The Lost Squadron (1932)
Directed by George Archainbaud

Film Review

One of RKO's most ambitious productions in the early years of the talkies, The Lost Squadron effectively weaves a popular social theme of the day (a nation's ingratitude towards its war heroes) into a compelling and poignant melodrama.  Throughout the film, the tension in a suspenseful narrative is heightened by some breathtaking stunt flying sequences undertaken by some seasoned pros.  Despite its impressive (for the day) production values and presence of such charismatic stars as Richard Dix, Mary Astor and Joel McCrea, the film proved to be a box office flop, not the most glorious start to David O. Selznick's career as a producer at RKO.

It was O. Selznick who considerably ramped up the film's budget and transformed it from a run-of-the-mill B movie melodrama into something far more spectacular, replacing the director and orchestrating some of the most elaborate action scenes to grace an RKO picture.  His own Hollywood directing career floundering, Erich von Stroheim was drafted in to portray the film's villain, a grotesque parody of von Stroheim himself which the actor-director seems to relish playing.  If there is one reason to watch The Lost Squadron, other than to marvel at the dizzying action stunts, it is to savour von Stroheim's deliciously evil portrayal of a tyrannical and despicably callous Hollywood filmmaker.  The caricature may be a colourful one but it isn't so far from the truth and effectively underscores the film's main theme - the injustice meted out to war veterans on their return to their home country after having fought valiantly in the so-called 'war to end all wars'.

Film Synopsis

Three young aviators, the sole survivors of a squadron that fought with distinction in the First World War, return to America with their faithful mechanic, hoping to pick up where they left off.  The heroes' welcome proves to be a hollow sham as the four men soon find themselves facing a precarious future, their pre-war hopes shattered.  One of the men, Gibby, finds that his former girlfriend Follette, an ambitious social climber, has deserted him to marry the world-famous film director Arthur von Furst.  Another, Red, finds that his job has been taken by another man and his services are no longer required.  Unable to find work, Gibby and Red head for Hollywood, where they are surprised to find that their fellow comrade in arms, Woody, has already made a name for himself as a stunt flier in motion pictures.  Woody introduces Gibby and Red to his director, von Furst, who signs them up for his next epic war film.  When he discovers that Gibby was his wife's former lover, von Furst sabotages his aeroplane - not only will he eliminate a love rival but he will also provide a spectacular death sequence for his film.  However, the scheme goes awry when Woody takes Gibby's place and crashes as von Furst intended.  Discovering that the crash was not an accident, Red and Gibby agree that its perpetrator must be punished...