# Jet Job

Jet Job is a 1952 American aviation action film directed by William Beaudine. The film stars Stanley Clements, John Litel and Bob Nichols. Jet Job features stock footage of various types of USAF military aircraft.

## Plot

Test pilot Joe Kovak (Stanley Clements) work for Sam Bentley (John Litel), the former partner of Joe's deceased father. Because Joe's father was killed while flying, however, his mother (Dorothy Adams) is afraid for her son. Bentley is competing for an important government contact but Joe is putting the effort into jeopardy as his brash attitude and propensity in disobeying orders, is becoming troublesome. Bentley's rival, Oscar Collins (Tom Powers), wants Joe to work for his company, capitalizing on the test pilot's ability to fly high speed aircraft. When Bentley finally is fed up with Joe's defiance, and fires him, Collins gives his public relations manager, Marge Stevens (Elena Verdugo), a $500 bonus to get Joe to sign with his company. Infatuated with Marge, Joe signs on but finds the Collins aircraft is inferior and during a test flight, after being asked to fly too high, their prototype crashes.
Joe escapes unharmed, but before an investigation board, Collins blames Joe for the accident, resulting in Joe's flight license being revoked. When Joe learns about Marge's bonus, he is more determined to prove he can be the best test pilot around, but has to find his way back into the cockpit. Discovering that Bentley has planned a test flight to demonstrate his aircraft to the government, Joe sneaks into the plant and is able to fly the test flight. Government officials award Bentley Aircraft the lucrative contact. Joe gets his licence back and returns to work with Bentley Aircraft, and is able to accept that Marge is in love with him.

## Cast

* Stanley Clements as Joe Kovak
* John Litel as Sam Bentley
* Robert Nichols as "Dynamo" Jackson (credited as Bob Nichols)
* Elena Verdugo as Marge Stevens
* Todd Karns as Peter Arlen
* Tom Powers as Oscar Collins
* Russ Conway as Stanley Reid
* Steve Roberts as Jack Bradford
* John Kellogg as Alvin Fanchon
* Arthur Space as Davison
* Bob Peoples as Willie Hanson
* Paul Stanton as Chairman
* Robert Spencer as Secretary
* Perc Launders as Photographer
* William Tannen as Col. Jamison
* William Forrest as Gen. Mason
* Dave Willock as "Ripple"
* Dorothy Adams as Mrs. Kovak
* Lucille Thompson as Waitress
* Gertrude Astor as Dance partner

## Production

Principal photography for Jet Job began in January 1952. After a stint in Great Britain, director William "One Shot" Beaudine returned to America in 1937 but had trouble re-establishing himself at the major studios. After working at Warner Brothers, Beaudine found work on Poverty Row, working for studios specializing in low-budget films, such as Monogram Pictures and Producers Releasing Corporation. Beaudine became a specialist in comedies, thrillers and melodramas making dozens for these studios. By the 1940s, Beaudine had a reputation for being a resourceful, no-nonsense director who could make feature films in a matter of days, sometimes as few as five.
Producer Ben Schwalb used stock footage of United States Air Force training films, getting approval from Air Force Colonel William C. Lindley for the production. The Lockheed T-33 jet trainer was featured prominently in the film.

## Reception

Jet Job was a B film; TV Guide felt the film "... barely gets off the ground."