Mary astor and richard dix had both been in the biz since the silent days of the early 1920s. So they were old pros when this came along. Astor even made a couple films with bogart! At the end of world war one, even the fighter pilots are having a hard time finding work, so they start flying dangerous stunts for the evil director (von stroheim), who really wants to film a crack up. He even tries to make it happen by damaging one of the stunt planes. But getting him to confess is another matter. It's mostly a very serious story, but a funny moment when one of the stunt pilots clearly flips off the other. We're still about a year prior to the film code being enforced. Lots going on, but it's very well done...in spite of the dark ending. Some fun co-stars. Joel mccrea would really hit his stride in the 1940s with some huge films, and made a slew of westerns in the 1950s. Hugh herbert would make a career out of stuttering and mumbling his way through films. Directed by george archainbaud. Original story by dick grace. Richard dix died pretty young at 56.
Review of The Lost Squadron
