Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ben Lyon | ... | ||
James Hall | ... | ||
Jean Harlow | ... | ||
John Darrow | ... |
Karl Armstedt
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Lucien Prival | ... |
Baron Von Kranz
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Frank Clarke | ... |
Lt. von Bruen
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Roy Wilson | ... |
Baldy Maloney
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Douglas Gilmore | ... |
Capt. Redfield
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Jane Winton | ... |
Baroness Von Kranz
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Evelyn Hall | ... |
Lady Randolph
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William B. Davidson | ... |
Staff Major
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Wyndham Standing | ... |
RFC Squadron Commander
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Lena Malena | ... |
Gretchen - Waitress
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Marian Marsh | ... |
Girl Selling Kisses
(as Marilyn Morgan)
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Carl von Haartman | ... |
Zeppelin Commander
(as Carl Von Haartman)
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Two brothers attending Oxford enlist with the RAF when World War I breaks out. Roy and Monte Rutledge have very different personalities. Monte is a freewheeling womanizer, even with his brother's girlfriend Helen. He also proves to have a yellow streak when it comes to his Night Patrol duties. Roy is made of strong moral fiber and attempts to keep his brother in line. Both volunteer for an extremely risky two man bombing mission for different reasons. Monte wants to lose his cowardly reputation and Roy seeks to protect his brother. Their assignment to knock out a strategic German munitions facility is a booming success, but with a squadron of fighters bearing down on them afterwards, escape seems unlikely. Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
This film, produced only three years after sound entered the movies, is entertaining and thoughtful. It makes good use of sound effects and has great visual effects as well. The flight scenes are impressive. Hughes flew a plane in this film (but crashed it) and three other pilots were killed during filming. The scenes of dozens of tiny aircraft swarming in the sky are still breathtaking. The plot is standard good-guys/bad-guys but adds some sensitivity to all parties. We have groups fighting a war in the air, and not too happy to be doing it. But they do their jobs, and give their lives for victory. The scene of Germans abandoning their airship is particularly wrenching and affective. Some token love interests and the usual inept comedy characters round out the cast, which all stood up to the task as well as anyone in 1930.
Jean Harlow gets her first billing in this film (she's one of my all time favorites), so it is her breakthrough movie.
Not a keeper, but see it if you can.