The Lost Squadron
Encyclopedia
The Lost Squadron is a action film starring Richard Dix
, Mary Astor
, and Robert Armstrong
, with Erich von Stroheim
and Joel McCrea
, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is about three World War I
pilots who find jobs after the war as Hollywood stunt fliers. The much-later The Great Waldo Pepper
(1975) employed a similar theme.
The Lost Squadron was the first RKO production to carry the screen credit "Executive Producer, David O. Selznick".
Fritz (Hugh Herbert
) to an uncertain future.
Gibby finds his ambitious actress girlfriend Follette Marsh (Astor) with a new boyfriend, one who can do more for her career. Good-natured braggard Red decides not to take back his old job, as it would mean the firing of a married man with a new baby. They and Fritz eventually hop a freight train
for Hollywood to look for work in the lean times.
At a movie premiere, they spot a prosperous Woody, who is working as a stunt flier. He offers them well-paying jobs working for dictatorial director Arthur von Furst (von Stroheim). Gibby is reluctant, as Follette is now married to von Furst, but finally gives in.
Woody introduces his two comrades-in-arms to his sister, "the Pest" (Dorothy Jordan
). She worries constantly about him, as von Furst utilizes dangerously worn-out airplanes and Woody drinks a lot. Both Gibby and Red are attracted to her. Gibby misinterprets her concern for him when he barely survives a crash (caused by parts of his airplane falling off) as love. When Red impulsively asks the Pest to marry him, she agrees, and Gibby accepts the situation with grace.
Meanwhile, von Furst is aware that his wife still has strong feelings for Gibby. He sabotages the airplane Gibby is to fly for a dangerous stunt, secretly applying acid to a control wire
, not only out of jealousy, but also to add to the realism of his film with a real crash. However, unbeknownst to him, Woody decides to do the stunt in Gibby's place. Red sees von Furst tampering with the wires and alerts Gibby. Gibby takes off in another plane and catches up to Woody, but cannot make himself understood over the roar of their engines. The cable breaks, and Woody crashes and is killed.
Red takes von Furst captive at gunpoint, determined to apply vigilante justice. Gibby and Fritz find out. Gibby starts to telephone the police to report a murder over Red's objections. While they are arguing, von Furst tries to escape, and is shot and killed by Red. When police detective Jettick (Ralph Ince
) shows up in answer to Gibby's interrupted call, the men hide the body. Sensing something wrong, Jettick insists on searching for von Furst. When he leaves, Gibby loads the corpse into an aircraft and takes off. He then deliberately crashes, killing himself and taking the blame for the crime.
, took over the project as a personal production. As executive producer, Selznick fired director Paul Sloane and replaced him with George Archainbaud, and increased the film's budget to include more spectacular action sequences.
Although considered a standard "B feature", The Lost Squadron boasted several first-rate aviation sequences, since the film was scripted by real-life Hollywood stunt flyer Dick Grace
. Utilizing the Hollywood fleet of war surplus aircraft, the production featured many famous stunt flyers and their mounts, including Grace, Art Goebel, Leo Nomis and Frank Clarke. The aircraft seen on screen include two Nieuports, a Waco 10
and Bristol Fighter
.
, the aviators' dilemma in reintegrating themselves back in a peacetime society, represents an authentic effort at showing how returning veterans back from the front lines were treated.
Contemporary reviews were generally favorable but the German Consul in San Francisco delivered an official protest due to von Stroheim's portrayal of a tyrannical German director. Reviews such as the one that appeared in Variety, however, stressed the appeal of the film was in introducing a new story motif, the "story-within-a-story" of "behind the scenes" of an aerial film production.
Richard Dix
Richard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
, Mary Astor
Mary Astor
Mary Astor was an American actress. Most remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.She eventually made a successful transition to talkies, but almost...
, and Robert Armstrong
Robert Armstrong (actor)
Robert Armstrong was an American film actor best remembered for his role as Carl Denham in the 1933 version of King Kong by RKO Pictures. He uttered the famous exit quote, "'Twas beauty killed the beast," at the film's end...
, with Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
and Joel McCrea
Joel McCrea
Joel Albert McCrea was an American actor whose career spanned 50 years and appearances in over 90 films.-Early life:...
, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film is about three World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
pilots who find jobs after the war as Hollywood stunt fliers. The much-later The Great Waldo Pepper
The Great Waldo Pepper
The Great Waldo Pepper is a 1975 drama film directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill. It stars Robert Redford as a discontented airplane pilot in the years 1926-1931....
(1975) employed a similar theme.
The Lost Squadron was the first RKO production to carry the screen credit "Executive Producer, David O. Selznick".
Plot
Captain "Gibby" Gibson (Dix) and his close friend "Red" (McCrea) spend the last hours of World War I in the air, shooting down more of the enemy. They then return to America with fellow pilot and comrade "Woody" Curwood (Robert Armstrong) and their mechanicMechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
Fritz (Hugh Herbert
Hugh Herbert
Hugh Herbert was a motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville, and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches.-Career:...
) to an uncertain future.
Gibby finds his ambitious actress girlfriend Follette Marsh (Astor) with a new boyfriend, one who can do more for her career. Good-natured braggard Red decides not to take back his old job, as it would mean the firing of a married man with a new baby. They and Fritz eventually hop a freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
for Hollywood to look for work in the lean times.
At a movie premiere, they spot a prosperous Woody, who is working as a stunt flier. He offers them well-paying jobs working for dictatorial director Arthur von Furst (von Stroheim). Gibby is reluctant, as Follette is now married to von Furst, but finally gives in.
Woody introduces his two comrades-in-arms to his sister, "the Pest" (Dorothy Jordan
Dorothy Jordan
Dorothea Jordan was an Irish actress, courtesan, and the mistress and companion of the future King William IV of the United Kingdom, for 20 years while he was Duke of Clarence...
). She worries constantly about him, as von Furst utilizes dangerously worn-out airplanes and Woody drinks a lot. Both Gibby and Red are attracted to her. Gibby misinterprets her concern for him when he barely survives a crash (caused by parts of his airplane falling off) as love. When Red impulsively asks the Pest to marry him, she agrees, and Gibby accepts the situation with grace.
Meanwhile, von Furst is aware that his wife still has strong feelings for Gibby. He sabotages the airplane Gibby is to fly for a dangerous stunt, secretly applying acid to a control wire
Wire rope
thumb|Steel wire rope Wire rope is a type of rope which consists of several strands of metal wire laid into a helix. Initially wrought iron wires were used, but today steel is the main material used for wire ropes....
, not only out of jealousy, but also to add to the realism of his film with a real crash. However, unbeknownst to him, Woody decides to do the stunt in Gibby's place. Red sees von Furst tampering with the wires and alerts Gibby. Gibby takes off in another plane and catches up to Woody, but cannot make himself understood over the roar of their engines. The cable breaks, and Woody crashes and is killed.
Red takes von Furst captive at gunpoint, determined to apply vigilante justice. Gibby and Fritz find out. Gibby starts to telephone the police to report a murder over Red's objections. While they are arguing, von Furst tries to escape, and is shot and killed by Red. When police detective Jettick (Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince , was an American film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 171 films between 1910 and 1937. He also appeared in 110 films between 1907 and 1937....
) shows up in answer to Gibby's interrupted call, the men hide the body. Sensing something wrong, Jettick insists on searching for von Furst. When he leaves, Gibby loads the corpse into an aircraft and takes off. He then deliberately crashes, killing himself and taking the blame for the crime.
Cast
- Richard Dix as Captain "Gibby" Gibson
- Mary Astor as Follette Marsh
- Robert Armstrong as Lieutenant "Woody" Curwood
- Dorothy JordanDorothy Jordan (film actress)Dorothy Jordan was an American movie actress who had a short but successful career beginning in talking pictures in 1929.-Early career:...
as "Pest" Curwood - Joel McCrea as "Red"
- Erich von Stroheim as Arthur von Furst
- Hugh HerbertHugh HerbertHugh Herbert was a motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville, and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches.-Career:...
as Sergeant Fritz - Ralph InceRalph InceRalph Ince , was an American film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 171 films between 1910 and 1937. He also appeared in 110 films between 1907 and 1937....
as Detective Jettick - Marjorie Peterson as Stenographer
- Ralph LewisRalph Lewis (actor)Ralph Percy Lewis was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 160 films between 1912 and 1938.He was born in Englewood, Illinois and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
as Joe - William B. DavidsonWilliam B. DavidsonWilliam B. Davidson was an American film actor. He attended Columbia University where he played football. He became a popular football star. This fame eventually led to his foray into motion pictures after he had spent some time as a lawyer...
as Lelewer
Production
While William LeBaron was still production chief at RKO, he started production on The Lost Squadron, but when he was fired, his replacement, David O. SelznickDavid O. Selznick
David O. Selznick was an American film producer. He is best known for having produced Gone with the Wind and Rebecca , both of which earned him an Oscar for Best Picture.-Early years:...
, took over the project as a personal production. As executive producer, Selznick fired director Paul Sloane and replaced him with George Archainbaud, and increased the film's budget to include more spectacular action sequences.
Although considered a standard "B feature", The Lost Squadron boasted several first-rate aviation sequences, since the film was scripted by real-life Hollywood stunt flyer Dick Grace
Dick Grace
Dick Grace was born in Morris, Minnesota and was an early stunt pilot who specialised in crashing planes for films. Grace was one of the few stunt pilots who died of old age. He was the author of several books including Squadron of Death, Crash Pilot, I am still alive, and Visibility Unlimited...
. Utilizing the Hollywood fleet of war surplus aircraft, the production featured many famous stunt flyers and their mounts, including Grace, Art Goebel, Leo Nomis and Frank Clarke. The aircraft seen on screen include two Nieuports, a Waco 10
Waco 10
-Bibliography:* http://aerofiles.com/_waco.html* Juptner, Joseph P. U.S. Civil Aircraft Vol. 1 Los Angeles, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1962. Library of Congress # 62-15967....
and Bristol Fighter
Bristol Fighter
Bristol Fighter may refer to:*Bristol F.2 Fighter aircraft*Bristol Beaufighter aircraft*Bristol Fighter , an automobile by Bristol Cars...
.
Reception
Having a screen idol such as Richard Dix made The Lost Squadron a popular feature. Although not considered a war filmWar film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
, the aviators' dilemma in reintegrating themselves back in a peacetime society, represents an authentic effort at showing how returning veterans back from the front lines were treated.
Contemporary reviews were generally favorable but the German Consul in San Francisco delivered an official protest due to von Stroheim's portrayal of a tyrannical German director. Reviews such as the one that appeared in Variety, however, stressed the appeal of the film was in introducing a new story motif, the "story-within-a-story" of "behind the scenes" of an aerial film production.