
You will have to sail in 12 days
to avoid being frozen in for the winter.
Under no circumstances are you
to send a relief party to the south.
We are fully equipped
to make our way back.
The boat must sail in 12 days.
- Is that distinctly understood?
- Yes, sir.
Well, see you soon, lieutenant.
- Good luck, sir.
- Good luck.
Goodbye, boys. Take care of yourselves.
Say, we're sure to have a room.
I wired ahead for reservations.
Mr. Sock, Mr. Sock,
can I speak to you a minute in private?
All right, honey. You don't mean to say
you want to come along with us?
Oh, no, sir, Mr. Sock.
I is ambitious, but I ain't crazy.
But, Mr. Sock, I want you
to take Lady Luck along with you.
Now, Mr. Sock, here is a rabbit foot
that came off a lady rabbit.
If you takes that along with you,
you not only flies over that pole,
but you'll bring that pole
right on back here with you.
Thanks, Clarence.
Come on, Frisky, give her the gun!
Attaboy, Frisky! Come on, Frisky!
And I'll give you
a great big pan full of bacon, boy!
Go on, boy!
Old Frisky's in hisself! Look at him!
It's now 3 am.
In this part of the world,
but in the South Pole Plain,
it's high noon.
Their last message
gave their altitude at 7,000 feet.
They are now approaching
the Great Antarctic Ice Barrier,
an almost vertical wall of ice
11,000 feet high.
7-11, lucky numbers for Frisky Pierce.
He's fighting for altitude.
If they get over the barrier,
the rest is easy.
They'll plant Old Glory in the center
of thousands of miles of country
never before seen by mortal man.
They're all alone down there,
but millions are wishing them luck.
In a little while now,
they'll be going over the top.
Stand by for further announcements.
In the meantime,
George DuBern and his Hotel Morrison
Orchestra will entertain you.
God, don't let him get to the South Pole.
Don't let him get there.
Bring him back safe.
Sock, overboard! Overboard!
- Open up, Hansen.
- Oh, you can't.
Wait, Sock, wait.
You can't.
You can't. You've thrown away
far too much food already.
Can't help it, sir.
We've got to get 500 feet more altitude.
500 feet or we can't make it.
Let's throw the camera over.
Open the hatch. Quick.
Overboard, Sock. I can't turn back now!
Come on!
Come on!
I hate to see that go.
According to my calculations,
We're within a quarter
of a mile of the pole now.
They made it. They're over the pole.
Stand by, folks.
Great news.
The plane has reached the South Pole.
Another thrilling achievement
has been added
to the list of great American exploits.
Their last message says,
they're not merely satisfied
with just getting there,
they're going to look around.
I know that Frisky's beautiful
young wife must be listening in.
Mrs. Pierce, every wife in the world
is envying you at this moment,
when your husband is winning
fame and glory
in the midst of a vast desert of ice.
Mrs.--
Well...
Frisky has put it over again.
Allow me to congratulate you, Helen.
Don't congratulate me, Jack. Help me.
I want to get away from here.
I want to go to Paris to get my divorce.
Take it easy now, Helen.
- Have you thought this all out?
- Thought of it?
That's all I've been doing for weeks.
I have to go, Jack. I have to go now.
But if you go to Paris,
I'm coming after you.
I want you to.
I want you to be there when I'm free.
Helen,
I don't have to tell you that I love you,
that I always have loved you.
You know that.
I'll wait for you
no matter how long it takes,
if you want me to.
So this is her, eh?
Where's the pole? Where's the pole?
There isn't any pole.
But from now on, there will be.
Oh, boys, I've been a long time
trying to do this.
- Well, here goes.
- Wait.
Would you like to land and plant it?
- Is it safe?
- Well, look.
It's a perfect landing field.
It's absolutely smooth.
- It looks like a cinch.
- Oh, I wouldn't.
Oh, I'll absolutely guarantee it.
Would you like to land and put it
there with your own hands, sir?
- Oh, boy, wouldn't I?
- What do you say?
It's up to you, Frisky,
if you think it's safe.
All right, Sock, get out of there.
I'm going to put this straight down.
Here we go.
Hey, hang on, boys.
It don't look so good to me.
Sock! Hansen!
- Are you hurt?
- No, I'm all right.
Hey, skipper's hurt.
- Rondelle is hurt.
- Rondelle is hurt.
- Let me go.
- Get him out of there.
Let me go! Let me go!
We can't get him out.
He's pinned underneath.
Come on! Get him out! Get him out!
- Careful of his leg.
- Save the food. Never mind me, boys.
I'm sorry, fellas.
Does your leg feel better
in that position, sir?
I can't feel anything
in that leg at all, Frisky.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, I wish my own fool neck
had been broken instead.
No, you mustn't get to blaming
yourself too much for this, Frisky.
I wanted to land just as much as you did.
I've been 40 years
trying to put that there.
I'm satisfied.
Yeah?
Well, I won't be satisfied
till I get you fellas back to base.
How fast can we travel on this ice?
Fast?
You'll be lucky to average 12 miles a day.
That means 90 days.
I'll have this threaded by that time.
Why don't you come out here
and crank this thing?
I can get a message through.
Hey, Sock, go over and give him
a hand there with the generator.
Here, send that.
Be careful of that foot, Sock.
I'm getting something.
Is it Hansen?
Come in.
What boat do I leave on, Jack?
Couldn't you get any tickets?
Frisky?
It's all right, Jack.
It's what I'd expected. He's hurt.
He must be badly hurt. What can I do?
- You love Frisky, don't you?
- No, no, it isn't that.
But he's freezing. He's out there dying.
Yes, you do love him.
Oh, Jack, don't say that.
There'll never be anything
ever again between us.
But, Jack, he needs me.
I'll know how to help him.
Jack, how could I get there?
You know, tell me.
How could I get there?
Hurry up. Snap into it. Come on, boys.
I hate to leave those fellas down here.
Give me a crack at it, lieutenant.
I think I can reach them.
If there was a chance of getting to them
I wouldn't be first one to go?
Now stop arguing
and get this sled out of here.
Put all you've got down there, boys,
all those bags come, and the boxes.
Hansen! Hey!
Get a little snow, will you?
Make it taste like chicken.
- What's the matter, kid?
- Leave me alone, will you?
You know what's the matter.
Listen, I'm not yellow
and I'm not afraid to die.
Nobody's gonna die. See, I won't let them.
I'll get you all back if I have
to drag you back on a sled, see?
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah!
Now that that's settled, let's eat.
Come on.
Frisky, light me a cigarette, will you?
I will, sir.
A little bit damp.
It's all right.
Thank you.
Frisky...
watch your compass.
Don't trust your senses.
And if your food gives out,
boil the seal skin on your clothes.
Take care of Sock's foot.
It looks very bad.
Yes, sir.
You only made nine miles today.
Tomorrow you'll do better.
The sled will be lighter.
Oh, now don't talk like that, skipper.
We're gonna get you back.
Why, you'll live to write a book about it.
And when you do, don't forget one detail.
A sap named Pierce got you into this
jam because he wanted to show off.
Oh, forget it.
I know, I know.
But do you realize that the failure
of the Los Angeles
would mean the utter abolishment
of lighter-than-air?
Yes, sir. But you must also realize
the success of the Los Angeles
puts lighter-than-air over the top.
Confound it. We may be sending 30 men
to their deaths, besides yourself.
We're not sending anybody.
I promise you I'll take nobody
but volunteers.
It would be marvelous.
It would be marvelous.
But it's too big a risk.
Forget it, Bradon, forget it.
This ship, sir, can do anything.
Besides that,
I have four other good reasons
why the Los Angeles
must fly to the South Pole.
- What are they?
- Rondelle, Pierce, McGuire, and Hansen.
Four men facing certain death
on the ice today
with nothing but a miracle
to save them.
And that miracle is waiting
in the hangar at Lakehurst.
We can't let men like that die, sir.
The world needs their type.
By Jove, it's... it's a 20-to-1 chance.
Well, skipper,
another day, another dollar.
A million days, a million dollars.
Oh, boy, it's cold, isn't it?
Yeah.
Always is.
Have a cigarette, skipper?
Skipper!
Skipper!
Skipper! You can't do that!
All right, that's enough, fellas.
All right, gang, let's go.
Come on, let's move out of there.
Get those trousers on.
All right, Connover, let's go.
Attention!
Flight crew, all present
and accounted for.
Very well, take your post.
I've just received orders from Washington
to take the Los Angeles
to the rescue of the Rondelle expedition.
You know what this flight means.
You know what happened to the Pensacola.
The Los Angeles will probably experience
weather conditions far worse
than the Pensacola's ever seen.
We may come back, we may not.
I'm calling for volunteers.
All those that want to make this flight,
take two paces to the front.
Thank you, men.
I'm sorry I can't take you all.
Oh, Shrew.
Shrew, take these names.
Murphy. Wrightsman.
Paddock.
Rosenberg.
- Weighed off fore and aft, sir.
- Stand by.
Let's go!
Let her come up, come on!
Push up there on it, bring it up!
- Five engines full speed ahead.
- Aye, aye.
Frisky!
Frisky!
What's the matter, Sock, old kid?
I know I'm an awful baby,
but my foot's killing me.
I'm not a baby, Frisky,
but I can't help it.
- Oh, God.
- Now, now.
Wait a minute.
I'll see what I can do, kid.
I don't want to cry, but I can't--
Oh, God.
I don't want to cry but I can't help it.
I don't want to cry but I can't--
Turn him over.
Harry, turn him over.
Come on, turn him over.
You don't know.
Oh, you don't. I can't help it--
You don't know how it is.
I can't help it--
You don't know how it is.
I know I'm an old baby,
but I can't say how it is.
Good God, you can't...
You don't know.
I've been holding out on you, boys.
If you look in my side pocket,
you'll find some real food.
You've got what?
Go on, look.
- What are you talking about?
- Look.
Throw that in.
You'll make a Welsh rabbit out of it.
How many more miles?
Hansen, will you write that down?
I can't see very well.
Snow blind, huh?
We made seven miles today.
That makes 176 all told.
We got to do
better than that tomorrow.
I wonder how far it is
from here to San Diego.
There was a little dame down there.
Don't tell me there's a gal in San Diego.
And what a dame.
I was walking along the street,
and she comes along and says,
"Hello, sailor."
And I says, "Hello."
That was a snappy comeback.
And we were standing in front
of a moving picture theater,
so I says,
"What about seeing the show?"
And she says yes, so we go in.
And after the show,
we was walking down the street,
and I kind of seen she wanted
a soda, so I up and buys her one.
That makes 70 cents you spent so far.
And after the show, she says
she has a player piano,
and would I like to hear some rolls?
So I went up to her house.
She was living with some girl
that was in Los Angeles for the weekend.
Well, it was a nice place, nice flat,
and sort of cozy-like,
and sort of silk stuff all around.
We played the piano for a while,
and I seen she was kind of tired
and wanted to go to bed,
so I picked up my hat
and told her I ought to be getting back.
Go on.
She was kind of sorry to see me go.
I could tell by her face.
But anyways, I went out
and started back to the station.
All the way back, I couldn't help thinking
that if I had worked it right,
I could have kissed that gal.
- What's your elevation now?
- 10,500, sir.
- Drop 300 pounds more of ballast.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Watch out! Watch out!
To the left, Frisky.
To the right, straight ahead.
Which way, Hansen?
Straight ahead, Frisky.
To the right, there's a crevice.
Keep to the right.
To the right, Frisky.
Help.
Hang on.
We're back!
We're back!
Hansen!
Come on, now. Don't go to sleep.
Don't go to sleep.
Come on, old-timer.
Listen, I know where there's food.
Food, do you hear me?
Food!
Come on, I can get you out of this.
But you gotta show me the way.
You're my eyes, you understand me?
You gotta show me the way.
Come on, get up, damn you!
I'm gonna get you back.
If I don't get anyone else, I'll get you.
Wake up!
Wake up, I tell you!
You're not going to sleep, you hear me?
Wake up!
Come on, I'm gonna get you back.
You're the only one,
but I'll get you back.
- Yes'?
- Two bodies sighted, sir.
25 degrees to the starboard, sir.
Are they alive?
Not moving, eh?
25 degrees to the starboard.
- All engines, full speed ahead.
- Aye, aye.
Everybody keep a sharp lookout.
- Rowland, get your parachute line ready.
- Aye, sir.
- Something black against the ice, sir.
- Where?
Right down there.
It's them!
It's two points starboard.
Three engines idle,
two engines half-speed!
Aye, aye, sir!
Parachute men, stand by to bail out!
There they are now!
- How many can you see?
- I only see two!
All right, parachute men, bail out!
Aye, aye, sir!
- Drop to 200.
- Aye, sir.
Drop rescue lines!
Keep them clear of the ice!
Ho!
Haul away on your lines!
- How's Frisky, doctor?
- Fine, commander.
- All right to see him?
- He's still on liquid diet,
- but go right in.
- I'll only be there a minute.
Who is it?
Bradon.
Oh, hello, Blimpo.
Hello, front page.
Front page nothing.
I'd have made the death count
if it hadn't been for you.
There, there, admiral.
How's Helen?
Oh, she'll be all right
soon as you get back.
Did she send any message?
Well, of all the dumbbells.
Jack, will you look in my clothes?
In the shirt pocket,
there's a letter, I'm sure.
- Find it?
- Yeah, I guess this is it.
It's to be opened after you've
reached the South Pole.
Thanks.
I forgot all about it.
Boy.
I'm still as blind as a bat.
I can't see anything.
Will you read it for me?
Sure I will.
Well, here goes.
Well, don't be bashful. You're not
a stranger in the family, you know.
Come on, read it, will you?
Sweetheart, you won
the greatest triumph of your life.
What can I say to make it any greater?
Only this,
that I love and adore you,
and hope and pray that you
come home safe to your Helen.
Gee, that's great.
Give it to me, Jack.
Better let me keep it, Frisky.
You might lose it.
No, I can take care of it.
- Can you beat that?
- What's the matter?
Well, the wind blew it
right out of my hand.
I'm sorry, Frisky.
Oh, that's all right.
I remember every word of it.
"Sweetheart, you've won
the greatest triumph of your life.
What can I say to make it any greater?
Only this..."
One of New York's biggest welcomes.
Here we are now
in front of the city hall
waiting for the parade to start,
and millions of people are waiting.
- Where is Lt. Pierce?
- I don't know, sir.
I was driving him here when he jumped out
of the car and disappeared in the crowd.
We looked for him,
but we couldn't find him.
- Let's start the parade, O'Grady.
- All right, boys. Let's go.
Thank you very much.
Commander, would you mind
sitting up here where they can see you?
All right, sir.
Sweetheart.
How I couldn't get here fast enough.
I'll never go away again
as long as I live, dear.
Even after my letter?
Oh, what a letter.
I couldn't read it. I was snow blind.
But Jack read it to me.
But I remember everything that was in it.
You want to hear it?
Listen. "Sweetheart,
this is your greatest triumph.
What can I say to make it greater?
Only this,
that I love you and adore you,
and I want you to come back soon
to your Helen." Was that it?
- Jack read it to you?
- Sure he did.
But old butterfingers
dropped it. It blew out of his hand.
Oh, Frisky.
What's the matter?
What are you laughing at?
Because I'm so happy.
- What are you crying about?
Because I'm so happy.
The admiral will see you now,
Commander Bradon.
Thanks.
Excuse me.
- How are you, Bradon?
- Fine, thank you, admiral.
Bradon, is your dirigible in shape
to take a good long trip?
Yes, sir.
Well, how would you like
to take a trip to the South Pole?
What?
Sit down, Bradon. Think it over.
Think it over, sir?
Why, I'd give my right eye,
my left arm, and both legs to go.
Sounds like you're interested.
Rondelle is in town.
I suppose you know why.
Well, the papers have hinted
he's here to get the Navy
to back him
on his flight to the South Pole.
The papers are right,
and the Navy has agreed.
That is why I asked you
to come to Washington.
Oh, have a cigar.
Thank you, sir. And you were saying?
Now, understand.
Rondelle has been talking airplanes
and not dirigibles.
What do you think?
Well, sir, I've spent
my whole life with balloons.
I know it.
And we appreciate your efforts, Bradon.
But most of this country's from Missouri,
as far as dirigibles are concerned.
But the planes have had the spotlight.
We've never had a chance to demonstrate
what lighter-than-air craft can do.
Exactly. Now, this is your chance.
Rondelle's idea is to go
to the Antarctic by boat,
and then try to reach the pole in a plane.
But that would take a year or more.
With my dirigible,
I could do it in a month.
All I'd need to do is to establish
fueling stations on the way--
And convince Mr. Rondelle.
Let me at him. Where is he?
Give me an hour of his time.
- I'll convince him, sir.
- You shall have a whole day.
I'm bringing him up
to Lakehurst on Navy Day.
The public will be there, commander.
But you're going to put on a show
especially for Mr. Rondelle.
I understand, sir.
And if it's a good show, who knows?
You may be needing some winter underwear.
Just give me a chance to do it,
and I'll go in my bathing suit.
Good. Good.
Thank you, sir.
Well, here we are,
right at the official stand.
There's Admiral Martin.
The man sitting next to him
is Louis Rondelle, famous explorer.
He spent the last 30 years of his life
commuting to the North and South Poles.
He hasn't gotten there yet,
but he looks like a persistent old fellow.
You know, the order to release
those free balloons came from Bradon
by radio telephone from the dirigible.
You mean to say
that he can give orders from up there?
Oh, yes.
Would you like to talk to him a minute?
- Could I talk to him from here?
- Why, certainly. Certainly.
Orderly, get me Commander Bradon
on the phone.
Aye, aye, sir.
Just a minute, sir.
No, no.
Thank you, thank you.
Hello?
Commander Bradon talking.
Oh, how do you do, sir?
Oh, I feel lighter than air.
Hope we haven't bored you.
Commander, I've seen magic in my life,
but never anything like this.
Thank you very much.
Is there anything else we can do for you?
I was wondering, commander,
just what would happen
to your men up there
if something went wrong with your ship?
All right. We'll try and show you.
Rowland, 130 the crew. Abandon ship.
Aye, aye, sir.
- Three engines idle.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Well, does that satisfy you?
Right.
Well, well. Well, we ought to see
another record broken today.
- Yes?
- Yeah.
Lt. Pierce started from San Diego
12 hours ago
in a coast-to-coast race against time.
Well, we are getting
our money's worth today.
Why, he ought to be roaring
along here any minute now.
Put me through to Lt. Pierce's plane.
Aye, aye, sir.
Hello? Hello?
This is Pierce. Pierce.
This is Pierce. Pierce.
Hello, Lakehurst?
Hello, Lakehurst?
Lieutenant Pierce, Lakehurst calling.
Hello, Frisky.
Jack Bradon.
What's holding you back?
Oh, my modesty's holding me back.
Hey, is it much of a crowd?
Oh, about 100,000.
What do you mean, "Is that all"?
And say, listen,
when you come in for a landing,
none of your monkey business.
The air is filled with balloons.
Listen, you better get
those playthings out of the way.
I can't suffer windbags.
Well, talking of windbags,
how are you feeling?
Oh, commander. You're killing me.
Say, listen. Tell my wife
I'll be home for dinner, will you?
And tell her not to forget the artichoke.
Okay, pal.
Okay, pal.
- Prepare to land.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Landing stations.
I think he's about to make a landing.
Just watch and see how easily he does it.
Let go of trail lines.
Full power turn!
- Great show, Bradon. Great show.
- Thank you, sir.
- Rondelle, sorry you weren't up with us.
- Thank you.
Your ship's a marvelous performer.
Not a bit temperamental.
No, sir, and what's more, she'll perform
that way any place in the world.
- Even over the Antarctic?
- Especially over the Antarctic.
Lt. Pierce is sighted to westward.
Look, folks! Here comes Frisky Pierce now!
He's coming this way too.
Looks like he's coming right for me.
Boy, if he does that again,
he's gonna take my toupee off.
He's gonna fly through the hangar.
That's marvelous.
The young fool.
I think he's gonna make a landing.
Yes, sir, he's gonna...
That boy is stealing this show today.
He's broken the record.
Well, I suppose I must congratulate him.
Say hello for me, will you there?
That boy's got more nerve
than anybody I ever saw.
Hello, Jack.
Hello, Helen.
How are you tonight?
All right, thanks.
- Say, this has been a day, hasn't it?
- Yes.
Gosh, I'll say so.
Say, haven't you had your dinner yet?
Where's Frisky?
Well, Frisky hasn't come home yet.
Well, he's probably been
interviewed to death
and is now having his back slapped off.
You ought to feel pretty proud, Helen.
I've been waiting to do
some back slapping myself.
Only, how can you slap a back
when there isn't any back to slap?
Tell me something.
- Have you been crying?
- No, Jack, of course not.
Don't be silly. Come on, sit down.
- You want a cigarette?
- Please.
Well, we have another cup
to add to the collection.
I don't think there's room
for another, is there?
Thank you.
We'll make room.
That's not a trophy, it's a relic.
Doesn't belong up here.
- This doesn't represent conquest.
- Jack.
That represents friendship.
Give it to me, Jack.
Aren't you going to sit down?
"Winner, first place, Navy Pursuit Plane."
"Winner, Minneapolis Air Show."
"Winner, first place,
free-for-all high-speed Schneider Cups."
It's Frisky!
- Frisky!
- Helen.
Frisky.
- Oh, darling, I'm so glad to see you.
- I'm glad to see you.
Oh, you don't mind the Navy, do you, dear?
Of course not. Hello, boys.
How do you do?
Gee, I meant to call you all day, dear,
but I didn't get a minute. Did I, fellas?
No, no, no.
- Now, lieutenant, now?
- Not now.
Well, Jack. I missed you at the station.
You know all these mugs.
- Come on, you fellas. Drape yourselves.
- Thank you.
Jim, get on that piano.
Oh, no, you don't.
Nix on that, boys.
I've gotta talk business with Frisky,
and I've only got a few minutes,
so you've got to scram.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Is this our senior officer talking?
Yes, sir, and you take orders
from me right now.
Come on, boys.
Great party.
- Goodbye. Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
We'll be seeing you.
It's great to see you again, sweetheart.
Why weren't you there?
Oh, I know.
You're afraid that I'd do one of those:
But I got a surprise for you.
It only cost two cents.
Printed this morning on the Pacific
and here it is delivered
on the Atlantic the same day.
There, take a look.
Read all about your disgusting--
Distinguished husband.
Say, front page, how about eight
or ten seconds of your distinguished time?
Well, I might consider.
I've got news.
Don't tell me you're gonna make
a nonstop flight to Coney Island.
I'm gonna make a nonstop flight
to the South Pole.
How do you like them for apples?
- You're going to what?
- You heard me.
Don't spill it
to any of your newspaper pals.
Because it's no pipe dream.
I'm going to the South Pole.
Me and my gas bag and Rondelle, and...
And what?
How would you like to go along?
Me? The South Pole?
What would I do?
I can land a plane
on the dirigible and take off.
- How?
- I'll show you.
Well, look. See, here's your dirigible,
and here's the plane, and...
Wait a minute.
Come on. Hurry up. Give me.
- You got me all excited.
- Now listen. Right here.
Here's the dirigible.
Hanging down here,
there's a gadget, like a trapeze.
- I remember, you made a drawing.
- Yeah.
And on your plane, there's a hook.
Now follow this.
Here I am floating along.
- That's me.
- This is you.
Here you come down like this.
Now you fly along
and jockey into such a position
as to engage this hook into the trapeze.
- Do you get the idea?
- Oh, I get the idea, all right.
- It's no cinch.
- I can see that too.
It's like threading a needle.
That's why I had you detailed
to Lakehurst.
Oh, what are you laughing about?
I see myself hanging
onto your belly and looking very swell.
Oh, listen, you poor fish.
You'll probably fly over more
unexplored territory than we will.
We'll send you out on side trips.
- How does that strike you?
- Well, I'll consider the matter.
Listen, big boy, don't let it get you down
or give you a headache
or keep you up at night.
Because there's 101 pilots
that's just dying for this chance.
Yeah. Well, you just try
and keep me away.
Attaboy. Now listen.
You help me put this over,
and we're a cinch for the South Pole.
Sounds swell, Jack.
Rondelle won't have an argument left.
And by the way, kid,
you knocked him into a flat spin.
- Does he know?
- No, he doesn't.
But when he finds out, he'll be--
- Why didn't you give me a load of this?
- I couldn't
- I've been working it out.
- Have a drink.
Don't bother about Helen.
Can I count on you for this?
Say, if there's any plane
flying over any pole, I'll be there.
Attasailor.
- Listen, I wanna come down--
- Come down and I'll show you.
Early. See, I'd like--
Don't bother Helen. Say goodbye for me.
See you in the morning.
Okay, pal.
Helen?
Helen.
Helen.
You waited for me.
You haven't had your dinner yet, have you?
- Did you read my letter?
- Letter?
Don't you remember?
I asked you to read it.
I didn't forget it. Honest, I didn't.
I was thinking about it all the way,
but I was mobbed when I came down and...
I'll read it now.
"Sweetheart, thousands are cheering you,
but I'm the only one who loves you.
Helen."
Somebody ought to give me
a good swift kick in the pants.
Will you forgive me?
Of course you will. You always do.
You flew through the hangar today
and you promised you wouldn't.
I was just giving the crowd
a run for their money.
You love the crowd, don't you?
Not as much as I love
my little wife, though.
When you've got a reputation,
you've got to live up to it.
- Even if you have to die for it?
- Well, you can only die once.
Oh, no.
You could die a hundred times.
I have.
Ever since the first time I saw you crash.
I know, I know.
That time I crashed out in Chicago
with that old crate.
And every time it whirled
on its way down...
- I died, Frisky.
- Oh, darling.
And the awful sound of that crash.
But I walked away from it, didn't I?
Without a scratch.
And wasn't it funny?
Instead of me passing out, you did.
I'll never forget how glad you were
to see me when you came to.
Frisky, how long have we been married?
- You know, a couple of years, I guess.
- It's really only a couple of months.
That's all I've seen of you
these last two years.
I'm in the Navy now. I'm not--
Can I help it if they give me
all the tough jobs?
Can I help it if some of these pilots
get seasick every time they go up?
Can I?
I've never complained, Frisky.
But I couldn't stand it
if the next two years
are going to be like the last two.
They won't be, sweetheart.
I'll never fly through the hangars again.
I'll read your letters on the minute
and I'll be home for dinner every night.
Give me a kiss, will you?
And you won't go
to any South Pole with Jack Bradon.
What's that?
Frisky, I couldn't help hearing
what you were talking about.
And I could just hate Jack
for even suggesting it to you.
But, dear, that's different.
It's science.
You wouldn't want me to give up
the greatest chance of my life,
- the biggest flight ever attempted.
- Yes, I would.
- He could easily get somebody else.
- But he can't. That's the point.
He has asked for me.
It means an awful lot to him.
You wouldn't want me to turn down
a friend like Jack, would you?
Then if Jack didn't
want you to go, you wouldn't?
Absolutely not, sweetheart.
Now, come on. Let's forget it
and be like we've always been.
Yes?
Some guy just made
30 outside loops, did he?
That's nothing.
I'll give you a little scoop
for that paper of yours.
If you wanna see a real stunt,
come out to the hangar in the morning.
I'm gonna hook that plane of mine
onto that dirigible in flight.
Yes, and--
I'll see you in the morning.
Helen?
Good morning, lieutenant.
- Oh, good morning, sir.
- Well, do you think you can make it?
You know, the plane will be a great
auxiliary to the dirigible on our trip.
Auxiliary?
You think the dirigible
is the auxiliary, eh?
Signal, sir.
Yeah.
Pardon me while I imitate a baby pig
hooking onto its mama pig for lunch.
Good luck, boy. Good luck.
Here he comes!
Five engines full speed ahead.
Standby for hook-on.
- May I borrow your glass, please?
- Why, surely.
Thank you.
Where'd he go?
Hey! Hey!
That guy must be crazy.
Hey!
Cut out that stunting
and get busy on the hook-on!
I mean it.
Go ahead.
All right, now.
Hold it there. Hold it steady.
All right, now.
He's trying for the hook-on.
He's nearing it.
He made it!
He's on.
Attaboy, Frisky.
I couldn't have done better myself.
When I get back to Lakehurst,
I'll give you a little kiss.
Now try to release, yeah.
Well, boys, that means
we take a plane along.
I guess the commander was right after all.
A great step for lighter-than-air craft.
I've tried three times to reach it.
The closest I ever got to it
was within 200 miles.
But in those days, we didn't have any
flying machines, nor radio telephones,
just dogs and men.
- I can believe the men part.
- Thank you.
No more, thank you.
Well, from Punta Arenas, here at the tip
of the South American continent,
which you say will be our last stop.
- Yes, we'll have to refuel there.
- Yes.
Well, from there to the South Pole
is a flight of 7000 miles, that is,
there and back.
When we're near the pole,
our greatest difficulty comes, because...
Maybe this will illustrate it.
You see, the South Pole
is in the center of a great ice cap, huge,
that rises almost abruptly,
almost perpendicularly,
10,000 feet above the Antarctic continent.
That's our great barrier.
Once past that,
it's an easy flight of 600 miles.
- And then, you see--
- What do you think about it, Clarence?
- Does you want my personal opinion, sir?
- Certainly, yes.
Well, I couldn't help from listening,
especially when I hear you
talking about ice jams and pelicans
and compasses and sextets
and mountain ranges.
How about some gas ranges?
How about some eatments?
Eatments?
We never gave it a thought.
Well, it appears to me while
y'all is trying to climb that pole,
- you ought to have some rations.
- Yes.
- Permanent and frequent.
- How did we happen to overlook that?
- I can't imagine.
- Well, sir, that's where I comes in, sir.
You? What do you know
about the South Pole?
Well, wasn't I born South?
Ain't Birmingham South?
- Oh, yes.
- Commander.
Yes. Oh, thank you.
Tell these women to lay off.
You're in training now.
Don't you worry about me.
Will you pardon me, Mr. Rondelle?
I'll be back in just a second.
- Hello, Helen.
- Hello, Jack.
What good luck brings you here?
I hope I didn't take you away
from anything.
Now how could anything else
be important when you call?
You haven't forgotten
how to say nice things, have you?
I came here because I thought you
hadn't forgotten how to do nice things.
Well, tell me.
What nice thing can I do for you?
It's about Frisky.
He's only been home a short time, Jack.
And he talks of nothing else
but going away again.
This time, it's to the end of the world.
Jack, I want you to take
Frisky off the trip to the pole.
Take Frisky off?
- But, Helen--
- You won't miss him.
You've a hundred other pilots
to choose from.
I heard you say so.
I know, but after all--
This is only a stunt to him.
What will he lose if he doesn't go?
A little applause and a few headlines.
And those would only make it
more difficult for me.
You think I've been happy all this time?
I haven't.
I've been absolutely miserable.
And if he does go now,
I won't be here when he comes back.
Take him off it, Jack.
Please do that for me.
Helen, you know that I'd do anything
in the world for you, but...
I pulled every wire in Washington.
I couldn't have--
I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have asked you.
I didn't know how important it was.
Thanks, Jack. Never mind.
- Helen. Please.
- Don't, Jack. Let me go.
Well, I can't let you go this way.
Please, Helen.
Oh, Jack, if you only knew.
Now, come on now.
I'll see what I can do, Helen.
What will you do about your family
while you're away?
- Family? Oh, you mean my wife?
- Yes.
- Oh, she's a million.
- Fine.
I could go away for 10 years,
and when I came back,
she'd be waiting for me.
- Wonderful.
- I've got her trained.
Well, that's good.
Because, you know, sometimes wives
and South Poles don't mix.
You will do it, won't you?
And you won't let Frisky know I asked you.
Promise me that, Jack.
He'll never know.
Jack!
- Jack, have you told Frisky yet?
- No, but I promised you, didn't I?
- Yes, you promised.
- All right, I will.
- Mrs. Martin.
- How do you do?
When am I gonna dance with my little wife?
Say, Frisky, let's go out
and smoke a cigarette.
- Let's have "Anchors Aweigh."
- Wait a minute.
Say, if it's the one about the dame
that said her husband wasn't home,
I've heard it.
Frisky, you're pretty keen about making
this trip to the South Pole, aren't you?
Why, certainly, Jack.
You should have read the story
I gave the papers this morning.
Why?
Well, I was just thinking.
Let's step in the hangar.
Say, is this a six-day bicycle race?
Say, Jack, why did you ask me
if I was anxious to go?
- Because it'd be easier if you weren't.
- Easier for what?
To tell you that you're not going.
I'm not going?
Say, for a minute, boy,
you had me winging.
Come on, what's the gag?
When do I laugh?
I hate to tell you this, Frisky,
but I want you
to withdraw from the flight.
Withdraw?
Why, Jack,
you asked for me, didn't you?
Yes, I did. But I changed my mind.
Why?
I can't give you any explanation.
I want you to do it as a favor to me.
Why, you're crazy, Jack.
I can't do that now.
People will think I was yellow.
Besides, the newspapers and--
Oh, listen. No, they won't.
After all the glory
that you've won this year,
who would think you were yellow?
- Glory?
- Yeah.
Oh, I'm just beginning
to get it for the first time.
You're afraid I'll steal your show.
You don't want anybody else
to get any of the glory.
Well, that's as good as any.
Okay.
We'll let it go at that.
After all, it was my original idea
in the first place, wasn't it?
Yes, it was your idea,
but it's my reputation.
- I'm not going to withdraw for anybody.
- Then I'll have to go to the admiral.
- Yeah, what can you tell the admiral?
- I can tell him plenty.
In the first place, I ordered you
not to stunt when you made the hook-on,
but you disobeyed that order.
This trip to the South Pole
isn't an exhibition.
It's a job.
There'll be no crowds
down there for you to play to.
Frisky, you're a grandstander.
What I need is a pilot.
Now, do I have to go to the admiral,
or will you step out?
That's a very pretty speech.
Okay, I'll step out.
But get this in your head.
Whatever Frisky Pierce starts,
he finishes.
I'm going to the South Pole
whether you like it or not,
if I have to crawl
on my hands and knees.
And if I don't get there before you do,
you can bet your neck I'll arrive in time
to pick up your pieces.
My pal.
They're saying goodbye to us.
Hear the whistles?
Sounds like New Year's Eve,
doesn't it?
- Head for the Statue of Liberty.
- Aye, sir.
- Three points starboard.
- Aye, sir.
Goodbye, old lady.
Well, sir, we're on our way.
- Fine, fine.
- Radio, sir.
- Trouble?
- I don't think so.
That's the hurricane belt, isn't it?
Yes, but I think we'll pass through
that area before anything can touch us.
Fine.
- What's your course?
- 180 degrees, sir.
- Keep her due south.
- Aye, sir.
Steady on that wheel.
What's the matter with you men?
A little storm bother you?
What, are you fair weather flyers?
Lexington wants to know
if we're in distress, sir.
- Of course we're not in distress.
- Aye, sir.
Go aloft
and see how our covering's holding.
Aye, sir.
- How's our altitude?
- Ship's getting heavy, sir.
- How much ballast have we left?
- All overboard, sir.
Open up valve number three.
McCarthy.
Cut the two center tanks of gas.
Cut two gas tanks.
Center gas tanks?
Yes, cut away two center gas tanks.
Now, keep your men steady.
Aye, aye, sir.
- How's our altitude now?
- Thirteen thousand, five hundred, sir.
Keep climbing.
I'll take it.
Hello?
What?
I'll be right up.
- Keep climbing. I'm going aloft.
- Aye, sir.
- Where is it, McCarthy?
- There, sir.
Get all hands forward
in the nose of the ship.
- Now, keep steady, do you hear?
- Aye, sir.
-All hands forward! Step lively, boys
-Rowland.
SOS Lexington. Ship cracking up.
Aye, sir.
All hands forward!
Come on out here, men. All hands forward!
Come on out here, men. All hands forward!
Up in the nose of the ship, come on.
Step forward, come on!
Forward here,
everybody, up in the nose of the ship.
Up forward, all hands forward.
Up in the nose, come on, hurry along.
All hands forward!
Come on, all hands forward!
Hurry up, up in the nose!
All hands forward!
Everybody up in the nose.
Watch your step!
Steady! Steady!
Everybody hold your posts!
All right, men.
Come on up here. Come on.
Shake a leg, come on. Get up, come on.
Hurry, everybody.
- Get up in the nose. Hurry up.
- Man overboard!
Pass up a line!
Get that line overboard!
Come on! Hurry up! Everybody.
Get up here. Come on.
How many more men?
Hard luck, Bradon.
What's the matter? Your arm?
I'm all right. Some of my boys there
need looking after.
I'll take care of them.
How do you do, Mr. Rondelle?
How do you do, sir?
I received word from Washington you're
to proceed there by air immediately.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- That's tough, Jack.
Thank you, Pete.
- Mr. Rondelle.
- How do you do?
- There's your plane waiting for you.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- So long, fellas. Thanks.
- Lots of luck.
Well, well, hello, Frisky.
How's the ace pilot, baby?
Oh, swell.
Hey, what do you got there?
Sailing orders?
Oh, I'm not taking orders anymore.
This is my leave of absence,
breaking your hearts.
- I'm a civilian now.
- No kidding?
No Wisecracks. I'm a very important gent.
I got a half interest
in the South Pole expedition.
- Yeah, who's the other half?
- Rondelle.
- No!
- No! When are you leaving?
Soon as I get enough money
together to outfit our boat with.
You've no idea how much money it takes
to be an explorer.
I'm in hock now up to my neck, I may have
to pawn some of my wife's jewels.
What are you going to all this trouble
to reach the South Pole for?
Yeah.
An old friend of mine
will be very delighted to hear about it.
- Well, so long, slaves.
- Well, good luck, Frisky.
Skip the gutter.
Frisky.
Yeah?
I didn't think I'd see you
before you left.
- I sure hope you'll make it.
- Thanks.
I wouldn't disappoint you for the world.
There won't be crowds down there
to play to.
Tough break for a grandstander.
But watch the papers.
It may get in the headlines anyway.
You see, we're depending
completely on the plane this time.
Yes.
Hello, hello, Frisky. Well, all set?
- All set, sir.
- Fine.
- Good evening, Mrs. Pierce.
- Good evening, Mr. Rondelle.
Sorry you couldn't come earlier.
You're coming out to the boat with us?
Everybody is at that boat.
- Of course she is.
- Fine.
You promised you wouldn't make me go.
- I know, but--
- Please, I'll just be in the way.
- What's this?
- Oh, wait a minute.
You know, I won't be the last one
to see my husband off.
But I do want to be the very first one
to congratulate him.
Look, folks, it says, "Not to be opened
until you've reached the South Pole."
My little optimist.
I won't forget to read it.
- You'll remind him, Mr. Rondelle?
- You bet I will.
And now, really, we must say goodbye.
- Goodbye. Good luck.
- Thank you.
Let's all get down to the boat
and see Frisky off.
Good night.
Good night.
Frisky, we'll wait outside for you.
Good night.
Sweetheart, I'm going to keep this here,
and I'll read it as soon as I get there.
Oh, don't go, Frisky.
I don't want you to go.
Listen. We could just go out the back door
and they wouldn't know anything about it.
Frisky, I want you to stay.
You're not gonna act like this.
Why, you've been great up until now.
Come on now, sweetheart.
I've got to hurry.
Come on now, give me a smile.
Give me a smile.
Come on, will you give me
one of those big smiles? Come on.
Come on.
That's it. Come on, a little more.
Let her go.
That's the girl.
Oh, you sweetheart,
why, the biggest kick I'll get
out of going to the South Pole
is coming back to you, dear.
- Goodbye, dear.
- Goodbye.
Goodbye, sweet.
That song you sing gives me the creeps.
Sing it again, will you, Clarence?
Go on out of here, will you?
- Kind of makes me homesick.
- It's enough to make anybody homesick.
We've got to carry
a weight of 17,000 pounds.
Yes, but I think you're carrying
too much food and not enough gasoline.
I know, but if we come down,
we can't eat the gasoline.
Well, you can limit my rations
to breakfast and lunch.
- Here you are, skipper.
- Oh, thanks.
The Wind's blowing harder and harder.
Wind 105 miles per hour,
temperature 42 degrees minus.
What's the last reading?
The last on the Wind was 90
and the temperature, 40.
Well, then I think it's clearing up
in three days.
Oh, I sure wish I was back in Birmingham.
You know, you haven't heard
a word I've been saying.
- Yes, I have.
- What did I say?
You told me there was something wonderful
you wanted to show me tomorrow.
What is it?
It's the Los Angeles, my new ship.
It's here and ready for the first flight.
I'll be there, Jack.
Well, I promise you one thing.
You won't be bored.
It's the finest ship of its kind
ever built.
I don't know about that.
But there's one thing I am sure of.
It has the finest commander in the world.
Say, one more wisecrack like that
out of you and I'll bury you in the sand.
What do you say
we go down and see it this afternoon?
Thanks, Jack.
But I'd rather loaf here with you.
What are you dreaming about?
Of snow and ice.
Lonely?
Not a bit.
How could I be lonely with you here?
- Jack?
- Yes'?
If I should start swimming
in a straight line from here,
I'd land in Paris, wouldn't I?
Yes, but why Paris?
That's where they go to get divorces,
isn't it?
Emergency rations. Ten boxes.
Here, chicky.
Come away from there.
See what she puts up.
Oh, 1980, not so bad.
- All set, lieutenant?
- Raring to go.
Fine. Got everything?
I forgot something. I'll be right back.
Hey, Frisky, take one for me.
He forgot his pilot's license.
- Lieutenant Fogarty?
- Aye, aye, sir.
You will have charge of the base
until we return.
Keep in constant touch with the radio
and relay all of our messages north.
Yes, sir.
We expect to return within 20 hours.
If not, pack everything at once
and move it aboard the ship.
You will have to sail in 12 days
to avoid being frozen in for the winter.
Under no circumstances are you
to send a relief party to the south.
We are fully equipped
to make our way back.
The boat must sail in 12 days.
- Is that distinctly understood?
- Yes, sir.
Well, see you soon, lieutenant.
- Good luck, sir.
- Good luck.
Goodbye, boys. Take care of yourselves.
Say, we're sure to have a room.
I wired ahead for reservations.
Mr. Sock, Mr. Sock,
can I speak to you a minute in private?
All right, honey. You don't mean to say
you want to come along with us?
Oh, no, sir, Mr. Sock.
I is ambitious, but I ain't crazy.
But, Mr. Sock, I want you
to take Lady Luck along with you.
Now, Mr. Sock, here is a rabbit foot
that came off a lady rabbit.
If you takes that along with you,
you not only flies over that pole,
but you'll bring that pole
right on back here with you.
Thanks, Clarence.
Come on, Frisky, give her the gun!
Attaboy, Frisky! Come on, Frisky!
And I'll give you
a great big pan full of bacon, boy!
Go on, boy!
Old Frisky's in hisself! Look at him!
It's now 3 am.
In this part of the world,
but in the South Pole Plain,
it's high noon.
Their last message
gave their altitude at 7,000 feet.
They are now approaching
the Great Antarctic Ice Barrier,
an almost vertical wall of ice
11,000 feet high.
7-11, lucky numbers for Frisky Pierce.
He's fighting for altitude.
If they get over the barrier,
the rest is easy.
They'll plant Old Glory in the center
of thousands of miles of country
never before seen by mortal man.
They're all alone down there,
but millions are wishing them luck.
In a little while now,
they'll be going over the top.
Stand by for further announcements.
In the meantime,
George DuBern and his Hotel Morrison
Orchestra will entertain you.
God, don't let him get to the South Pole.
Don't let him get there.
Bring him back safe.
Sock, overboard! Overboard!
- Open up, Hansen.
- Oh, you can't.
Wait, Sock, wait.
You can't.
You can't. You've thrown away
far too much food already.
Can't help it, sir.
We've got to get 500 feet more altitude.
500 feet or we can't make it.
Let's throw the camera over.
Open the hatch. Quick.
Overboard, Sock. I can't turn back now!
Come on!
Come on!
I hate to see that go.
According to my calculations,
We're within a quarter
of a mile of the pole now.
They made it. They're over the pole.
Stand by, folks.
Great news.
The plane has reached the South Pole.
Another thrilling achievement
has been added
to the list of great American exploits.
Their last message says,
they're not merely satisfied
with just getting there,
they're going to look around.
I know that Frisky's beautiful
young wife must be listening in.
Mrs. Pierce, every wife in the world
is envying you at this moment,
when your husband is winning
fame and glory
in the midst of a vast desert of ice.
Mrs.--
Well...
Frisky has put it over again.
Allow me to congratulate you, Helen.
Don't congratulate me, Jack. Help me.
I want to get away from here.
I want to go to Paris to get my divorce.
Take it easy now, Helen.
- Have you thought this all out?
- Thought of it?
That's all I've been doing for weeks.
I have to go, Jack. I have to go now.
But if you go to Paris,
I'm coming after you.
I want you to.
I want you to be there when I'm free.
Helen,
I don't have to tell you that I love you,
that I always have loved you.
You know that.
I'll wait for you
no matter how long it takes,
if you want me to.
So this is her, eh?
Where's the pole? Where's the pole?
There isn't any pole.
But from now on, there will be.
Oh, boys, I've been a long time
trying to do this.
- Well, here goes.
- Wait.
Would you like to land and plant it?
- Is it safe?
- Well, look.
It's a perfect landing field.
It's absolutely smooth.
- It looks like a cinch.
- Oh, I wouldn't.
Oh, I'll absolutely guarantee it.
Would you like to land and put it
there with your own hands, sir?
- Oh, boy, wouldn't I?
- What do you say?
It's up to you, Frisky,
if you think it's safe.
All right, Sock, get out of there.
I'm going to put this straight down.
Here we go.
Hey, hang on, boys.
It don't look so good to me.
Sock! Hansen!
- Are you hurt?
- No, I'm all right.
Hey, skipper's hurt.
- Rondelle is hurt.
- Rondelle is hurt.
- Let me go.
- Get him out of there.
Let me go! Let me go!
We can't get him out.
He's pinned underneath.
Come on! Get him out! Get him out!
- Careful of his leg.
- Save the food. Never mind me, boys.
I'm sorry, fellas.
Does your leg feel better
in that position, sir?
I can't feel anything
in that leg at all, Frisky.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, I wish my own fool neck
had been broken instead.
No, you mustn't get to blaming
yourself too much for this, Frisky.
I wanted to land just as much as you did.
I've been 40 years
trying to put that there.
I'm satisfied.
Yeah?
Well, I won't be satisfied
till I get you fellas back to base.
How fast can we travel on this ice?
Fast?
You'll be lucky to average 12 miles a day.
That means 90 days.
I'll have this threaded by that time.
Why don't you come out here
and crank this thing?
I can get a message through.
Hey, Sock, go over and give him
a hand there with the generator.
Here, send that.
Be careful of that foot, Sock.
I'm getting something.
Is it Hansen?
Come in.
What boat do I leave on, Jack?
Couldn't you get any tickets?
Frisky?
It's all right, Jack.
It's what I'd expected. He's hurt.
He must be badly hurt. What can I do?
- You love Frisky, don't you?
- No, no, it isn't that.
But he's freezing. He's out there dying.
Yes, you do love him.
Oh, Jack, don't say that.
There'll never be anything
ever again between us.
But, Jack, he needs me.
I'll know how to help him.
Jack, how could I get there?
You know, tell me.
How could I get there?
Hurry up. Snap into it. Come on, boys.
I hate to leave those fellas down here.
Give me a crack at it, lieutenant.
I think I can reach them.
If there was a chance of getting to them
I wouldn't be first one to go?
Now stop arguing
and get this sled out of here.
Put all you've got down there, boys,
all those bags come, and the boxes.
Hansen! Hey!
Get a little snow, will you?
Make it taste like chicken.
- What's the matter, kid?
- Leave me alone, will you?
You know what's the matter.
Listen, I'm not yellow
and I'm not afraid to die.
Nobody's gonna die. See, I won't let them.
I'll get you all back if I have
to drag you back on a sled, see?
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah!
Now that that's settled, let's eat.
Come on.
Frisky, light me a cigarette, will you?
I will, sir.
A little bit damp.
It's all right.
Thank you.
Frisky...
watch your compass.
Don't trust your senses.
And if your food gives out,
boil the seal skin on your clothes.
Take care of Sock's foot.
It looks very bad.
Yes, sir.
You only made nine miles today.
Tomorrow you'll do better.
The sled will be lighter.
Oh, now don't talk like that, skipper.
We're gonna get you back.
Why, you'll live to write a book about it.
And when you do, don't forget one detail.
A sap named Pierce got you into this
jam because he wanted to show off.
Oh, forget it.
I know, I know.
But do you realize that the failure
of the Los Angeles
would mean the utter abolishment
of lighter-than-air?
Yes, sir. But you must also realize
the success of the Los Angeles
puts lighter-than-air over the top.
Confound it. We may be sending 30 men
to their deaths, besides yourself.
We're not sending anybody.
I promise you I'll take nobody
but volunteers.
It would be marvelous.
It would be marvelous.
But it's too big a risk.
Forget it, Bradon, forget it.
This ship, sir, can do anything.
Besides that,
I have four other good reasons
why the Los Angeles
must fly to the South Pole.
- What are they?
- Rondelle, Pierce, McGuire, and Hansen.
Four men facing certain death
on the ice today
with nothing but a miracle
to save them.
And that miracle is waiting
in the hangar at Lakehurst.
We can't let men like that die, sir.
The world needs their type.
By Jove, it's... it's a 20-to-1 chance.
Well, skipper,
another day, another dollar.
A million days, a million dollars.
Oh, boy, it's cold, isn't it?
Yeah.
Always is.
Have a cigarette, skipper?
Skipper!
Skipper!
Skipper! You can't do that!
All right, that's enough, fellas.
All right, gang, let's go.
Come on, let's move out of there.
Get those trousers on.
All right, Connover, let's go.
Attention!
Flight crew, all present
and accounted for.
Very well, take your post.
I've just received orders from Washington
to take the Los Angeles
to the rescue of the Rondelle expedition.
You know what this flight means.
You know what happened to the Pensacola.
The Los Angeles will probably experience
weather conditions far worse
than the Pensacola's ever seen.
We may come back, we may not.
I'm calling for volunteers.
All those that want to make this flight,
take two paces to the front.
Thank you, men.
I'm sorry I can't take you all.
Oh, Shrew.
Shrew, take these names.
Murphy. Wrightsman.
Paddock.
Rosenberg.
- Weighed off fore and aft, sir.
- Stand by.
Let's go!
Let her come up, come on!
Push up there on it, bring it up!
- Five engines full speed ahead.
- Aye, aye.
Frisky!
Frisky!
What's the matter, Sock, old kid?
I know I'm an awful baby,
but my foot's killing me.
I'm not a baby, Frisky,
but I can't help it.
- Oh, God.
- Now, now.
Wait a minute.
I'll see what I can do, kid.
I don't want to cry, but I can't--
Oh, God.
I don't want to cry but I can't help it.
I don't want to cry but I can't--
Turn him over.
Harry, turn him over.
Come on, turn him over.
You don't know.
Oh, you don't. I can't help it--
You don't know how it is.
I can't help it--
You don't know how it is.
I know I'm an old baby,
but I can't say how it is.
Good God, you can't...
You don't know.
I've been holding out on you, boys.
If you look in my side pocket,
you'll find some real food.
You've got what?
Go on, look.
- What are you talking about?
- Look.
Throw that in.
You'll make a Welsh rabbit out of it.
How many more miles?
Hansen, will you write that down?
I can't see very well.
Snow blind, huh?
We made seven miles today.
That makes 176 all told.
We got to do
better than that tomorrow.
I wonder how far it is
from here to San Diego.
There was a little dame down there.
Don't tell me there's a gal in San Diego.
And what a dame.
I was walking along the street,
and she comes along and says,
"Hello, sailor."
And I says, "Hello."
That was a snappy comeback.
And we were standing in front
of a moving picture theater,
so I says,
"What about seeing the show?"
And she says yes, so we go in.
And after the show,
we was walking down the street,
and I kind of seen she wanted
a soda, so I up and buys her one.
That makes 70 cents you spent so far.
And after the show, she says
she has a player piano,
and would I like to hear some rolls?
So I went up to her house.
She was living with some girl
that was in Los Angeles for the weekend.
Well, it was a nice place, nice flat,
and sort of cozy-like,
and sort of silk stuff all around.
We played the piano for a while,
and I seen she was kind of tired
and wanted to go to bed,
so I picked up my hat
and told her I ought to be getting back.
Go on.
She was kind of sorry to see me go.
I could tell by her face.
But anyways, I went out
and started back to the station.
All the way back, I couldn't help thinking
that if I had worked it right,
I could have kissed that gal.
- What's your elevation now?
- 10,500, sir.
- Drop 300 pounds more of ballast.
- Aye, aye, sir.
Watch out! Watch out!
To the left, Frisky.
To the right, straight ahead.
Which way, Hansen?
Straight ahead, Frisky.
To the right, there's a crevice.
Keep to the right.
To the right, Frisky.
Help.
Hang on.
We're back!
We're back!
Hansen!
Come on, now. Don't go to sleep.
Don't go to sleep.
Come on, old-timer.
Listen, I know where there's food.
Food, do you hear me?
Food!
Come on, I can get you out of this.
But you gotta show me the way.
You're my eyes, you understand me?
You gotta show me the way.
Come on, get up, damn you!
I'm gonna get you back.
If I don't get anyone else, I'll get you.
Wake up!
Wake up, I tell you!
You're not going to sleep, you hear me?
Wake up!
Come on, I'm gonna get you back.
You're the only one,
but I'll get you back.
- Yes'?
- Two bodies sighted, sir.
25 degrees to the starboard, sir.
Are they alive?
Not moving, eh?
25 degrees to the starboard.
- All engines, full speed ahead.
- Aye, aye.
Everybody keep a sharp lookout.
- Rowland, get your parachute line ready.
- Aye, sir.
- Something black against the ice, sir.
- Where?
Right down there.
It's them!
It's two points starboard.
Three engines idle,
two engines half-speed!
Aye, aye, sir!
Parachute men, stand by to bail out!
There they are now!
- How many can you see?
- I only see two!
All right, parachute men, bail out!
Aye, aye, sir!
- Drop to 200.
- Aye, sir.
Drop rescue lines!
Keep them clear of the ice!
Ho!
Haul away on your lines!
- How's Frisky, doctor?
- Fine, commander.
- All right to see him?
- He's still on liquid diet,
- but go right in.
- I'll only be there a minute.
Who is it?
Bradon.
Oh, hello, Blimpo.
Hello, front page.
Front page nothing.
I'd have made the death count
if it hadn't been for you.
There, there, admiral.
How's Helen?
Oh, she'll be all right
soon as you get back.
Did she send any message?
Well, of all the dumbbells.
Jack, will you look in my clothes?
In the shirt pocket,
there's a letter, I'm sure.
- Find it?
- Yeah, I guess this is it.
It's to be opened after you've
reached the South Pole.
Thanks.
I forgot all about it.
Boy.
I'm still as blind as a bat.
I can't see anything.
Will you read it for me?
Sure I will.
Well, here goes.
Well, don't be bashful. You're not
a stranger in the family, you know.
Come on, read it, will you?
Sweetheart, you won
the greatest triumph of your life.
What can I say to make it any greater?
Only this,
that I love and adore you,
and hope and pray that you
come home safe to your Helen.
Gee, that's great.
Give it to me, Jack.
Better let me keep it, Frisky.
You might lose it.
No, I can take care of it.
- Can you beat that?
- What's the matter?
Well, the wind blew it
right out of my hand.
I'm sorry, Frisky.
Oh, that's all right.
I remember every word of it.
"Sweetheart, you've won
the greatest triumph of your life.
What can I say to make it any greater?
Only this..."
One of New York's biggest welcomes.
Here we are now
in front of the city hall
waiting for the parade to start,
and millions of people are waiting.
- Where is Lt. Pierce?
- I don't know, sir.
I was driving him here when he jumped out
of the car and disappeared in the crowd.
We looked for him,
but we couldn't find him.
- Let's start the parade, O'Grady.
- All right, boys. Let's go.
Thank you very much.
Commander, would you mind
sitting up here where they can see you?
All right, sir.
Sweetheart.
How I couldn't get here fast enough.
I'll never go away again
as long as I live, dear.
Even after my letter?
Oh, what a letter.
I couldn't read it. I was snow blind.
But Jack read it to me.
But I remember everything that was in it.
You want to hear it?
Listen. "Sweetheart,
this is your greatest triumph.
What can I say to make it greater?
Only this,
that I love you and adore you,
and I want you to come back soon
to your Helen." Was that it?
- Jack read it to you?
- Sure he did.
But old butterfingers
dropped it. It blew out of his hand.
Oh, Frisky.
What's the matter?
What are you laughing at?
Because I'm so happy.
- What are you crying about?
Because I'm so happy.