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A Romance of the Air
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Wikipedia article
'A Romance of the Air' is a 1918 American silent drama film based on the book 'En L'air' (1918), by Bert Hall, one of America's first combat aviators, flying with the famed Lafayette Escadrille in France before the United States entered World War I.[https://catalog.afi.com/Film/17233-A-ROMANCEOFTHEAIR?sid=29af1b61-f94c-41a7-93ee-1440219a72f1&sr=11.288571&cp=1&pos=0 "Catalog: 'A Romance of the Air'."] 'AFI', 2019. Retrieved: July 21, 2019. Directed by Harry Revier, the film was heavily influenced by the exploits of Hall, who was featured in the film and took an active role in promoting and marketing 'A Romance of the Air'.Pendo 1985, pp. 7172.
Plot
Flying with the French Lafayette Escadrille in World War I, American ace, Lieutenant Bert Hall (Bert Hall), is wounded in an aerial battle and forced to land behind enemy lines. After finding his German opponent dead, Hall exchanges uniforms with him and is taken to a German hospital to recover.
In the hospital, Hall meets Edith Day (Edith Day), an old sweetheart from Kentucky. She was unable to escape Berlin when the war broke out. The pair are accompanied by Day's best friend, the Countess of Moravia (Florence Billings), who claims sympathy with the Allied cause. The countess, however, is actually a German spy.
After stealing a German aircraft, the group escape to France. Once the true motives of the countess are revealed, Hall is accused of betraying the French government. After a trial by military tribunal, he is sentenced to be shot, but his American lover uncovers evidence that saves him at the last moment.
Exonerated, Hall dedicates himself to destroying the network of spies run by the Countess.
Cast
* Bert Hall as Himself (as Lieutenant Bert Hall)
* Edith Day as American girl
* Florence Billings as Countess of Moravia
* Stuart Holmes as Archduke of Moravia
* Herbert Standing as Maj. William Thaw
* Brian Darley as Gen. Montaigne
* Tom Burrough as Col. DuBois
* Joseph Lertora as Lt. Le Roy
* Franklin B. Coates as Herbert Stair
* Emma Campbell as Madame Dumont
* Emil Hoch as Gen. von Hoch
* Warner Richmond as undetermined role, possibly Herbert Stair
Production
The aerial scenes in 'A Romance of the Air' were flown by Bert Hall at the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation airfield in New York. The aircraft that were used were Thomas-Morse S-4s that were painted to depict French aircraft. The production was filmed with the cooperation of the War Department.Farmer 1984, p. 324. Although mainly a dramatization of the aerial battles over France, 'A Romance of the Air' also used newsreel footage of military aircraft.Wynne 1987, p. 7.
Reception
Aviation film historian Michael Paris in 'From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema' (1995), described the "grandiose launch" of 'A Romance of the Air', that was coupled to only a 'moderately successful" run.Paris 1995, p. 35. At the premiere and after, during the initial release of the film, Hall made personal appearances on stage, in New York theaters to promote the film.Pendo 1985, p. 71.
Although Hall's appearances were unique and well-received by the audiences, film reviewer Hal Erickson, notes, "... 'Moving Picture World' was not quite so chivalrous: 'Lieutenant Hall rings true, but his story does not'."Erickson, Hal. [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/a-romance-of-the-air-v108279#yK35kW6vjCHcPbXs.99 "Review: 'A Romance of the Air'."] 'Allmovie.com', 2019. Retrieved: July 21, 2019.
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
* Farmer, James H. 'Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation'. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. .
* Paris, Michael. 'From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema'. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. .
* Pendo, Stephen. 'Aviation in the Cinema'. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. .
* Wynne, H. Hugh. 'The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies'. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. .
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