Heartbreak (1931 film)

Last updated

Heartbreak
Heartbreak (1931).jpeg
Film poster
Directed by Alfred L. Werker
Written by William M. Conselman
Leon Gordon
Produced by William Goetz
Starring Charles Farrell
Madge Evans
Paul Cavanagh
Cinematography Joseph H. August
Edited by Margaret Clancey
Music byGeorge Lipschultz
Hugo Friedhofer
Production
company
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • November 8, 1931 (1931-11-08)
Running time
63 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Heartbreak (also known as Love and War) is a 1931 American pre-Code war drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Charles Farrell, Madge Evans and Paul Cavanagh. [1]

Contents

Plot

In the years before the United States' involvement in World War I, John Merrick and Jerry Somers, attachés to the American embassy in Vienna, attend an elaborate fundraiser at the aristocratic Walden home, where John meets the countess Vilma Walden and romance blooms.

Vilma's twin brother, combat veteran Count Carl Walden, along with Vilma and Carl's father, asks John when Americans will fight against Austria. Kapitan Wolke, a family friend, emerges as a rival for the affections of Vilma. A heated confrontation takes place between John and Wolke.

When the United States goes to war, John requests a post at the Italian front where Carl is stationed. John returns to the Walden home and breaks the news to Vilma, who promises to return to the pool by the house each day until John's reflection appears beside her own.

After duty in France, John is transferred to the Italian front where he faces an enemy squadron led by Wolke and his ace pilot Carl. In the air over the Italian Alps, John spots Wolke's aircraft and downs it, landing nearby to try to rescue the pilot. John is astonished to discover that the pilot is actually Carl, who had borrowed Wolke's aircraft for the mission.

John is overcome with grief and announces that he wishes to kill no more. After refusing to join his squadron on a flight against the enemy, John steals an aircraft and flies to the Walden house behind enemy lines. He confesses to Vilma that he killed Carl and begs her forgiveness, but she refuses.

For his desertion, John is court-martialed with Jerry, his defense attorney, unsuccessfully defending him. Despondent and apathetic, he is found guilty and receives a dishonorable discharge and a sentence of hard labor.

Peace finally comes and John visits the Walden estate, which is now a home for war orphans. As Vilma sits by the pool, she sees John's reflection beside hers, and they embrace.

Cast

Production

In August 1931, Fox rented the modified Nieuport 28s for use in the film, and an Travel Air 4000 was also leased. [2] A Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 with German markings also appears as Wolke's aircraft. [3] Garland Lincoln and Frank Clarke performed the flying maneuvers in the aerial battles over the San Gabriel Mountains east of the Los Angeles Basin. [4] [N 1]

The film is set primarily in Italy but was filmed in California, with the San Gabriel Mountains taking the place of the Italian Alps.

Newspaper advertisement for Heartbreak 1931 - Embassy Theater Ad - 16 Nov MC - Allentown PA.jpg
Newspaper advertisement for Heartbreak

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times , critic Mordaunt Hall wrote: "It is a mildly entertaining affair, with some excellent flying scenes that are presumed to be in the Italian Alps." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Sky High</i> (1922 film) American silent Western film

Sky High is a 1922 American silent Western film written and directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring Tom Mix, J. Farrell MacDonald, Eva Novak and Sid Jordan. The action in Sky High takes place in 1922 and while the characters ride horses and fight in saloons, they also use telephones, automobiles and even an aircraft.

<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>The Airmail Mystery</i> 1932 film

The Airmail Mystery is a 1932 Universal Pre-Code movie serial directed by Ray Taylor, written by Ella O'Neill, starring James Flavin and Wheeler Oakman, and featuring Al Wilson doing the aerial stunts. The Airmail Mystery was Universal's first aviation serial that set the pattern for the aviation serials and feature films to follow. The film also marks the film debut of James Flavin. The Airmail Mystery is considered a lost film.

<i>Sky Raiders</i> 1941 film by Ford Beebe, Ray Taylor

Sky Raiders is a 12-episode 1941 Universal film serial. The serial was directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. Sky Raiders stars Donald Woods, Billy Halop, Robert Armstrong and Eduardo Ciannelli. Sky Raiders has little in common with Universal’s other early-1940s espionage outings like Sea Raiders or Junior G-Men, although the serial is often lumped in together as if it is part of a series.

<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>Flying G-Men</i> 1939 film by Ray Taylor, James W. Horne

Flying G-Men is a 15-episode 1939 adventure film Film serial, directed by James W. Horne and Ray Taylor. The serial was the sixth of the 57 serials released by Columbia. Four "Flying G-Men" battle with enemy saboteurs intent on destroying American military defences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Cavanagh</span> English actor

William Grigs Atkinson, known professionally as Paul Cavanagh, was an English film and stage actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1928 and 1959.

<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>Power Dive</i> 1941 film by James P. Hogan

Power Dive is a 1941 American film directed by James P. Hogan. The film stars Richard Arlen, Jean Parker and Helen Mack.

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

Lilac Time is a 1928 American silent romantic war film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper. 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>A Girl of Yesterday</i> 1915 film by Allan Dwan

A Girl of Yesterday is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed by Allan Dwan, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and Famous Players–Lasky. The film starred Mary Pickford as an older woman. Before this film, Pickford was mainly cast in "little girl" roles which were popular with the public. A Girl of Yesterday costarred Pickford's younger brother Jack, Marshall Neilan, Donald Crisp and Frances Marion, who later became a prolific screenwriter. Real life aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin also made a cameo in the film.

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 Marines Fly High</i> 1940 film by George Nicholls, Jr.

The Marines Fly High is a 1940 action film, starring Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Lucille Ball and directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and Benjamin Stoloff from a story by A.C. Edington.

<i>The Great Air Robbery</i> 1919 film by Jacques Jaccard

The Great Air Robbery is a six-reel silent 1919 American drama film directed by Jacques Jaccard and produced by Universal Pictures. The film stars Ormer Locklear, Allan Forrest and Ray Ripley. The Great Air Robbery is a film that showcases the talents of stunt pilot Locklear, considered the foremost "aviation stunt man in the world", and depicts pilots flying air mail, the first film to deal with the subject. There are no known archival holdings of the film, so it is presumably a lost film.

<i>Legion of Lost Flyers</i> 1939 film directed by Christy Cabanne

Legion of Lost Flyers is a 1939 American B movie drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Anne Nagel. Legion of Lost Flyers was released by Universal Pictures on November 3, 1939.

<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>Pirates of the Skies</i> Film directed by Joseph A. McDonough

Pirates of the Skies is a 1939 American action film directed by Joseph A. McDonough and written by Lester Cole and Ben Grauman Kohn. The film stars Kent Taylor, Rochelle Hudson, Regis Toomey, Marion Martin, Samuel S. Hinds, Ray Walker and Lucien Littlefield. Pirates of the Skies was released on February 3, 1939, by Universal Pictures.

<i>Mystery Plane</i> 1939 American film

Mystery Plane is a 1939 American action film directed by George Waggner and written by Paul Schofield and George Waggner. The film is based on the comic strip Tailspin Tommy by Hal Forrest and Glenn Chaffin. The film stars John Trent, Marjorie Reynolds, Milburn Stone, Jason Robards Sr., George Lynn and Lucien Littlefield. Mystery Plane, the first of four "Tailspin Tommy" films made by Monogram Pictures, was released on March 8, 1939.

<i>The Sky Spider</i> 1931 film

The Sky Spider is a 1931 American "youth-oriented" adventure film. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film starred Glenn Tryon, Beryl Mercer, Blanche Mehaffey, Pat O'Malley and newcomer John Trent.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The recreated British base at the Triunfo airfield, near Thousand Oaks, California was used as a setting for many aviation films, including Heartbreak. [5]

Citations

  1. ↑ Solomon 2011, p. 330.
  2. ↑ "Aviation Films - H: 'Heartbreak'." Aerofiles.com, 2019, Retrieved: July 4, 2019.
  3. ↑ Farmer 1984, p. 313.
  4. ↑ Wynne 1987, p. 112.
  5. ↑ Farmer 1987, p. 102.
  6. ↑ Sennwald, Andre (October 17, 1931). "Her Foster Father". The New York Times . p. 20.

Bibliography

  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1st ed.). Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: TAB Books 1984. ISBN   978-0-83062-374-7.
  • 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.
  • Solomon, Aubrey. The Fox Film Corporation, 1915 - 1935: A History and Filmography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2011. ISBN   978-0-78646-286-5.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN   978-0-93312-685-5.
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.