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Action drama

Chain Lightning (1950): Cast & Plot

Chain Lightning (1950) movie poster

Chain Lightning is a 1950 action drama directed by Stuart Heisler, starring Humphrey Bogart as Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan, Eleanor Parker and James Brown. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.

Chain Lightning (1950) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Stuart Heisler
Genres
Action , Drama , War
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Chain Lightning About?

The premise of Chain Lightning without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A former World War II ace, Matt Brennan, joins a commercial aircraft firm as a test pilot, hoping to push the limits of new aviation technology. While at the company, he discovers his former sweetheart, Jo Holloway, now employed as the receptionist, reigniting past feelings amid the high‑octane world of test flights.

Chain Lightning Themes & Keywords

· 32 tags
  • washington monument washington d.c.
  • bogart and massey
  • double exposure effect
  • jet
  • test pilot
  • aerospace film
  • washington d.c.
  • voice over narration
  • london england
  • flashback
  • big ben london
  • wind tunnel
+20 more
  • war footage
  • u.s. capitol building
  • test flight
  • tape recording
  • stock footage
  • airplane crash
  • montage
  • male female relationship
  • hangar
  • former lovers
  • flight school
  • experimental aircraft
  • crash landing
  • breaking glass
  • bomber plane
  • aviator
  • aviation
  • aerial combat
  • airplane
  • world war two
Cast & crew

Chain Lightning Cast & Characters

Humphrey Bogart leads the cast as Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan, with Eleanor Parker as Joan "Jo" Holloway and James Brown as Maj. Hinkle. Directed by Stuart Heisler; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Chain Lightning

· 5 more
Plot

Chain Lightning Plot Summary

What happens in Chain Lightning from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lt. Col. Matt Brennan, Humphrey Bogart, a World War II bomber pilot, now runs a civilian flying school in peacetime and rekindles his old bond with his Army Air Force buddy, Maj. Hinkle, James Brown.

Brennan is tapped to become the chief test pilot for the Willis Aircraft Company, leading the development of an experimental high‑speed jet fighter known as the JA-3, designed by Carl Troxell, Richard Whorf. Troxell had flown with Brennan on a bombing mission over Germany to assess the B‑17’s real performance, and his passion for the project is evident as they push the boundaries of aviation.

Full summary

The whole story of Chain Lightning, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Chain Lightning Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Chain Lightning.

Chain Lightning (1950) Original Trailer [FHD]
Cars

Cars in Chain Lightning

13 cars on screen, including the 1939 Plymouth De Luxe and the 1942 Dodge WC 54.

All 13 cars
  • 1939 Plymouth De Luxe in Chain Lightning 1939 Plymouth De Luxe Important role
  • 1942 Dodge WC 54 in Chain Lightning 1942 Dodge WC 54 Minor role
  • 1949 Ford Custom in Chain Lightning 1949 Ford Custom Minor role
  • 1948 Ford F-1 Panel in Chain Lightning 1948 Ford F-1 Panel Minor role
Details

Chain Lightning Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “Des Teufels Pilot” and “Pilote du diable”.

Also known as
  • Des Teufels Pilot
  • Pilote du diable
  • Assalto al cielo
  • Un rayo en el cielo
  • Молния
  • A Morte não é o Fim
  • 喷射的爱情

Seen Chain Lightning?

FAQ

Chain Lightning FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Chain Lightning, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Chain Lightning?

Chain Lightning runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Chain Lightning released?

Chain Lightning was released on February 18, 1950.

Who directed Chain Lightning?

Chain Lightning was directed by Stuart Heisler.

More films by Stuart Heisler

Who is in the cast of Chain Lightning?

Chain Lightning stars Humphrey Bogart as Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan, Eleanor Parker as Joan "Jo" Holloway and James Brown as Maj. Hinkle, among 9 credited actors.

Does Chain Lightning have a post-credit scene?

No. Chain Lightning has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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