Tip on a Dead Jockey (MGM, 1957)

[Chris Brame]

Caught this Robert Taylor/Dorothy Malone movie on TCM the other night; it features MGM's Beech D18S N80356 wearing fake Egyptian registration SU-AAC:




Also starring Paul Mantz's TBF tanker N9394H as a French military aircraft:


Early in the movie there's a pretty amazing stunt with a BT-13 striking a truck and then cracking up (fast forward to 2:15):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx_s0AA1-mg
Slow it down to 25% and you'll note that the ground shot shows a cable/guide wire snapping and putting a big dent along the fuselage just as it noses up. The BT-13 was N53317 which, according to the Tallmantz list, ended up as a kids' toy at Movieland of the Air.

So did Mantz fly this sequence?

[JDDavis2]

.
... Screen grabs from the "Tip on a Dead Jockey" (Preview Clip) ...









Listed in the aerovin Paul Mantz Master Listing, Vultee BT-13 s/n 91278 N53317 Playground for kids

In the aerovin Paul Mantz filmography "Tip on a Dead Jockey" (1957) not listed

In the FAA REGISTRY N53317 is currently deregistered
Aircraft Registration prior to Deregistration
Name PAUL MANTZ AIR SERVICES
Street ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT
City SANTA ANA
State CALIFORNIA
Certificate Issue Date 04/10/1957 / Cancel Date 02/01/1971

Model BT-13B (SNV-2)
Serial Number 91278

N53317 was used on a Cessna 172 and a Quicksilver MX also
.

[JDDavis2]

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...BT-13 at left...at SNA...

image source: snappygoat public domain images

[aerovin2]

Good stuff...I'll have to at least add it to the listing....