THE MYSTERIOUS PILOT
15 CHAPTER SERIAL
1937

The lead was played by famous American aviator Frank Hawks, billed above the title and all the posters as Captain Frank Hawks. In June 1933, he had flown non-stop across the USA in 13 and a half hours, four hours faster than the previous record, which he also held. While acknowledged as one of the best flyers around, he was also something of a daredevil and risk-taker. He was killed a few months after the completion of this serial while flying a non-commercial aircraft. The source novel for this serial was a book about Hawks by William Byron Mallory called "The Silver Hawk" (the name of Hawk's airplane).

PLOT:
While travelling on a train through the Canadian wilds, Jean McNain overhears a conversation in the next compartment where James Crawford accuses Carter Snowden, her "host" and potential fiance of murder. Snowden prompty dispatches Crawford. More than a little alarmed, Jean slips off the train at Titan Pass where she encounters Jim Dorn, a map maker for the Royal Canadian Air Force. With his friends, RCMP Sergeant "Kansas" Eby and Indian Luke, Jim shields Jean from the villainous Snowden and his minions through the rest of the serial.

CAST:
Frank Hawks ... RCAF Capt. Jim Down
Dorothy Sebastian ... Jean McNain
Esther Ralston ... Vivian McNain [Chs.10-11]
Rex Lease ... RCAF Sergeant 'Kansas' Eby
Guy Bates Post ... 'Papa' Bergelot [Chs.1-4,6-8,15]
Kenneth Harlan ... Carter Snowden
Yakima Canutt ... Indian Luke [Chs.1-2,4-8,15]
George Rosener ... Fritz [Chs.3-5,9,14-15]
Clara Kimball Young ... Martha, Fritz's Wife [Chs.3-5,9,14-15]
Frank Lackteen ... Henchman Yoroslaff
Harry Harvey ... Henchman James 'Soft Shoe' Cardigan
Tom London ... Henchman Kilgour [Chs.1,3-4,6-9]
Robert Walker ... Henchman-Lumberjack Boyer, in dark hat [Chs.10-14]
Ted Adams ... Henchman Carlson [Chs.1,3-5,7,10-11,14-15]

CHAPTERS:
1. The Howl of the Wolf
2. The Web Tangles
3. Enemies of the Air
4. In the Hands of the Law
5. The Crack-up
6. The Dark Hour
7. Wings of Destiny
8. Battle in the Sky
9. The Great Flight
10. Whirlpool of Death
11. The Haunted Mill
12. The Lost Trail
13. The Net Tightens
14. Vengeance Rides the Airways
15. Retribution

RUNNING TIME: 300 MIN