Captain Swagger

Last updated

Captain Swagger
Captain Swagger poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Edward H. Griffith
Written by
Story byLeonard Praskins
Produced byHector Turnbull
Starring
Cinematography John J. Mescall
Edited byHarold McLernon
Music by Josiah Zuro
Production
company
Distributed byPathé Exchange
Release date
  • October 14, 1928 (1928-10-14)
Running time
65 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages Sound (Synchronized)
(English Intertitles)

Captain Swagger is a 1928 American synchronized sound crime drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith and stars Rod La Rocque. [1] While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects utilizing the RCA Photophone sound-on-film sound system. The film was released with both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film formats. The film was produced and distributed by the Pathé Exchange company. [2] [3]

Contents

Captain Swagger lobby card Captain Swagger lobby card.jpg
Captain Swagger lobby card

Plot

In World War I daring but reckless pilot Hugh Drummond (Rod La Rocque) who is called "Captain Swagger", is stationed in France. During one fight with the infamous German ace, Baron Von Stahl (Ullrich Haupt), Hugh shoots him down but due to a sense of chivalry, lands behind enemy lines to pull Von Dictor out of his burning aircraft. Both aviators exchange weapons as a token of friendship. When a German patrol arrives, the Baron even helps Hugh escape.

When the war ends, Hugh has trouble establishing himself and after 10 years of a spendthrift life, he goes broke from living beyond his means, and turns to crime in order to make a living. In New York, on his first robbery, however, Hugh meets Sue Arnold (Sue Carol), an unemployed cabaret dancer, and gallantly escorts her to his apartment rather than robbing her wealthy escort.

Hugh and Sue become dancing partners in a cafe. Sue falls in love with Hugh, but worries that he will return to a life in crime when he meets his old nemesis Von Stahl, who really is a thief. Hugh is reformed and with Sue, the two make plans to go through life together.

Cast

Music

The film featured a theme song entitled "Captain Swagger (All The Girls Adore You)" which was composed by Charles Weinberg and Irving Bibo. [2]

Production

Principal photography on Captain Swagger began on June 4, 1928, with location shooting at Clover Airfield, Santa Monica. [4] The aircraft from Wings (1927) were used in the production. These included the Airco DH.4, SPAD S.XIII and Fokker D.VII. [5]

The film's sets were designed by the art director Edward C. Jewell.

Reception

Mordaunt Hall in his review in the December 24, 1928 issue of The New York Times , commented on the actors: " 'Captain Swagger' is not only exceptionally entertaining but is also well acted. There are many deft touches in various spots; none of the situations are overdone. Mr. La Rocque plays his part in amiable fashion, giving to it the right amount of humor. Miss Carol, of course, is very pretty and in the rôle of Sue Arnold is more than acceptable." [6] More recent reviews, however, by film historians Stephen Pendo and Michael Paris considered the film "pap". [7] [8]

Preservation status

Captain Swagger is preserved today at the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection and a Danish Film Institute Archive facility. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod La Rocque</span> American actor (1898–1969)

Roderick Ross La Rocque was an American actor.

<i>The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell</i> 1955 film by Otto Preminger

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell is a 1955 American CinemaScope biographical drama film directed by Otto Preminger, and starring Gary Cooper and co-starring Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, and Elizabeth Montgomery in her film debut. The film is based on the 1925 court-martial of General Billy Mitchell, who is considered a founding figure of the U.S. Air Force.

<i>S.O.S. Eisberg</i> 1933 Germany, US film

S.O.S. Eisberg is a 1933 German-US pre-Code drama film directed by Arnold Fanck and starring Gustav Diessl, Leni Riefenstahl, Sepp Rist, Gibson Gowland, Rod La Rocque, and Ernst Udet. The film was written by Tom Reed based on a story by Arnold Fanck and Friedrich Wolf. S.O.S. Eisberg follows the account of the real-life Alfred Lothar Wegener polar expedition of 1929-30.

<i>Body and Soul</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

Body and Soul (1931) is an American Pre-Code action drama film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Charles Farrell, Elissa Landi, Humphrey Bogart, and Myrna Loy. The story, adapted from the stage play Squadrons by Elliott White Springs and A.E. Thomas, depicts Royal Air Force pilots in World War I.

<i>Going Wild</i> 1930 film

Going Wild is a 1930 Warner Brothers pre-Code comedy film based on the 1910 play The Aviator by James Montgomery and directed by William A. Seiter. The film stars many musical stars along with Joe E. Brown, Frank McHugh and Johnny Arthur.

<i>Central Airport</i> (film) 1933 film

Central Airport is a 1933 American pre-Code aviation drama film directed by William A. Wellman, based on the John C. "Jack" Moffitt story, "Hawk's Mate". The film stars Richard Barthelmess and Sally Eilers. Central Airport was produced and released by Warner Bros., on April 15, 1933. John Wayne had an uncredited part in the film, playing a co-pilot, and this film features his first on-screen death.

<i>The Eagle and the Hawk</i> (1933 film) 1933 film by Stuart Walker

The Eagle and the Hawk is a 1933 American Pre-Code aerial war film set in World War I. It was directed by Stuart Walker and Mitchell Leisen and was based on an original story by John Monk Saunders. The film stars Fredric March and Cary Grant as Royal Flying Corps fighter pilots. The supporting cast includes Carole Lombard, Jack Oakie, and Sir Guy Standing.

<i>The Legion of the Condemned</i> 1928 film

The Legion of the Condemned is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by William A. Wellman and produced by Jesse L. Lasky, Wellman, and Adolph Zukor and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Written by former World War I flight instructor John Monk Saunders and Jean de Limur, with intertitles by George Marion, Jr., the film stars Fay Wray and Gary Cooper.

<i>Death in the Air</i> 1936 film by Elmer Clifton

Death in the Air is a 1937 American film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Lona Andre, John Carroll, Leon Ames and Henry Hall. The film is also known as Murder in the Air in the United Kingdom and as The Mysterious Bombardier. The film was Fanchon Royer's first production for her new company, Fanchon Royer Features, Inc. Film Daily reported that former FBI agent Melvin Purvis was offered a role in the film but declined.

<i>Love Affair</i> (1932 film) 1932 film by Thornton Freeland

Love Affair is a 1932 American pre-Code romance film based on Ursula Parrott's short story of the same name. The film is directed by Thornton Freeland and produced by Columbia Pictures. Love Affair follows an adventurous socialite, who is in love with an aviation designer.

<i>The Unholy Garden</i> 1931 film

The Unholy Garden is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Ronald Colman and Fay Wray. It was based on a story by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.

<i>The Lost Squadron</i> 1932 film

The Lost Squadron is a 1932 American pre-Code drama, action, film starring Richard Dix, Mary Astor, and Robert Armstrong, with Erich von Stroheim and Joel McCrea in supporting roles, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on the novel The Lost Squadron (1932) by Dick Grace, the film is about three World War I pilots who find jobs after the war as Hollywood stunt fliers.

<i>Lilac Time</i> (film) 1928 film

Lilac Time is a 1928 American synchronized sound romantic war film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process. The film is about young American aviators fighting for Britain during World War I who are billeted in a field next to a farmhouse in France. The daughter who lives on the farm meets one of the new aviators who is attracted to her. As the flyers head off on a mission, the young aviator promises to return to her.

<i>The Air Circus</i> 1928 film

The Air Circus is a 1928 American sound part-talkie drama film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Arthur Lake, Sue Carol, David Rollins, and Louise Dresser. It is the first of Hawks's aviation films. The film is notable as the first aviation oriented film with dialogue.

The Sky Hawk is a 1929 American pre-Code adventure film, produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation and directed by John G. Blystone. The screenplay was adapted by Llewellyn Hughes from his article "Chap Called Bardell" and novelized by Guy Fowler. The film stars John Garrick, Helen Chandler and Gilbert Emery.

<i>The Lost Zeppelin</i> 1929 film

The Lost Zeppelin is a 1929 sound adventure film directed by Edward Sloman and produced and distributed by Tiffany-Stahl. The film stars Conway Tearle, Virginia Valli and Ricardo Cortez.

<i>A Hero for a Night</i> 1927 film by William James Craft

A Hero for a Night is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by William James Craft and produced and distributed by Universal Pictures, cashing in on the "Lindy craze", generated by Charles Lindbergh's famous ocean crossing flight. The film stars Glenn Tryon, Patsy Ruth Miller and Burr McIntosh.

<i>Crimson Romance</i> 1934 film by David Howard

Crimson Romance is a 1934 American drama film directed by David Howard and written by Milton Krims and Doris Schroeder. The film stars Ben Lyon, Sari Maritza, Erich von Stroheim, James Bush, William Bakewell and Hardie Albright. The low-budget project utilized footage from Hell's Angels (1930) and was released on October 12, 1934, by Mascot Pictures.

<i>Flying Romeos</i> 1928 film

Flying Romeos is a 1928 American comedy adventure directed by Mervyn LeRoy and written by John McDermott, Sidney Lazarus, Gene Towne and John W. Conway. The film stars the comedy team of Charles Murray and George Sidney, stars of Universal's popular "The Cohens and Kellys" comedies, moonlighting at First National Pictures. Other sidekicks included Fritzi Ridgeway, Lester Bernard, Duke Martin, James Bradbury Jr. and Belle Mitchell. Flying Romeos was released on February 26, 1928, by First National Pictures, typically a B movie studio.

<i>The Air Patrol</i> 1928 American silent film by Bruce M. Mitchell

The Air Patrol is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Bruce M. Mitchell and written by William Berke and Gardner Bradford from a story by Al Wilson, the film's star. The film stars Al Wilson, Elsa Benham, Jack Mower, Frank Tomick, Monte Montague, and Taylor N. Duncan. The film was released on January 1, 1928, by Universal Pictures. The Air Patrol was one of a series of films that showcased the exploits of the stunt pilots in Hollywood.

References

  1. ↑ Skogsberg 1987, p. 6.
  2. 1 2 "Details: 'Captain Swagger'." The AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved: April 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Review: 'Captain Swagger'." silentera.com. Retrieved: April 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ Wynne 1987, p. 171.
  5. ↑ Orriss 2013, p. 31.
  6. ↑ Hall, Mordaunt. "Movie Review: 'Captain Swagger' please; Rod La Rocque excels in film dealing with war and night clubs." The New York Times, December 24, 1928. Retrieved: April 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ Paris 1995, p. 41.
  8. ↑ Pendo 1985, p. 10.
  9. ↑ American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Captain Swagger, The Library of Congress. Retrieved: April 10, 2017.

Bibliography

  • Orriss, Bruce W. When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War I. Los Angeles: Aero Associates, 2013. ISBN   978-0-692-02004-3.
  • Paris, Michael. From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. ISBN   978-0-7190-4074-0.
  • Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN   0-8-1081-746-2.
  • Skogsberg, Bertil. Wings on the Screen: A Pictorial History of Air Movies. London: Tantivy Press, 1987. ISBN   0-498-02495-4.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN   0-933126-85-9.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.