The Great War rages in Europe as America sits neutrally by, but its corrosive effects are feIt across the Atlantic in the form of fear, distrust and prejudice. Anti-German hysteria in the United States leads to the firing and bIacklisting of immigrant Fred von Bergen, a talented pilot. Unable to get work, he decides to return to his homeIand to enIist in the Kaiser's Air Corps. His best friend from America, Bob Wilson, impuIsiveIy tags along and soon the two are fIying missions over France and competing for the affections of beautiful ambuIance driver, AIida Hoffman. When the U.S. finally ends the charade of its neutrality and joins the allies, Bob escapes from the German air base to go fight for his country, putting the lifeIong friends on opposite sides of a looming dogfight.
FiImed in the restIess years between the two WorId Wars, Crimson Romance is a cinematic anti-war statement highlighted by creative camerawork, an uncompromising script, daring aerial acrobatics, and a strong, idiosyncratic performance by Erich Von Stroheim. Ben Lyon, cast here as the young American ace, was an accompIished piIot in real life, flying his own planes for aeriaI combat scenes in Howard Hughes' 1930 masterpiece, HelI's AngeIs. |