The Lost Squadron (1932)

Sadly Over-hyped

Great Film overall

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Following service in the Great War (aka World War I), US military men are assured their lives will be as good, if not better, than before they enlisted. But for three fighter pilots, this proves not to be the case. Handsome young Joel McCrea (as "Red") must give up his job as his company downsizes. Debonair drinker Robert Armstrong (as Woody) learns has business partner has squandered their fortune. And, brave leader Richard Dix (as "Gibby") loses his attractive girlfriend Mary Astor (as Follette Marsh) to a wealthy filmmaker who can advance her career. To make ends meet, the men go to Hollywood and become stunt pilots in aviation movies..."The Lost Squadron" is entertaining, due to some strange plotting...The "romance" part involves Mr. Dix and Mr. McCrea in competition for Mr. Armstrong's pretty young sister Dorothy Jordan, who is called the "Pest" (for some unfathomable reason). Dix also still likes Ms. Astor, who has married loudmouthed director Erich von Stroheim (as Arthur Von Furst) solely to advance her career. The scenes with Von Stroheim barking direction while filming battle scenes are a perverse highlight. After about 55 minutes, watch for Armstrong to wave a "middle finger" salute from his cockpit. It all leads to jealousy and attempts to murder. Why one crime is concealed from police is not particularly clear, although Dix asks nicely enough.***** The Lost Squadron (1932-03-10) George Archainbaud ~ Richard Dix, Robert Armstrong, Erich von Stroheim, Joel McCrea

4 buddy WWI pilots, out of work after the war, start doing stunt flying on a Hollywood movie, directed by the evil Eric Von Stroheim (in an enjoyably over the top performance). Of course, as absurd movie luck would have it the leader of the squad's ex-girlfriend is now married to Von Stroheim, though she hates him. Von Stroheim plots to try to get his wife's ex-lover killed by getting him to try an an impossible stunt, and is going to make sure by putting acid on the planes control cables, but another flyer goes in his place and dies, and the remaining 3 grab Von Stroheim to get their revenge, leading to a tense, dark but pretty silly conclusion. While watching , the absurd plot twists and lack of logic really bugged me, but the next day I found myself thinking of it fondly, and sorry that has never seemed to have been made available on video.

A very good movie representing the early 30's. George Archainbaud directs this excellent drama depicting an autocratic film director Arthur von Furst(Erich von Stroheim), who hires three former World War I flying aces to fly stunts in a Hollywood war movie. The aces, Capt. 'Gibby' Gibson(Richard Dix), Lt. 'Woody' Curwood(Robert Armstrong) and Red(Joel McCrea)are astounded by the fact that the director has them flying maneuvers as dangerous as if they were still in battle. For a little feminine charm there is Dorothy Jordan as Curwood's little sister; and then there is the movie star Follette Marsh played by Mary Astor. Wanting realism, the director has planes rigged to crash. There is romance, infidelity and murder involved along with the stunning aerial sequences. Other players include: Hugh Herbert, Ralph Ince and William B. Davidson.Astor gives a certain touch of class to the film. Dix and Armstrong every bit the matinée idols. And von Stroheim superb as the overbearing movie director.

I found this pre-code movie a tad predictable but still enjoyable on several levels. I thought the behind-the-scenes look at the making of a World War I movie in 1930's Hollywood were quite fascinating. Erich Von Stroheim's autocratic director was both menacing and acerbically funny at the same time, although bordering on the campy. Richard Dix as 'Gibby' was only adequate as the central character, but Joel McCrea's naturalism shone through as 'Red'. I found it interesting too, that one of the central themes of this movie was the inadequacy the flyers suffered in civilian life, becoming tramps before riding the rails to Hollywood. They were trained to fly in war, and they end up flying in war movies...the difficulty of adjusting to peacetime was an issue not touched upon much in Hollywood until "The Best Years of Our Lives", almost 15 years later. Finally, to the delight of those of us who love pre-code movies, we are treated to Robert Armstrong giving Dix the bird as Dix tries to coax Armstrong into landing his sabotaged plane!