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The Silent Flyer
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Wikipedia article
'The Silent Flyer' is a 1926 10-episode (chapter) American adventure film serial directed by William James Craft.Farmer 1984, p. 325. The film serial was sold to Universal Pictures for $75,000 with the resulting funds used in the founding of Mascot Pictures.Tuska 1999, pp. 10-11.
Plot
Scientist Benjamin Darrell (Anders Randolf) has invented a silent aircraft motor of tremendous potential benefit to aeronautical and military concerns. A plot is underway to steal the invention.
Lloyd Darrell (Malcolm McGregor), a secret service agent, disguises himself as Bill Smith and covertly endeavors to prevent the theft. Together with pretty Helen Corliss (Louise Lorraine), and most importantly, Silver Streak, a clever German shepherd, the trio serve to foil any criminals.
Chapter titles
#The Jaws of Death
#Dynamited
#Waters of Death
#The Treacherous Trail
#Plunge of Peril
#Flight of Honor
#Under Arrest
#Flames of Terror
#Hurled Through Space
#Love and Glory
Cast
* Malcolm McGregor as Lloyd Darrell, posing as Bill Smith
* Louise Lorraine as Helen Corliss
* George B. Williams as John Corliss (credited as George Williams)
* Albert J. Smith as Jack Hutchins
* Anders Randolf as Benjamin Darrell
* Edith Yorke as Mrs. Darrell
* Arthur Morrison
* Robert Walker
* Dorothy Tallcot (as Dorothy Talcott)
* Thur Fairfax
* Hughie Mack
* Silver Streak as Silver Streak, a dog
Production
Enterprising producer Nat Levine shot the entire 'The Silent Flyer' serial on location and on rented stages, managing to bring all 10 chapters in on a budget of 70,000 dollars. Instead of releasing his first serial on the usual "States Rights basis", Levine sold 'The Silent Flyer' to Universal for 75,000 dollars, the profits going toward establishing Mascot Pictures, a Poverty Row film company that would continue the serial tradition into the "talkies" era.Wollstein, Hans. [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-silent-flyer-v139480#GWU8JIF6B21kVrrH.99 "Review: 'The Silent Flyer'."] 'Allmovie.com', 2019. Retrieved: July 24, 2019.
Reception
'The Silent Flyer', produced independently by the enterprising Nat Levine, was a low-budget 10-chapter action serial that featured Danish-born character actor Anders Randolph. Levine also introduced a four-footed star, Silver Streak, a clever German shepherd, that was his answer to Rin Tin Tin, a consistent money-maker for Warner Bros.
Preservation status
'The Silent Flyer' is considered to be a lost film.[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/501178/The-Silent-Flyer/trivia.html "Trivia: 'The Silent Flyer'."] 'TCM', 2019. Retrieved: July 24, 2019. Only a trailer remains, resident at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/S/SilentFlyer1926.html "Data: 'The Silent Flyer'."] 'silentera.com', 2019. Retrieved: July 24, 2019.
See also
*List of lost films
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
* Farmer, James H. 'Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation'. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. .
* Tuska, Jon. 'The Vanishing Legion: A History of Mascot Pictures, 1927-1935'. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1999. .
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