FLYING FLEET (1929) Ramon Novarro, Ralph Graves & Anita Page | Drama | B&W | Golden Age Film

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The Flying Fleet is a 1929 synchronized sound romantic drama film directed by George W. Hill and starring Ramon Novarro, Ralph Graves, and Anita Page. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects (e.g., engine noises, trumpet sounds) using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. Two United States Navy officers are rivals for the love of the same woman.

Synopsis

Six friends are to graduate the next day from the United States Naval Academy. They all hope to become aviators. When the officer of the day becomes sick, Tommy Winslow has to take his place, while the others go out and celebrate. Two return loudly drunk after curfew. Tommy is able to shut Steve up (by knocking him out), but "Dizzy" is not so lucky. An officer hears him and has him dismissed from the Academy.

The rest spend a year in the fleet, then reunite in San Diego for aviation training. Upon their arrival, they become acquainted with Anita Hastings. Tommy and Steve become rivals for her affections.

Specs is rejected for training because of his bad eyesight. The remaining four then head to training school in Pensacola, Florida. Kewpie panics on his first flight, forcing his instructor to knock him out to regain control of their trainer biplane, while "Tex" loses control during his first solo flight and crashes into the sea. Tommy and Steve pass and are promoted to lieutenant. Upon their return to San Diego, they are reunited with Specs, now an aerial navigator, and Kewpie, the radio officer of the USS Langley, the Navy's first aircraft carrier.

The romantic rivalry between Tommy and Steve takes an ugly turn when it becomes apparent that Anita prefers Tommy. Steve resorts to underhanded tricks, straining his friendship with Tommy. In retaliation for Steve hiding his uniform pants during a swimming outing with Anita, Tommy buzzes Steve on the airfield after a mock aerial dogfight he has won. The admiral is greatly displeased, and deprives Tommy of the honor of piloting a pioneering 2,500-mile (4,000 km) flight to Honolulu, awarding it to Steve instead.

Steve takes off, with Specs as his navigator. However, they run into a severe storm and crash into the ocean before the radio operator can report their position. All four of the crew survive and make it to the floating aircraft wing, but Specs is badly injured. The admiral, following in the Langley aircraft carrier, immediately orders an all-out aerial search. As the days go by, Steve and the others save the little fresh water for Specs, despite his protests; finally, while the others are asleep, Specs drags himself into the water and drowns himself. Meanwhile, the admiral is ordered to give up his fruitless search. Tommy pleads with him for one last attempt, and the admiral agrees. Tommy finally spots the survivors, but his engine conks out. He sets his aircraft on fire as a signal to the Langley and parachutes into the water. When they return to San Diego, Anita is waiting for him.

Cast & Crew

Ramon Novarro as Ensign / Lieutenant (j.g.) Tommy Winslow
Ralph Graves as Ensign / Lieutenant (j.g.) Steve Randall
Anita Page as Anita Hastings
Uncredited cast listed alphabetically:
Alfred Allen as Admiral
Wade Boteler as Shipwrecked crewman
Bud Geary as Admiral's aide
Sumner Getchell as Kewpie
Gardner James as Specs
Roscoe Karns as Shipwrecked radio operator
Claire McDowell as Mrs. Hastings, Anita's mother
Edward J. Nugent as Midshipman "Dizzy"
Carroll Nye as "Tex"
The "Three Sea Hawks" as Themselves

Director: George W. Hill
Writers: Frank Wead, Byron Morgan, Richard Schayer, Joseph Farnham
Producer: George W. Hill

Cinematography: Charles A. Marshall
Editor: Blanche Sewell
Music: David Mendoza, Raymond Klages, William Axt
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Details:

Release Date: January 19, 1929
Running Time: 87 minutes
Country: United States
Languages: Synchronized Sound (English Intertitles)