The Last Flight (1931 film)

The Last Flight

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)

External links