Crimson Romance

Written by John Bright, who also co-wrote Public Enemy a few years before, Crimson Romance relegates a quite intriguing predicament surrounding pilot Ben Lyon in order to focus on a much less interesting menage a trois between him and James Bush who fall out over saucy ambulance driver Sari Maritza. Lyon is an American who signs up with the German Luftwaffe with his buddy when Bush suffers prejudice in the US, only to find himself on the wrong side when the US enters WWI.

Ben Lyon is once again back up in the air with some salvage left over from the scrap heap of Hell's Angels in Crimson Romance. Featuring a faux Marlene Dietrich (Sari Maritza) and an unintentional homo erotic suggested relationship it remains somewhat sloppy throughout. England and Germany are at war and Germans at that point are the unwelcome alien in America of the next few years.

Pilot and mechanic Bob Wilson (Lyon) and Fred Von Bargan are best pals and refuse to be separated when the German immigrant is shone to be unwelcome, so Wilson decides to go to Germany rather than deal with the bigotry in the US. In Germany he receives the same treatment. From his commander played by Eric Von Stroheim.

Lyon is the overly smug American and it wares while Maritza's Marlene tries too hard to be her. James Bush as Fred fares much better in a role that calls for him to stretch while Stroheim's contempt still has its starch.

The editing choppy, much of the arial from Hell's angels and Newsreels and even for 1934 looks dated. Crimson Romance loses altitude fast.

Period piece. made in 1934 but the story takes place in WW I. Stars Ben Lyon and James Bush. german-born Fred is forced to quit his job in america when world war one breaks out. he and buddy Bob return to germany to fight for their homeland. which causes difficulties, since america is still neutral at the time. and to complicate things more, they fall for the same girl Alida. when the U.S. enters the war, it's even more complicated. this story was remade several times, with bigger stars. the quality and sound are pretty iffy, but we're watching it on (free) Film Detectives channel, so it's probably a copy of a film long out of copyright. and it's coming up on 100 years old, so i guess we can forgive the lesser quality. several of the actors and actresses were actually born in germany; including erich von stroheim (Captain Wolters). he's probably best known for Sunset Boulevard, although he had been around for YEARS, in the silents, in euruope and the US. pretty good film! plods right along. it isn't any shakespeare, but covers a lot of ground, for 70 minutes. directed by David Howard. died quite young at 45, cause unknown.

In the late 1920s into the 1930s, quite a few films began re-thinking America's involvement in WWI. While the Germans had previously been described as monstrous, the post-war years brought a realization that the First World War was a crime against humanity and there were no 'good guys'....just victims of this accursed war. Films like "Ever In My Heart" (1933), "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) and "Four Sons" (1928) now showed Germans in a very sympathetic light and they presented a much more realistic view of the war.

When the story begins, Fred is fired from his job because he's a German and there's a lot of anti-German sentiment in the USA*. After not begin able to find work, he decides to immigrate back to Germany---and his friend, Bob (Ben Lyon) goes with him even though he's not German. Both soon join the German army**. Soon they are transferred to the air corps, as they both are trained pilots.

Unfortunately, Bob makes a terrible pilot. He seems to think more of his German sweetie, Alida, than he does serving Germany. As a result of this relationship, Bob and Fred have a falling out...which makes little sense in light of Bob's actions leading up to this (quitting the USA and standing up for Fred repeatedly up until this time). He also is torn when the USA enters the war...will he keep serving Germany, go to prison for refusing to fight or will he try to go across enemy lines and join his American comrades?

This is an okay film.....and not nearly as impactful as the ones I mentioned above. This is for a few reasons I can think of right away...such as some bad acting here or there (with folks who couldn't approximate a German accent if their lives depended on it!), a muddled message (Bob, if you think about it, really WAS a traitorous sort of guy) and a finale pitting Bob against Fred which just seems ridiculous. Overall, watchable but a missed opportunity to be something more.

*It's hard to believe now, but in cities across the USA, there were anti-German riots and German immigrants WERE targeted for attacks in many places, such as Cincinnati and Milwaukee (primarily German cities, in fact). Additionally, famous German-Americans lost jobs in places like Chicago and Nashville. This was mirrored in countries like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

**Before the USA entered the war in the Spring of 1917, some Americans volunteered to fight in the war. The vast majority fought for the French or British, though some (like in this film) did fight for the Reich....so this story element isn't far-fetched. What IS far-fetched is that neither of the friends sound the least bit German! While it made sense for Bob not to speak German or have an accent...where is Fred's?! Plus, a few of the Germans in the film have very thick accents...yet others have almost none!!

When Fred is forced to leave his job as a test pilot for being a German immigrant his friend Bob goes with him. These are the days prior to America's entry in to World War One and anti German hysteria is running high. Unable to find work Fred decides to return to Germany "where he's wanted" and Bob goes with him. Both men fall in love with a pretty ambulance driver complicating their friendship. Things get even more complicated when America enters the war and Bob feels he must join his fellow countrymen on the other side. His only hope to escape would be with Fred's help, but to do so would put Fred into terrible danger.

Interesting war drama about love, friendship and nationalism in time of war. Certainly its a pot boiler first (and a good one at that) but it also forces you to wonder which is more important friendship or country? The answer isn't that easy especially when any choice will be deadly. There really isn't much more to say beyond that except its a good little movie thats well told. Its an enjoyable hour and change that probably won't change your life but will keep you entertained.