"The Fighting Pilot" is an insane sort of film. It packs an entire movie serial's 3 ½ hours of stunts into a film that is not even an hour long! So, while the acting isn't great, the film is so fast and full of insane action that it never is dull! An old man has constructed an airplane that is apparently quite important because a rich guy is intent on buying it from him. But the old guy won't sell. So, when a shady character offers to help the rich guy get the plane, he jumps at the chance. Whether he knew it or not, the shady guy is a ruthless gang leader who plans on stealing the plane as well as the blueprints. The only one who can stop him is a crazy knockabout guy named Al (Robert Talmadge)—a one-man army all wrapped up in an extremely ordinary looking fellow.
While Talmadge's fighting style is silly (with his wildly flailing arms), he undoubtedly makes up for this with energy and insane moves! During the course of the film, Al jumps from one building onto another (and they are NOT close together), he dives down a set of stairs onto three men, he jumps from one airplane onto another, jumps into a car full of men—beating them up and leaping from the car just before it crashes and much, much more. The insane stunt-work really made a simple B-movie worth seeing because you didn't have time to get bored or even breathe! The only quibble I have about this escapist film is Al's pal, Bertie. Like many sidekicks of the era, Bertie is annoying, stupid and about as helpful as a stripper at a Baptist barbecue! Still, for all its deficiencies the film more than makes up for it with energy!
While Talmadge's fighting style is silly (with his wildly flailing arms), he undoubtedly makes up for this with energy and insane moves! During the course of the film, Al jumps from one building onto another (and they are NOT close together), he dives down a set of stairs onto three men, he jumps from one airplane onto another, jumps into a car full of men—beating them up and leaping from the car just before it crashes and much, much more. The insane stunt-work really made a simple B-movie worth seeing because you didn't have time to get bored or even breathe! The only quibble I have about this escapist film is Al's pal, Bertie. Like many sidekicks of the era, Bertie is annoying, stupid and about as helpful as a stripper at a Baptist barbecue! Still, for all its deficiencies the film more than makes up for it with energy!