The Last Flight (1931 film)
| The Last Flight | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Written by |
John Monk Saunders (novel "Single Lady") John Monk Saunders Byron Morgan |
| Starring |
Richard Barthelmess David Manners John Mack Brown Helen Chandler |
| Cinematography | Sidney Hickox |
| Edited by | Alexander Hall |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release dates | August 29, 1931 |
Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Last Flight is a 1931 ensemble film starring Richard Barthelmess, David Manners, John Mack Brown, and Helen Chandler.
Plot
The film is known as a Lost Generation celebration of alcohol involving three young World War I veterans who opt to drink indefinitely and almost continuously in Paris with the vivacious and beautiful woman they've befriended.
Behind the scenes
The movie's most lasting impact was offscreen, however; shortly after the film's release, Cary Grant appeared opposite Fay Wray in a Broadway version of the story Nikki while he was still billed as "Archie Leach," and adopted his screen first name from the character he played on stage and Barthelmess had portrayed in the film version ("Cary Lockwood").
John Mack Brown was renamed "Johnny Mack Brown" later the same year when his career skidded from top-drawer films like The Last Flight and The Secret Six to B westerns; all of Brown's scenes had been reshot by the studio in an important movie with rising star Clark Gable substituting for Brown.
Helen Chandler, who also starred with David Manners in the original Dracula opposite Bela Lugosi the same year, ironically fell victim to alcoholism later in life and was badly disfigured in a fire caused by falling asleep while smoking.
Cast (in credits order)
- Richard Barthelmess as Cary Lockwood
- David Manners as Shep Lambert
- John Mack Brown as Bill Talbot
- Helen Chandler as Nikki
- Elliott Nugent as Francis
- Walter Byron as Frink