The Lost Squadron (1932)

Director:

George Archainbaud

Writers:

Dick Grace (story)
Wallace Smith (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

12 March 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Movie Premiere | Plane Crash | Film Making | Aviator | Ambulance

Cast

Richard Dix	...	Capt. 'Gibby' Gibson
Mary Astor	...	Follette Marsh
Robert Armstrong	...	Lt. 'Woody' Curwood
Dorothy Jordan	...	'Pest' Curwood
Joel McCrea	...	Red
Erich von Stroheim	...	Arthur von Furst (as Erich Von Stroheim)
Hugh Herbert	...	Sgt. Fritz
Ralph Ince	...	Det. Jettick (homicide)
Marjorie Peterson	...	Stenographer
Ralph Lewis	...	Joe
William B. Davidson	...	Lelewer (as William Davidson)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Clarke	...	Flier (uncredited)
Thomas A. Curran	...	Night Watchman (uncredited)
Edgar Dearing	...	Policeman wanting report (uncredited)
Art Goebel	...	Flier (uncredited)
Dick Grace	...	Flier (uncredited)
Arnold Gray	...	Tall Actor in War Film (uncredited)
Freeman Lang	...	Himself (radio announcer) (uncredited)
Leo Nomis	...	Flier (uncredited)

Directed by
George Archainbaud

Writing credits
Dick Grace		(story)
Wallace Smith		(screenplay)
Herman J. Mankiewicz		(additional dialogue) and
Robert Presnell Sr.		(additional dialogue) (as Robert S. Presnell)
Humphrey Pearson		(additional writer) uncredited

Produced by
David O. Selznick	....	executive producer
Louis Sarecky	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Max Steiner		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Edward Cronjager
Leo Tover

Film Editing by
William Hamilton

Costume Design by
Max Rée

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James H. Anderson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Max Rée	....	scenery

Sound Department
Clem Portman	....	sound recordist
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Stunts
Dick Grace	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph F. Biroc	....	camera operator (uncredited)
George E. Diskant	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Elmer Dyer	....	aerial photographer (uncredited)
Fred Fleck	....	aerial photographer (uncredited)
Fred Hendrickson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Robert Robinson	....	aerial photographer (uncredited)
Harold E. Wellman	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Harry J. Wild	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Max Steiner	....	musical director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1932) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Adams Filmi (1933) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2002) (2003) (2007) (Finland) (TV)

Runtime:

USA:79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #1486-R, 11 September 1935, for re-release)

Filming Locations:

Grauman's Chinese Theater - 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

When Erich von Stroheim was first offered the part of the mad director, the character was called "Erich von Stroheim." Understandably upset at being asked to play himself as a homicidal maniac, Stroheim agreed to do the film only if the character's name were changed.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Détective (1985)

Soundtrack:

Over There

Pre-code warbirds

I found this pre-code movie a tad predictable but still enjoyable on several levels. I thought the behind-the-scenes look at the making of a World War I movie in 1930's Hollywood were quite fascinating. Erich Von Stroheim's autocratic director was both menacing and acerbically funny at the same time, although bordering on the campy. Richard Dix as 'Gibby' was only adequate as the central character, but Joel McCrea's naturalism shone through as 'Red'. I found it interesting too, that one of the central themes of this movie was the inadequacy the flyers suffered in civilian life, becoming tramps before riding the rails to Hollywood. They were trained to fly in war, and they end up flying in war movies...the difficulty of adjusting to peacetime was an issue not touched upon much in Hollywood until "The Best Years of Our Lives", almost 15 years later. Finally, to the delight of those of us who love pre-code movies, we are treated to Robert Armstrong giving Dix the bird as Dix tries to coax Armstrong into landing his sabotaged plane!