The Flying Fleet

The U.S. Naval Academy successfully graduates handsome aviators Ramon Novarro (as Tommy Winslow) and Ralph Graves (as Steve Randall). While training, the men in uniform see pretty blonde Anita Page (as Anita Hastings) water-skiing and think, "That's what I call seafood!" Nice line. Both men want to spend their off-duty time making it with Ms. Page. Friendly bickering grows more serious as Page plays along with both Mr. Novarro and Mr. Graves. A grand seafaring adventure leads to the final clinch...

With not much of a plot, but plenty of pilot footage, "The Flying Fleet" was a top production and box office hit, despite its appearance during the waning days of silent films. The synchronized sound effects score is nicely done (a DVD release implies the soundtrack is newly recorded; if so, whoever put it together knows the old style exceptionally well). The film benefits from spectacular photography from Charles A. Marshall and Ira H. Morgan. And, of course, Novarro and the cast are irresistibly charming.

****** The Flying Fleet (1/19/29) George W. Hill ~ Ramon Novarro, Ralph Graves, Anita Page, Edward J. Nugent

This is the second Ramon Novarro picture I've seen (the first being 1925's "Ben-Hur") and it is every bit enjoyable as the last picture I saw with him. Ralph Graves delivered a great performance but I somehow had mistaken him for Burt Lancaster (?!?!?!?!). No joke, I thought he really looked like a young Lancaster (which he couldn't have been since Burt was only 15 when this picture was made). Though it is mainly an adventure film, parts of it are really funny. The funniest moment is when Novarro dives his plane toward his friend on the ground and nearly runs him over. Anita Page was a year younger than me (I'm 19) when she took this part, and as small as her part was, she deserved the upmost praise for her early, but dazzling performance. The synchronized music track is phenomeonal considering that it was produced in 1928. To whoever scored this picture, you're not only a genius, but you made this picture work!

Six young midshipmen about to graduate from Annapolis dream about the glory of joining the FLYING FLEET, unaware of the heartache & happiness the future has in store for them...

While almost a commercial for the Navy's aviation wing, this late MGM silent film is still very enjoyable. The flying scenes are well produced and exciting and the slight plot of friendships, rivalries, a pretty girl & a tragic flight to Honolulu grab the viewer's attention.

Ramon Novarro does a sturdy job as the foremost amongst the six comrades. Ralph Graves scores as Novarro's best buddy. Anita Page is lovely in a role that calls for her to do very little else except look lovely. (Decades later she claimed Novarro proposed marriage to her!)

Unbilled, Alfred Allen does a fine turn as a blustery, comic Admiral; and Gardner James is excellent as Specs the navigator, who's heroism & self-sacrifice effortlessly steals the climax of the film.

MGM was one of the last studios to convert to sound, and this is one of their late silents. By 1929, studios could easily add synchronized sound effects and music scores to films. It was synchronized speech by identifiable individual persons that so grounded the camera and caused so many problems.

This late silent, written by one of the founders of naval aviation, has a good if somewhat predictable story with some sound effects to accompany the flight and naval action scenes. The story opens on six graduating seniors at the Naval Academy on the eve of their graduation. The six have been the best of friends for four years, and all six want wings, but only two will make it all the way through. The other four don't make it for a whole number of reasons from being expelled on the eve of graduation, to something as simple and unpreventable as bad eyesight. The last two not only get their wings, they are competing for the affection of a young lady (Anita Page) who lives in San Diego.

It's got plenty of action and moves along nicely and absolutely could not have been shot as a sound film for at least a couple of more years when sound technology could finally go outdoors - and in the air - with ease. It's ironic that one of the first of these sound films, 1931's "Dirigible", also stars Ralph Graves playing the same kind of swaggering character that he does here.

A slight story of Annapolis-cadet camaraderie and a predictable romantic triangle provide excuses for extensive aerial footage of post-World War I biplanes in flight. Evidently inspired by the success of William Wellman's "Wings," "The Flying Fleet" takes the basics of that Oscar winner and makes a valiant effort to repeat the earlier success. Unfortunately, peacetime lacks the action and dynamics of World War I, Anita Page lacks the appeal of Clara Bow, and the relationship between Ramon Novarro and Ralph Graves lacks the depth of interaction between Charles Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen.

Released in 1929, during the transition period between silents and talkies, "The Flying Fleet" is a silent film with inter-titles that has been enhanced with synchronized sound effects and a musical score. Ramon Novarro and Ralph Graves are best buddies from their days at the Academy into their basic training as pilots. However, when Anita Page enters the scene, the pair compete for her affections, and the friendship is tested. Ralph Graves, a ruggedly handsome guy, is aggressive in his pursuit of Page and often tests the bounds of friendship with his underhanded, often mean-spirited tricks to outwit Novarro. Understandably, Graves's antics tilt audience sympathy towards Novarro, the film's star, who maintains a stoic, sensitive, and dewy-eyed stance.

However, the film's best moments are provided by the formation flying and aerial stunts, well photographed by Ira H. Morgan. Although the aerial battles and dog fights in "Wings" remain more exciting, the airborne antics in "The Flying Fleet" are still awesome for the time and a treat for aficionados of vintage aircraft. Novarro retained his handsome leading man looks when this film was made, and his fans will definitely relish his presence and the occasional glimpse of his physique. However, while breezily entertaining, the story is slight and predictable, and, despite the aerial work, the movie pales beside "Wings." "The Flying Fleet" will appeal largely to admirers of the one-time "new Valentino" and to vintage aerial photography buffs.