Sous le masque

In this absurd but entertaining spy thriller from 20th Century Fox and director Malcolm St. Clair, brilliant aviation mogul John Fleming (Ralph Morgan) has designed a new plane christened the "Wild Goose". He's planning on taking it for its first trans-Atlantic test flight soon, to be piloted by Ace Martin (Brian Donlevy) and his young partner Joe Randall (Thomas Beck). And then there's Colonel Gimpy (Peter Lorre), a sweet but mentally deranged cripple who the air crew allow to hang around as a mascot. Only not everyone is who they claim to be, and more than one of them have secret agendas. It all comes out during the test flight, one which not all will survive.

The double crosses and triple crosses pass into the realm of silliness long before the movie is finished, and the very ending is ridiculous, particularly the music used, but I still enjoyed this "B" feature, largely thanks to Peter Lorre's terrific performance as Colonel Gimpy. The toy plane special effects only add to the goofy fun.