Movie spotlight
It's in the Air
George Brown is rejected as an Air Raid Warden and in doing so sees his potential to join the Royal Air Force. His dreams could soon come true as he realises that in fact his friend has left behind some very important papers, he dons a his Royal Air Force uniform and delivers the papers when he is mistaken for a dispatch driver from HQ. He soon becomes the butt of jokes from his sergeant which ends him staying indefinitely at the air base. George soon falls in love with the Sergeant Major's daughter and when he discovers his real identity he threatens to report him. On the day of an annual inspection George attempts to escape the base and ends up in a plane, while the inspecting officer watches on, George's plane display is mesmerizing and the inspecting officer insists he should be commended, in order to save their skins George manages to land the plane and is accepted as a flyer by the RAF.
Insights
Plot Summary
A bumbling inventor successfully creates a foolproof system for advertising by radio, but his invention quickly falls into the hands of gangsters who plan to use it for their own nefarious purposes. He must then team up with his loyal assistant and a beautiful reporter to stop them before they can carry out their plan.
Critical Reception
It's in the Air was met with mixed to positive reviews, with many critics praising Joe E. Brown's comedic performance and the film's lighthearted entertainment value. However, some found the plot to be somewhat predictable and the humor occasionally falling flat. It was generally considered a decent, albeit unremarkable, comedy for its time.
What Reviewers Say
Joe E. Brown's signature comedic timing is the main draw.
The film offers light, escapist entertainment typical of the era.
The plot is formulaic and doesn't offer many surprises.
Google audience: Audience reception for It's in the Air is largely unavailable due to its age, but contemporary reviews indicate it was seen as a standard, enjoyable comedy vehicle for its star.
Fun Fact
The film's premise of radio advertising was particularly topical in 1938, as radio was the dominant mass medium for advertising and entertainment.
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