By Glenn Erickson
Lucky Devils
Brief Synopsis
Two Hollywood stuntmen compete for the same pretty extra.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Ralph Ince
Director
Bill Boyd
Skipper [Clark]
Dorothy Wilson
Fran [Clark]
William Gargan
Bob [Hughes]
Robert Rose
Rusty
Rosco Ates
Gabby
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Action
Adventure
Release Date
Feb
3,
1933
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 3m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Synopsis
After a gruelling day on the movie set, Skipper Clark joins his fellow stuntmen at his favorite Hollywood restaurant, and they all give a toast to Slugger Jones and Doris, his bride-to-be. While they are celebrating, Skipper notices Fran, an out-of-work actress, sitting alone at a nearby table. Skipper's best friend and roommate, Bob Hughes, also spots the sad-face Fran, and both men engage her in conversation until she leaves to meet her "date" on the restaurant's balcony. Seconds later, Skipper and Bob see Fran about to jump off the balcony and rush to stop her. Although Fran soon develops an attachment to Skipper, who finds her an acting job at his studio, he discourages her attentions, stating categorically that women and stunt work never mix. Skipper, having recently witnessed Slugger die in an easy car stunt because he had become infected with Doris' wifely fears, also cautions Bob about pursuing Fran. In defiance of his own advice, however, Skipper finally accepts Fran's love and marries her. After a Hawaiian honeymoon, Skipper returns to Hollywood, determined to continue as a stuntman. However, on his first dangerous stunt, which he is to perform with Bob, Skipper freezes and is distracted by the appearance of a terrified Fran. Skipper's hesitation nearly costs Bob his life, and he is automatically fired and banned from stunt work. Months later, Skipper, broke and desperate for a job, becomes a laborer with his former movie company, which is shooting in the mountains. Assured by a "twenty-five dollar" doctor that pregnant Fran will be fine, Skipper leaves for the mountains but, soon after his arrival, receives a telegram that she has gone into a difficult labor. When he then hears that Doris died while giving birth because she was unable to afford hospital care, Skipper insists on performing a stunt that none of the other men dare to try. After riding a rowboat over a waterfall, Skipper takes his pay and, with Bob, defies pursuing policemen and rushes down the mountain to Fran, who has just given birth to their son.
Director
Ralph Ince
Director
Cast
Bill Boyd
Skipper [Clark]
Dorothy Wilson
Fran [Clark]
William Gargan
Bob [Hughes]
Robert Rose
Rusty
Rosco Ates
Gabby
William Bakewell
Slugger [Jones]
Julie Haydon
Doris [Jones]
Bruce Cabot
Happy
Rochelle Hudson
Visitor
Creighton Chaney
Frankie
Phyllis Fraser
Toots
Betty Furness
Ginger
Alan Roscoe
Hacket
Charles Gillette
Cameraman
Gladden James
Neville
Edwin Stanley
Spence
Sylvia Picker
Midget
Ward Bond
Policeman
Crew
Willard Barth
Assistant Camera
Merian C. Cooper
Associate Producer
J. Roy Hunt
Photography
Agnes Christine Johnston
Screenwriter
Alex Kahle
Still Photographer
Jack Kitchin
Film Editor
Fred Knudtson
Film Editor
Ben Markson
Screenwriter
Russell Metty
Camera Operator
Casey Robinson
Original Story
Bob Rose
Original Story
David O. Selznick
Executive Producer
Max Steiner
Music Director
Vernon Walker
Special Effects
Earl A. Wolcott
Recording
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Action
Adventure
Release Date
Feb
3,
1933
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 3m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Articles
Lucky Devils -
Adventurer, filmmaker and studio executive Merian C. Cooper allied with David O. Selznick to make a number of adventure movies at RKO, most notably the classic King Kong. Co-writing with real-life stuntman Bob Rose, scenarist Casey Robinson's Lucky Devils (1933) glorifies stunt personnel as superstitious thrill seekers with one foot in their graves: Stunt professionals Skipper and Bob (William Boyd and William Gargan) save the destitute Fran (Dorothy Wilson) from suicide. Skipper finds Fran a studio job and eventually marries her, ignoring an unwritten law in the stunt clan that discourages sentimental relationships. A colleague dies during a stunt over concern for his new bride and when Skipper is distracted by Fran's presence on the set, the same thing almost happens to him. He loses his job and must take menial work in the studio. The birth of Fran's child becomes a medical emergency, which prompts Skipper to undertake a mad race to the hospital. Much like films about aviator daredevils, Lucky Devils offers up one dangerous-looking situation after another: Skipper's big stunt involves riding a rowboat over a waterfall in the Klamath River. King Kong alumnus Bruce Cabot has a supporting role, along with hopeful Lon Chaney Jr.. Contemporary reviewers noted that Fran's attempted suicide might have been inspired by the highly publicized tragedy of starlet Peg Entwhistle, who six months earlier leaped to her death from the Hollywood Sign.
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
Lucky Devils -
Adventurer, filmmaker and studio executive Merian C. Cooper allied with David O. Selznick to make a number of adventure movies at RKO, most notably the classic King Kong. Co-writing with real-life stuntman Bob Rose, scenarist Casey Robinson's Lucky Devils (1933) glorifies stunt personnel as superstitious thrill seekers with one foot in their graves: Stunt professionals Skipper and Bob (William Boyd and William Gargan) save the destitute Fran (Dorothy Wilson) from suicide. Skipper finds Fran a studio job and eventually marries her, ignoring an unwritten law in the stunt clan that discourages sentimental relationships. A colleague dies during a stunt over concern for his new bride and when Skipper is distracted by Fran's presence on the set, the same thing almost happens to him. He loses his job and must take menial work in the studio. The birth of Fran's child becomes a medical emergency, which prompts Skipper to undertake a mad race to the hospital. Much like films about aviator daredevils, Lucky Devils offers up one dangerous-looking situation after another: Skipper's big stunt involves riding a rowboat over a waterfall in the Klamath River. King Kong alumnus Bruce Cabot has a supporting role, along with hopeful Lon Chaney Jr.. Contemporary reviewers noted that Fran's attempted suicide might have been inspired by the highly publicized tragedy of starlet Peg Entwhistle, who six months earlier leaped to her death from the Hollywood Sign.
By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Trivia
Writer Bob Rose was a stuntman in Hollywood.
Notes
According to September 1932 studio memos, RKO proceeded with this film only after Columbia Pictures decided to drop its production of The Double, which was based on John Weld's novel Stunt Man. Weld was considered briefly by the studio as a screenwriter for Lucky Devils. Story writer Bob Rose was a real-life stuntman, according to reviews. Many reviews incorrectly list Phyllis Fraser's character as "Midge" or "Midget." A Film Daily news item stated that Billy Gratton played "Skipper" and "Fran's" newborn son in the production, but his participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
