BRUCE CABOT "FLYING DEVILS" 1934 AVIATION MOVIE HERALD

Description

Original Herald from Uruguay and Argentina in South America. This kind of gorgeous heralds are quite scarce, they were printed by a local distributor (Max Glücksmann) just during a short period of time between the late 1920's and the late 1930's. Usually printed on both sides, in full color or in duotone inks featuring Art Deco style, they show great graphics from the films advertised. Most advertise a single feature movie, while a few examples advertise double movie programs.
Local Title:
AGUILAS RIVALES
Original Title:
FLYING DEVILS
Year / Country:
1933 - USA
Company:
RKO RADIO PICTURES
Director:
Russell Birdwell
Starring:
Bruce Cabot, Arline Judge, Eric Linden, Ralph Bellamy, Cliff Edwards, June Brewster, Mary Carr
Size (unfolded):
241 mm x 185 mm
Condition:
Very Good (handwriting in blue and red ink)
Herald advertises this film as shown at
Cine Dore
from Uruguay on
Saturday, June 30, 1934
Comments:
"Flying Devils" is a 1933 American Pre-Code action film dealing with aviation. The film was directed by former Hollywood agent Russell Birdwell and photographed by film noir cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca. The screenplay was written by Byron Morgan and Louis Stevens, based on an original story by Stevens. In an unusual move, Bruce Cabot was the star, with perennial "good guy" Ralph Bellamy playing the villain in a love triangle involving Arline Judge and Eric Linden. Although considered a "B" feature, audiences enjoyed the aerial scenes, which helped elevate the feature to a minor box-office hit.
Plot:
The "Black Cats", who are part of the Aerial Circus run by "Speed" Hardy (Ralph Bellamy), are a vagabond troupe of aerial performers in the 1930s. Speed takes on a new performer, former airmail pilot Ace Murray (Bruce Cabot). After performing a "double parachute" jump with his kid brother Bud (Eric Linden), who is also a pilot, Ace becomes aware that his brother is enamoured with Speed's young wife Ann (Arline Judge). Bud and Ann perform the dangerous double parachute jump together, becoming the show's main attraction, but Speed becomes jealous of the romance forming between them. After a flight together, Bud and Ann crash-land and spend a night in a deserted cabin, leading to the realization that Ann must seek a divorce. When Speed discovers them, he apparently agrees to the new circumstances and surprisingly offers to design a new aerial stunt for Bud and himself that will have two aircraft colliding "head-on", with both of the pilots bailing out before the impact. Before the stunt takes place, another pilot who is usually inebriated, "Screwy" Edwards (Cliff Edwards), reveals that Speed has deliberately cut his rival's parachute and is planning an aerial murder. Ace takes off and crashes into Speed, sacrificing his life to save his brother. The two lovers eventually marry and due to Ace's earlier help in obtaining a job for him, Bud begins an airline career as a pilot alongside Edwards, who has begun a rehabilitation.