Introduced in 1926, ‘The Flying Ace’ presents a captivating crime drama featuring stars Kathryn Boyd and Laurence Criner. This remarkable product of silent cinema, showcasing entirely Black performers, was initially catered to segregated Black cinemas. This February, in commemoration of Black History Month, the treasure from the past will be projected again at the Somerville Theatre.
Engaging audiences with familiar storytelling techniques, ‘The Flying Ace’ wields timeless movie tropes, including spectacular rescues, audacious thefts involving rail transportation, and classical love triangles. What sets it apart though, is its all-Black ensemble – a rarity in the film industry then and now.
On February 2, this unique artifact of cinematic history will grace the Somerville Theatre’s screen once more, this time accompanied by live music. This tribute to Black History Month makes a fitting homage to a film that not only broke the mold in terms of representation but also earned itself a place in the U.S. National film Registry in 2021.
Alluring its audience with diverse narratives and characters, ‘The Flying Ace’ is a surviving testament to an early cinematic genre targeting the Black community in an era of segregation. The so-called ‘race films’ were made distinctive by their all-Black cast, serving as a refreshing alternative to mainstream Hollywood’s regular usage of white actors in blackface.
The film’s story delves into the mysterious theft of a large sum of money from a railroad terminal, with Captain Billy Stokes, a WWI veteran and former fighter pilot, stepping into the role of an investigator. Stokes, portrayed by Laurence Criner with notable aplomb, returns to his roots as a railroad detective, emphasizing a drama that shines with authenticity.
Between gripping adventures and imminent dangers, Stokes finds himself romancing Ruth Sawtelle, the station master’s daughter, beautifully interpreted by Kathryn Boyd. Adding an invigorating hint of reality, the duo of Criner and Boyd shared a relationship in real life, an aspect likely enhancing the appeal of their on-screen romance to their audience.
Fascination also arose from the vibrant backdrop of aviation. The inspiration for Boyd’s character was none other than Bessie Coleman, the pioneering African American woman to become a pilot. Unfortunately, original plans for Coleman to portray Ruth fell apart due to her untimely death in an aircraft crash in 1926.
Boyd’s role continues to pay tribute to Coleman, with Ruth appearing in a belted jacket and an aviator hat, mirroring her real-life inspiration. What makes ‘The Flying Ace’ standout, however, is the absence of racism and white characters, presenting an unexpected but welcome departure from the era’s norms.
In a world dominated by Black characters, from the station director to the fighter pilot to the criminal, ‘The Flying Ace’ offers an inspirational portrayal of Stokes. Considering African American soldiers weren’t permitted to serve as fighter pilots until 1941, the character holds profound significances.
However, this particular narrative style wasn’t the only strategy adopted by filmmakers during the period. Other producers ventured to tackle the topic of racism head-on, challenging harmful racial prejudices and stereotypes, such as those depicted in ‘Birth of a Nation.’
Some race films did, however, perpetuate damaging caricatures and clichés, which alienated their Black audiences. These productions were crafted by both white and Black directors, including the esteemed African American movie maker, Oscar Micheaux.
‘The Flying Ace’ came into existence through Richard Edward Norman, a white director operating in Jacksonville, Florida, an area having a flourishing film industry at the time. Many films from this era were produced on meager budgets, with ‘The Flying Ace’ being no exception.
This is evidenced by the film’s makeshift airplane, never seen airborne. The film’s survival, despite such constraints, is a testament to the resilience of the genre and those who created it.
Many race films from this period, notably, display harsh racial stereotypes which contemporary viewers may find as unpalatable as their original audiences did. Nonetheless, ‘The Flying Ace’ provides an essential counterpoint to these films, countering the racial sensibilities portrayed in mainstream Hollywood of the time.
Ultimately, ‘The Flying Ace’ provides a crucial insight into an often overlooked fragment of early cinema history. This film broadens our comprehension of what early film represented, adding previously unrecognized layers to the cultural narrative of the time.