The Flying Fleet

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!

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

As a native San Diegan I must admit my high rating is mostly for the nostalgia invoked by the incredible record this film creates of my hometown and its Navy traditions. USS Langley- check; aerial photography of San Diego and Coronado-check; more photography of the Hotel del Coronado than "Some Like It Hot"-check. The actors are beautiful and handsome, but for me, the star of the show is San Diego.

Two buddies in the Navy, Tommy (Ramon Novarro) and Steve (Ralph Graves) fall in love with the same girl--Anita (Anita Page). It starts a rivalry which slowly gets serious--can their friendship survive?

Very obvious (you KNOW how it's going to end) but pretty good. The story moves quickly, Graves is tall and handsome, Page is pretty and Novarro is just incredibly beautiful with his dark eyes blazing. The direction is very good and there is some truly unbelievable aerial footage. This was all done with the full cooperation of the Navy so we get to see what it was really like back in 1929.

No great shakes but a very good silent movie (with some sound effects here and there). Recommended.

Because this film came out in 1929 and studios were hurriedly switching to sound pictures, sound effects and music was added to this otherwise silent film. For this time period, it's a very good film--featuring excellent footage of naval aircraft and a good, though a tad predictable story about six friends who went to the Naval Academy and wanted to earn their pilot's wings. Little by little, the original group is now whittled down to two pilots who actually are able to complete the program--Ramon Novarro and Ralph Graves (who, incidentally, made many military-oriented films in the late 20s and early 1930s set on subs, derigibles and aircraft). Unfortunately, while they are best of friends, they also want the same girl (cute Anita Page) and the story is a combination of serious drama about the training and life of a navy pilot as well as a contest to see who gets the girl.

For the time period this was made, this is a much better than average film with excellent production values and an interesting story--particularly to nuts like me that love old aircraft. Also, for those aviation and history lovers out there, it's a good opportunity to see the USS Langley in action (this was America's first aircraft carrier).

This film, by the way, was created from a story idea from Frank Wead--a retired navy pilot who, after suffering a serious spinal injury, changed careers and became a Hollywood screenwriter and consultant--mostly (but not exclusively) for aviation films. His life was recreated in the film WINGS OF EAGLES--giving it all the usual John Ford sentimentality and gloss.