Ala errante

Although they are not at their relative best in this rather routine drama, actor Richard Barthelmess (as Jim Blaine) and director William A. Wellman make "Central Airport" worth visiting. Mr. Barthelmess is in a familiar role as an accident prone World War I pilot. He catches Sally Eilers (as Jill Collins) hanging from a tree, after a parachute drop. This funny/sad sequence, early in the film, is a highlight - Ms. Eilers and Barthelmess have a great meeting, which is immediately followed by great tragedy. Although the two fall in love, Barthelmess won't marry; he thinks daredevil pilots are unstable husband material (a keen observation).

Instead, Eilers marries Barthelmess' little brother Tom Brown (as Bud Blaine). Eilers appears in a far too brief scene in her slip, by the way (about 30 minutes into the running). Later on, an interesting scene occurs with Barthelmess and Eilers in separate rooms, divided by a wall; then, the camera moves is a way which pleasantly violates the "Fourth Wall" rule (showing the set). Another notable sequence occurs later in the film, near the end; wherein, John Wayne appears as an extra. Mr. Wayne plays Mr. Brown's co-pilot, on a downed plane, to the left of your screen. He tries to save a drunken passenger. A somewhat unpredictable ending keeps the film above average.

****** Central Airport (4/15/33) William A. Wellman ~ Richard Barthelmess, Sally Eilers, Tom Brown

William Wellmann, who directed one of the most exciting silent films ever made, 'Wings' (1927), here returns to the skies with another rip-roaring story of dare-devil fliers. Wellmann had been an air ace in World War One, and no one knew biplanes like he did. Here they are, stunt-flying, crashing, exploding in the air, and everything you can think of, plus a fascinating glimpse of commercial air operations in 1932 as well. And there is a good strong story, excellently played by the sombre Richard Barthelmess (the silent star who made several films with D. W. Griffith), Sally Eilers and Tom Brown. Eilers is a real sizzler. Such a relief to see a real woman with real fire and character instead of one of those photofit botoxed dummies who play in movies in today's Hollywood and all look identical. The story is a sad one, played with genuine pathos, and well directed. Towards the end of the film there are some extraordinarily thrilling scenes of danger and rescue, and what must be the most ingenious blind landing in thick fog ever thought of. I dare not give away the ingenious aspects of that particular episode. The character played by Barthelmess is very like Wellmann himself, a truly wild hell-raiser in the air. Anyone who likes early aviation would love this film, and it's very rewarding for anyone who likes good solid entertainment, love, tears, and non-stop action all combined in a kind of delectable Wellmann omelette.

Central Airport is the story of a pilot named Jim (Richard Barthelmess) who has one bad flight in over 4000 hours and is forced to give up commercial flying. He meets a beautiful girl named Jill (Sally Eilers) and the two start up an act involving flying and stunts. The two start a relationship, but when Jim is hurt, his brother (Tom Brown) takes over the act for a while and falls for his brother's girlfriend. From there, things get exciting and terribly terribly sad.

This film is a pre-code because of several reasons. First, Jim and Jill have consummated their relationship without being married and with no intention of having a wedding. Second, Eilers is shown in her underwear, and absolutely restricted scene when the Production Code came into effect.

This film does not skimp on the dramatic love triangle and in consequence ends bittersweetly.

William Wellman knew his stuff when it came to airplanes and proof of this are the early scenes in CENTRAL AIRPORT when Richard Barthelmess witnesses a stunt flier going through some dangerous routines alongside an onrushing train. We later find out that the flier is Richard's brother (played by Tom Brown).

But the numerous flying scenes are the only compensation in this pre-code aviation drama about two brothers in love with the same woman (Sally Eilers), herself a stunt pilot for a circus. And there's a "meet cute" scene when she and Bartholomess first meet and she's stuck in her parachute atop a tree limb. Unfortunately, their story goes downhill from this point with some racy pre-code scenes thrown in during their bumpy romance.

However, the story of two brothers in love with the same girl is tired stuff, used so often by Warner Brothers that it became a big cliché in films like "Wings of the Navy" ('39) where Navy pilots George Brent and John Payne both love Olivia de Havilland.

The book "Warner Brothers Presents" sums up CENTRAL AIRPORT in one sentence: "Airplane stuff well done, despite deficiencies in every other department."

Central Airport (1933)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Some great action and stunts are ruined by some boring melodrama that doesn't add up to much. James Blaine (Richard Barthelmess) moves back home after he crashes a passenger plane and is blamed for it. He gets a job working in a carnival air show where he falls in love with a woman (Sally Eilers) but can't see himself marrying anyone. Enter the man's brother (Tom Brown) who also falls in love with the woman, which causes James to lose it. CENTRAL AIRPORT has some truly great stuff but sadly they're wasted in some boring love triangle that really never makes any sense and at the end of the movie it's really not cleared up either. Director William Wellman gets the sole credit on the film but he was replaced by Alfred Green for a number of weeks when he came down with the flu. I really do wonder which scenes Green actually directed but I've seen enough Wellman movies to where I can comfortably say that Green was in charge of the love stuff. I say that because the majority of these scenes contain no life, no energy and no atmosphere, which certainly wasn't what you'd expect from Wellman. The scenes that you can tell the wild man director contain some rather risky pre-code material including a strong bit of sexuality early on when James meets the woman as well as towards the end when they're reunited. This is 1933 we're talking about and even though the woman is married to the younger brother we get scenes where she and James are kissing mouth to mouth. That there would certainly not have happened a year later when the code was forced. Most of the stuff dealing with the younger brother simply never adds up, isn't very believable and is just downright lifeless. The performances are a mixed bag with Eilers easily stealing the show as the woman caught in the middle. She's probably best remembered for appearing in a few of the Buster Keaton/MGM titles but she really delivers a strong performance here and her undressing, pre-code moments are certainly memorable as well. Barthelmess isn't too bad in the lead but he really doesn't bring much energy. I found Brown to be incredibly boring in his role as the brother and quite annoying as well. People will want to keep their eyes open for John Wayne who appears in the final wreck sequence but doesn't have any lines. CENTRAL AIRPORT contains some amazing stunts, wonderful aerial work and some nice pre-code moments but sadly all of this gets caught up in a silly love story that just never works.