In Parachute Jumper, Bette Davis is second billed as Alabama teaming with Douglas Fairbanks, Junior as Bill and Frank McHugh as Toodles. The "story" shows three peoples struggling during the Depression. Bill and Toodles are retired Marine flyers and Alabama a stenographer.
The title refers to one of Bill's gigs. Later he works as a chauffeur, and then as a bodyguard.As a bodyguard, Bill spends his days hiding behind a curtain with a gun. Then he and Toodles branch out into drug smuggling for a gangster (though they think they're smuggling liquor.) Ironically, the same gangster hires Alabama.
It's not a particularly good film, but I enjoy watching all of Bette's performances. Too bad she doesn't have much to do. It's also fun to see Frank McHugh. I recognized Harold Huber; I checked his credits on IMDB--he was in The Thin Man and several Charlie Chan films. Walter Brennan makes an appearance in a diner scene. Thank you IMDB, because I didn't even notice him.
I wouldn't recommend this except to see Bette. Otherwise the film is pretty much a mess.
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