The Lone Eagle

The Lone Eagle is a 1927 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson, based on the story by Emilie Johnson, and starring Raymond Keane, Barbara Kent and Nigel Barrie.^[1] It was released by Universal Pictures on September 18, 1927.^[2]

The Lone Eagle
Theater lobby card
Directed by	Emory Johnson
Written by	Emilie Johnson (scenario) John B. Clymer (scenario) Tom Reed (intertitles)
Story by	Howard Blanchard
Produced by	Carl Laemmle
Starring	Raymond Keane Barbara Kent Nigel Barrie
Cinematography	Arthur L. Todd
Production company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	August 18, 1927 (1927-08-18)
Running time	60 minutes, 6 reels,
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

Plot

During World War I, American pilot Lieutenant William (Billy) Holmes (Raymond Keane) accepts an assignment with the Royal Flying Corps. The unit location is on the Western Front and has seen plenty of action. During Billy's first air battle, he is accused of cowardice.

He meets an attractive French woman named Mimi (Barbara Kent). They start to fall in love, but the cowardice accusation continues to dog Billy. Mimi stirs Billy's emotions, and he becomes determined to prove his mettle in battle.

The unit receives its next flying mission. The group takes to the sky and encounters a squadron of German aircraft. American ace Red McGibbons (Donald Stuart) is one of Billy's best friends. During the dogfight, Red manages to shoot down a German plane, but is also killed.

The pilot of the downed German aircraft turns out to be the brother of the leader of the German squadron. Lebrun (Cuyler Supplee), the squadron leader, is the top German ace of the squadron. He is determined to avenge his brother's death. He challenges the Royal Flying Corps to an aerial fight.

Still thinking of his best friend, Billy accepts the challenge from LeBrun. Mimi tries to dissuade him, but fails. He jumps in the cockpit of his Sopwith Camel, takes off in pursuit of Lebrun. An epic air duel breaks out, and Lebrun shoots down Billy's aircraft. Billy survives, then commandeers another aircraft from his friend Sven Linder (Jack Pennick). He returns to the air and shoots the German ace down.

Billy is a hero and soon the Allies and the Germans sign the Armistice. With the war over, Billy returns to the United States along with his new bride – Mimi.

Cast

• Raymond Keane as Lieutenant William Holmes
• Barbara Kent as Mimi
• Nigel Barrie as Captain Richardson
• Jack Pennick as Sven Linder
• Oskar Marion as Captain W. Buehl
• Wilson Benge as Truck Driver
• Donald Stuart as Red McGibbons
• Cuyler Supplee as Lebrun
• Frank Camphill as Lieutenant at Desk
• Marcella Daly as Nannette
• Eugene Pouyet as Innkeeper
• Brent Overstreet as Aviator
• Egbert Cook as Aviator

Production

The credits of The Lone Eagle claim that Emilie Johnson only "assisted" in the screenwriting.^{[citation needed]}

Principal photography took place on location at a small airport near San Diego, California.^[3] The French village was built on 2 acres of the Universal back lot.^[4]

Reception

Aviation film historian James Farmer in Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1984) noted, despite the film's tagline:^[5]

Greatest of all airplane stories taken from the great war. . .The Lone Eagle was a cheaply produced World War I air drama.

Preservation

According to the Library of Congress website, this film has the status of 'No holdings located in archives; thus, it is presumed all copies of this film are lost'.^[6]

Gallery

• 
  Barbara Kent
  Mimi
• 
  Raymond Keane
  Lt William Holmes
• 
  Nigel Barrie
  Captain Richardson
• 
  Marcella Daly
  Nannette
• 
  Oskar Marion
  Captain W.Buehl
• 
  Wilson Benge
  Truckdriver