In 1919, following service in The Great War, a quartet of shell-shocked pilots try to heal physical and psychological wounds through the consumption of alcohol, drinking their way from Paris to Lisbon. Hand-burned Richard Barthelmess (as Cary Lockwood), distant David Manners (as Shep Lambert), bombastic John Mack Brown (as Bill Talbot), and sleepy Elliott Nugent (as Francis) are joined in their binge by beautiful and wealthy Helen Chandler (as Nikki), plus aroused reporter Walter Byron (as Frink).
This post-World War I "Lost Generation" story will probably leave more than a few present-day viewers lost.
"The Last Flight" certainly takes patience and understanding. The players, acting in that cusp between silent and sound pictures, seem to be doing what they are doing on purpose - yet, the style, even for early "talkies", is more than a little off-kilter. A lot of alcohol is consumed, but nobody seems to ever get realistically drunk. Stock footage in the opening is okay, but the bullfighting sequence is painful. But, once you warm up to it, the film is interesting and sometimes works in its own way of thinking.
****** The Last Flight (8/19/31) William Dieterle ~ Richard Barthelmess, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Johnny Mack Brown
This post-World War I "Lost Generation" story will probably leave more than a few present-day viewers lost.
"The Last Flight" certainly takes patience and understanding. The players, acting in that cusp between silent and sound pictures, seem to be doing what they are doing on purpose - yet, the style, even for early "talkies", is more than a little off-kilter. A lot of alcohol is consumed, but nobody seems to ever get realistically drunk. Stock footage in the opening is okay, but the bullfighting sequence is painful. But, once you warm up to it, the film is interesting and sometimes works in its own way of thinking.
****** The Last Flight (8/19/31) William Dieterle ~ Richard Barthelmess, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Johnny Mack Brown