The Flying Fool (1929 film)

The Flying Fool is a 1929 aviation-themed film produced and distributed by Pathé Exchange as both a silent film and sound film just as Hollywood was transitioning to filming with sound.[1][2][N 1] Tay Garnett directed and William Boyd, (Russell Gleason) and (Marie Prevost) starred.[4]

The Flying Fool
Directed byTay Garnett
Written byTay Garnett (scenario)
James Gleason (dialogue)
Based onoriginal story by Elliott J. Clawson
StarringWilliam Boyd
(Russell Gleason)
(Marie Prevost)
Music byGeorge Green (composer)
George Waggner(composer)
CinematographyArthur C. Miller
Edited byClaude Berkeley
Production
company
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • June 23, 1929 (1929-06-23)
Running time
63 or 73 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageSilent film
English intertitles
Sound film version

Plot

After an World War I aerial battle over French lines, Bill Taylor (William Boyd) is honoured as an ace. After the war, he continues flying as a barnstormer, known as the "Flying Fool". His kid-brother, Jimmy (Russell Gleason), is one of his crew. Jimmy falls in love with a nightclub singer, Pat Riley (Marie Prevost). His older-brother worries that Jimmy may be involved with the wrong kind of girl.

Bill decides to check on Pat out and he finds she is a sweet and home-loving daughter working to provide for her mother. To his surprise, he also falls for her, and this upsets Jimmy.

Both brothers take to their aircraft to decide which of them will win Pat. After a thrilling air "battle," Bill and Jimmy land safely. Pat decides she loves Bill, and Jimmy transfers his affections to another pretty girl.

Cast

Production

According to her journal entry for 1929, aviatrix Pancho Barnes flew in The Flying Fool.[5] Noted stunt pilot Frank Clarke along with his friends, Leon Nomis, Roy Wilson and Dick Rinaldi, also flew in the film.[6][7]

The shooting locale was the Metropolitan Airport in Los Angeles where two Travel Air 4000 aircraft (one painted white with "The Flying Fool" on its fuselage) were flown.[7]

Reception

Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo, in Aviation in the Cinema (1985) noted The Flying Fool was an "all dialogue" (another catch phrase for a sound film or "talkie". He also wrote, "noted cameraman Arthur Miller lensed the film." [8]

Aviation film historian James Farmer in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1984) considered The Flying Fool, an example of a film that benefitted from "... excellent aerial sequences."[9]

References

Notes
  1. The sound version used the RCA Photophone system.[3]

Citations
  1. Paris 1995, p. 65.
  2. "Silent Era:'The Flying Fool'." Progressive Silent Film List (Silentera.com), 2019. Retrieved: July 3, 2019.
  3. "Technical specifications: 'The Flying Fool'." IMDb, 2019. Retrieved: July 3, 2019.
  4. "Detail view: 'The Flying Fool'." Afi.com, 2019. Retrieved: July 3, 2019.
  5. Spark, Nick. "Journal entry: 1929." legendofpanchobarnes.com, August 12, 2015.
  6. Wynne 1987, p. 133.
  7. Santoir, Christian. "Review: 'The Flying Fool'." Aeromovies, April 5, 2012. Retrieved: July 3, 2019.
  8. Pendo 1985, p. 10.
  9. Farmer 1984, p. 308.

Bibliography
  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1st ed.). Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: TAB Books 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
  • Paris, Michael. From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-7190-4074-0.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8-1081-746-2.
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