Flight | 1929 | Adventure, Aviation

Title: Flight | 1929 | Adventure, Aviation Director: Frank Capra Studio: Columbia Pictures Starring: Jack Holt, Ralph Graves, Lila Lee Based on: Original story by Ralph Graves Release Date: September 13, 1929 Runtime: 110 Format: Black-and-white; all-talking; 35mm; Western Electric Movietone sound-on-film; approx. 1.20:1 Country: United States Language: English Genres: Adventure, Aviation, War, Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Wrong-way run and enlistment 00:20:00 Training at Pensacola 00:40:00 Hospital romance and rivalry 01:00:00 Deployment to Nicaragua 01:20:00 Swamp crash and rescue 01:35:00 Wings earned and epilogue --- Summary: A disgraced college football star, “Lefty” Phelps, enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps and is steered into flight training by gruff instructor “Panama” Williams. After washing out as a pilot, Lefty remains on the aviation line as a mechanic and falls for Navy nurse Elinor Murray, unaware that Panama loves her as well. Their loyalty is tested when the squadron is sent to Nicaragua to combat a bandit leader. Amid aerial sorties and a hazardous rescue after a crash in the swamps, Lefty confronts his fears and proves his courage. The film blends aviation spectacle with a triangle of friendship, mentorship, and romantic misunderstanding, culminating in reconciliation and earned wings. --- Background: Produced by Columbia Pictures with full cooperation from the U.S. Marine Corps, Flight was advertised as the “first all-talking aviation epic.” Frank Capra staged extensive location work at Naval Base San Diego and Naval Air Station North Island, with aerial cinematography by Elmer Dyer and Marine aircraft featured on screen. The Nicaragua campaign backdrop draws on incidents such as the 1927 Battle of Ocotal, while the opening football gag references Roy Riegels’ famous wrong-way run at the 1929 Rose Bowl. Reports from the production note that Jack Holt was involved in a minor on-set plane accident without serious injury. --- Trivia: The film premiered in New York City on September 13, 1929, with wider U.S. release following in the autumn. Curtiss OC-2 aircraft from Marine Attack Squadron 231 appear prominently, alongside trainers from NAS North Island. Columbia promoted the picture as the “first all-talking drama of the air,” marking Capra’s early embrace of synchronized dialogue and sound effects. The opening sequence incorporates actual footage associated with the Roy Riegels “wrong-way” play, mirroring the protagonist’s initial humiliation. Aerial footage was coordinated from camera-equipped aircraft, minimizing process shots common to the era and emphasizing real formation flying. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 13, 1929 Original Studio / Distributor: Columbia Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: Flight1929 FrankCapra PublicDomain ClassicFilm AviationCinema ColumbiaPictures JackHolt RalphGraves LilaLee PreCode Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flight_(1929).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Flight_%281929%29.webm