HomeyTao
For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.
BelSports
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Tayyab Torres
Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
jotix100
The story begins at the height of WWII, where a group of Air Force pilots are seen battling the Germans in a show of air supremacy. Matt Brennan, and his crew, are amazed when they spot a German plane that flies so fast, they consider it a rival that will challenge them in the air. Alas, the idea of a new prototype of fighting plane ends just as WWII is over.Matt Brennan, in love with the lovely Jo Holloway, figures he wants to marry her. His only problem, the general that is supposed to do the ceremony is not to be found. Fate intervenes and the two lovers drift apart. After the war is over, Matt has to resort to start his own flying academy, a short lived attempt to make a go of his flying knowledge.Always at odds with Max Troxell, Matt is brought over to the Willis manufacturing company, where a new plane with brand new technology is being developed by Max and other friends from his Air Force days. Matt, an experienced pilot is engaged to put the plane through different tests. He feels he can fly it in record time, while Max is working in a detachable cockpit that will be separated from the jet in case of trouble. Matt surprises when he does the feat in record time."Chain Lightning" directed by Stuart Heisler, is almost a documentary, that chronicles the advent of technology that revolutionized the aerospace industry. The jet age followed as a result of these pioneer men that were instrumental in the changes. Humphrey Bogart appears as Matthew Brennan, the man with a mission. Eleanor Parker plays Jo, his love interest. Richard Whorf is Troxell, Brennan's rival. Raymond Massey, and the supporting cast, do their best to make the film work.
matheson_dunross
I thought I had seen the worst when watching Errol Flynn in "Escape Me Never" right after "The Adventures of Robin Hood". Apparently it could get worse, I'm almost sorry I didn't see "The Big Sleep" before this, I would have died laughing."Chain Lightning" is another story about test pilots and new air plains, lot of air stunt footage, men talking men talk, sing war songs and the typical boy-loses-girl-boy-gets-girl-back routine.And I really wonder why Boggie made this movie - I thought he was a Hollywood royalty and commended top salary? Surely Lauren Becall's dresses and his cigars don't cost THAT much for him to agree to do this film?!
Milbourne Whitt
I saw this movie when it first came out and jets were practically unheard of. Three years later I was in Korea with the 335th FIS, and the King then was the F-86. The original movie showed a needle nose designed to break the air at high speed as a diver points his hands to break the water, and the air intakes were on the sides. The F-86 had one big intake in front which was dangerous because one of my best friends, a mechanic, was accidentally sucked up the intake while chocking wheels on the run-up strip when the pilot hit the throttle at 100%. He was gone in the blink of an eye. Bogie's plane could fly up to 60,000 ft and top speed of about 1600 mph. General Dynamics must have used this movie for the development of the F-16, because there seems to be a lot of similarities. I took an interest in some of the comparisons after seeing the movie "Afterburn".
forsythe60-2
This was an interesting film, especially to those with a keen interest on the early development of Jet technology. It was predictable, but had its moments. I loved it, but I love ALL things Bogart. Julie Bishop was good as the girl of Bogarts interests and a few tense moments in the air and on the ground hold your interest to the end.
