The Last Flight (1931)

Director:

William Dieterle

Writers:

John Monk Saunders (novel)
John Monk Saunders (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 August 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Eiffel Tower Paris | Air Raid | Airplane Accident | Airplane | American Abroad

Cast

Richard Barthelmess	...	Cary Lockwood
David Manners	...	Shep Lambert
Johnny Mack Brown	...	Bill Talbot (as John Mack Brown)
Helen Chandler	...	Nikki
Elliott Nugent	...	Francis (as Elliot Nugent)
Walter Byron	...	Frink

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Company:

First National Pictures

Trivia:

PCA censors objected to the sexual innuendos and skimpy clothing in some of the scenes.

One of the best forgotten film of the 30's

Richard Barthelmess, Helen Chandler, David Manners, Elliott Nugent, and John Mack Brown star in this excellent psychological war drama directed by William Dieterle about a handful of WWI veterans who do nothing but drink booze and run around Paris with flapper, Nikki (Chandler, in an elegant and moving performance).

What makes this film so special is that it's mood of despair of hopelessness has held up very well over all these years. Plus, the movie's bleak atmosphere and subject matter helps. Sometimes the performances (David Manners) and dialogue comes off as a little dated, but that is to be expected from a movie this old. It is very easy to overlook; and that is really the only bad thing about the movie.

It's a shame that this movie isn't released on DVD or even VHS (thank goodness for TCM). It's a real forgotten gem of early 1930's cinema that hopefully won't remain forgotten for long.

**** out of ****