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The Air Legion is a 1929 aviation silent film about airmail produced and distributed by Film Booking Offices of America(FBO) and was released just as FBO was being turned into RKO Pictures. In Canada, the film was distributed by the Alliance Communications Corporation. Aviation historian Michael Paris considered the film as "virtually the last silent film" on the topic of airmail flying.[1][N 1]

The Air Legion
Film poster
Directed by	Bert Glennon Charles Kerr
Written by	James Ashmore Creelman (story) Fred Myton (writer) Randolph Bartlett (intertitles)
Produced by	Film Booking Offices of America William LeBaron
Starring	Ben Lyon Antonio Moreno Martha Sleeper
Cinematography	Paul P. Perry
Edited by	Archie Marshek
Production company	FBO Pictures
Distributed by	Film Booking Offices of America
Release date	January 6, 1929 (1929-01-06)
Running time	70 minutes; 7 reels
Country	USA
Language	Silent

Bert Glennon, a director and cinematographer, directed the film. The Air Legion stars Antonio Moreno, Ben Lyon and Martha Sleeper.[3][4]

Plot

Airmail pilot Steve Rogers (Antonio Moreno) mentors young Dave Grayson (Ben Lyon), the son of Steve's late commander in the United States Army Air Corps. On his first flight, Dave flies into a raging storm and crashes.

Thinking of himself a coward after the rough flight, Dave seeks to redeem himself. Steve covers for him and campaigns for Dave getting another chance but he again fails. In a vain attempt to avoid flying supplies to the victims of a tornado, Dave attempts to shoot himself in the leg.

With Steve's help, Dave regains his courage, later saving Steve's life. Dave wins the love of Steve's girl, Sally (Martha Sleeper), and Steve gives them his blessing.

Cast

Reception

Aviation film historian James H. Farmer in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1984) characterized The Air Legion as a "superior film of the period" with "refreshingly credible elements."[5]

Aviation film historian Stephen Pendo, however, considered it a minor film, but yet an accurate example of the true dangers of flying the airmail. After a spate of aviation films that focused on aerial robbery as the main impediment, The Air Legion centered on the true issue, flying in inclement weather that threatened the safe delivery of airmail.[6]

The Air Legion is preserved in London at the Cinema Museum.[7]

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• The Air Legion at IMDb
• The Air Legion at the TCM Movie Database
• The Air Legion at AllMovie
• lobby poster

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