The Sky Hawk
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.
| The Sky Hawk | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | John G. Blystone |
| Produced by | William Fox |
| Written by | Llewellyn Hughes |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Charles Wakefield Cadman |
| Cinematography | Conrad Wells |
| Edited by | Ralph Dietrich |
| Distributed by | Fox Film Corporation |
Release date | January 29, 1930
|
Running time | 67 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
World War I British aviator Jack Bardell (John Garrick) is discharged from the service after a suspicious aircraft crash that his fellow pilots believe show that he was a coward in the face of the enemy. He is left temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, and enlists the aid of his mechanic Tom Berry (Billy Bevan) to rebuild a wrecked fighter aircraft. Bardell recuperates to the extent that he is able to fly again, redeeming himself during a German Zeppelin attack over London, bringing down one of the airships.
Cast
- John Garrick as Jack Bardell
- Helen Chandler as Joan Allan
- Gilbert Emery as Major Nelson
- Lennox Pawle as Lord Bardell
- Lumsden Hare as Judge Allan
- Billy Bevan as Tom Berry
- Daphne Pollard as Minnie
- Joyce Compton as Peggy
- Percy Challenger as Charles, the butler[Note 1]
Production
In a period when studios were adapting to the new "sound" technology, The Sky Hawk successfully utilized sound throughout the production. One of the most impressive aspects of the film was Special Effects Coordinator Ralph Hammeras creating a large-scale miniature of the city of London in the Fox Studios airfield hangar built for Hell's Angels (1930). Hammeras also created special mechanical effects, utilizing miniature aircraft and a model Zeppelin in the climatic Zeppelin raid sequence.[2] Blystone's brother Jasper was the assistant director on The Sky Hawk.[3]
The production was completed over a five-week period beginning in August 1928. Location shooting took place at Ross Army Air Field in Arcadia, California.[4] For The Sky Hawk, the base was converted into a Royal Air Force air base, with a small group of Thomas-Morse Scout, Laird Swallow and Travel Air biplanes "dressed up" as British fighters.[5]
Reception
The Sky Hawk premiered on December 11, 1929, at the Gaiety Theater in New York to positive reviews. Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times praised the film, noting: "A melodrama of the skies which has not been equaled in its adroit handling, its competent acting, its authentic atmospheric effects, or the tonal quality of the voices of the participants was launched last night by William Fox at the Gaiety Theatre."[6]
References
Notes
- Uncredited roles:
- Jimmy Aubrey as ground crewman
- Hans Fuerberg as Zeppelin navigator
- Mary Gordon as Mary, the maid
- David Manners as pilot
- Ellinor Vanderveer as car passenger[1]
Citations
- "Credits: The Sky Hawk (1929)". IMDb. Retrieved: August 10, 2014.
- Wynne 1987, p. 89.
- Orriss 2013, p. 32.
- Farmer 1984, p. 326.
- Orriss 2013, p. 33.
- Hall, Mordaunt. "The Sky Hawk (1929)." The New York Times, December 12, 1929.
Bibliography
- Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
- 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.
- 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.