Richard Arlen starred in some 90 movies from 1930 through the mid-1950s. And, he made nearly twice as many films in his lifetime as most of the biggest stars during that same time – including Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Frederic March, Gregory Peck, James Stewart, and Spencer Tracy. Yet, Arlen is barely known today, while the names of these stars and others will long be remembered.
The main reason is because Arlen was a B-movie star, who cranked out half a dozen or more movies every year for Paramount and others as regular theater fodder. He was an attractive enough actor, and he had talent. He usually plays roles in which he is a self-assured, confident man. His career is an example of the difference one or two small breaks can have in an actor becoming a big-name star.
A lot of Arlen's films were of the action type – many involving flying. "Forced Landing" is such a film. Arlen was an RAF pilot in WW I, and a very accomplished flyer. His co-star in this movie is Eva Gabor, making her film debut. For those reasons, and an interesting plot, this movie is worth seeing. You'll have to overlook the poor production quality otherwise. And the terrain for this one might have it set anywhere from Mexico to South America. "Forced Landing" came out in July, 1941, and was made by Paramount – one of the big five Hollywood studios of the time. One can compare this film with some of the big films Paramount put out in the same period to see the difference in product quality. Look at "Hold Back the Dawn" also in 1941, starring Olivia de Havilland, Charles Boyer and Paulette Goddard. It had six Oscar nominations.
One very interesting fact about Arlen's career is that he was the star in "Wings," the 1929 silent film that won the very first Oscar for best picture. A co-star in that film was Gary Cooper, who would win the first of two Oscars the year after "Forced Landing" for "Sergeant York." Arlen never received a nomination throughout his career.
