The Non-Stop Flight is a 1926 American silent melodrama film directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in March 1926. The film's "All-Star" cast included Knute Erickson and Marcella Daly. Emilie Johnson, Johnson's mother, wrote both the story and screenplay. was the eighth and final film in Johnson's eight-picture contract with FBO.
The film's inspiration was the 1925 U.S. Navy's attempt to fly three twin-engine open-cockpit seaplanes non-stop between San Francisco, California, and Hawaii. One plane, PN-9 No 2, dropped out before the flight started. The second PN-9, No. 3, traveled only 300 miles before being forced to land because of mechanical problems. The remaining PN-9 No. 1 flew 1,800 miles before running into rain squalls and the failure of an anticipated tailwind to materialize. PN-9 No. 1 was off-course and unable to locate a refueling ship. With their fuel supply running low, they made a emergency landing on the ocean. Trapped at sea, the crew built a sail from wing fabric and set out for Hawaii. The US Navy rescues the beleaguered crew nine days later. Even though the flight fell short of its goal, their harrowing adventures captured the imagination and newspaper headlines of the day.History of PN series of flying boats
Emilie Johnson built her story around a Swedish ship's Captain - Lars Larson. While he is away at sea, a jealous rival kidnaps his pregnant wife, Anna, and they set sail on his ship. When Larson returns home, he finds Anna missing and their cottage abandoned. He becomes inconsolable, and he turned to a life of crime. He becomes the captain of a tramp steamer smuggling illicit cargo to Mexico. While sailing in the Pacific, his crew discovers an uncharted island. A hermit and a beautiful young woman inhabit the island and are waving a distress flag. A desperate seaplane crew are searching for land and catch sight of the same island. After some discussion, the captain rescues all the island inhabitants and brings them aboard his ship. Once the evacuees are aboard, nefarious circumstances unfold. A free-for-all ensues, with the naval men helping to suppress the riot. The U.S. Navy arrives, a naval officer charms the young women, and all ends well.
Plot
In Spring 1906, Captain Lars Larson and his wife, Anna, live in a modest cottage nestled in the harbor town of Laholm set on the western edge of Sweden. Anna is expecting their first child. Lars is packing his seabag for his upcoming sea journey. After Lars finishes packing, they leave the house hand-in-hand and walk to the pier. After exchanging goodbyes, Lars remembers a gift he bought for Anna. He gives her a necklace with a cross attached and "Lars" engraved on the crossbeam. He kisses her, then departs. We see a man to the side following the loving exchanges with visible disdain.
Our mystery man is Karl Kruger, skipper of the Steamboat - Gretchen. Karl was a former suitor for Anna's affection. After Lars sets sail, Karl creeps into Larson's cottage and surprises Anna. He tries to have his way, but Anna resists. A frustrated Karl shows a hidden note.
"Dear Karl I have found the man I love the most Please forget me"
This note is the original Anna sent Karl after breaking off their earlier relationship. Karl takes the letter and rips off the part that says - Dear Karl. He sticks the remaining piece into a nearby book. Anna screams when she realizes the consequences of Karl's deceit. Lars will believe she has left him for another man. Kruger kidnaps Anna and forces her to board the Gretchen. The boat casts off and heads out to sea.
Captain Larson returns home and finds their home in shambles. Lars discovers the book containing Anna's note. After reading the message, he sobs and then torches the house. Fueled by extreme bitterness, Lars transforms into a drunken ne'er-do-well and becomes a smuggler.
We shift to 1925 - the United States Navy is attempting the first non-stop flight between San Francisco to Hawaii with three Seaplanes. The lead plane will be the PN-9, commanded by Roger Davis, with Lieutenant Jack Connell second in command. Amidst much fanfare, the seaplanes leave for Hawaii. The PN-9 is eight hours into their historic flight. They somehow run into a violent storm. Blown off course and low on fuel, the crew makes a forced ocean landing. After drifting for six days, they come upon an island. The crew reconnoiters for food.
Years passed, and Lars Larson is the Captain of a tramp steamer smuggling Chinese laborers to Veracruz. Ah Wing is in charge of the captive workers, an opium smuggler, and the man responsible for paying Captain Larson. Ah Wing approaches the Captain and states he will pay $2000 if Larson alters course so Wing can find a young female concubine. Larson agrees to keep a lookout.
Captain Larson's boat stumbles across the same island and starts a reconnaissance. Along with Ah Wing, the Captain sees an older man and a young girl waving a distress flag. Wing tells Larson he wants the girl, and Larson agrees to dock the boat. The ship launches a dinghy to pick up the girl, hermit, and the seaplane crew. After they load the passengers, the vessel embarks. Soon, they run into a powerful storm.
During the storm, Wing visits the Captain's quarters and pays Larson the money to the girl. Wing heads toward the girl's cabin to collect his prize. The girl (Maria), seeing what Wing has in mind, flees to the Captain's cabin. Marie pleads with Larson to protect her. Larson refuses, and Wing pursues the terrified woman. Lieutenant Jack Connell hears Maria's screams and rushes to her rescue. During the ensuing fight, Connell is knocked-out.
Ah Wing grabs Maria and escapes the Captain's quarters. After Wing leaves, Lars spots the necklace lying on the floor. He picks up the trinket and realizes it is the exact necklace he gave to his beloved Anna. The hermit enters the cabin, and Captain Lars presses him about the source of the necklace.
The hermit describes the day that Carl Krueger kidnapped the pregnant Anna. After Krueger's ship sailed off with Anna, the boat ran into a squall. The vessel sinks with all hands except for Anna and the first mate. They made their way to the island. The baby was born, and Anna died. Lars realizes that Maria is his daughter. Maria flees to the arms of the lieutenant, and they both leave the room.
Upon realizing that Maria is his daughter, Lars grabs his gun and heads to Ah wing's cabin. During the confrontation, Ah Wing flees the cabin and heads below the ship. Ah Wing releases the Chinese prisoners, instructing them to take over the ship.
Lieutenant Connell rouses the crew, and fighting breaks out everywhere. Even though outnumbered, the ship's crew and naval crew continue the fight.
A Pacific Fleet dispatched a submarine to hunt for the missing seaplanes. The submarine submerged to avoid the storm. While searching, they see the fracas onboard Larson's boat and decide to help. After the submarine surfaces, she takes on water. The crew boards the steamer before losing the sub and helps defeat the rebellion.
The Chinese laborers are subdued and returned to the . Larson tracks down Ah Wing and shoots him. He returns to his quarters to find the hermit telling Maria the Captain is her father. Maria smiles and calls Lars–Daddy.
Sometime later, the repaired PN9 seaplane lands in the San Francisco harbor. The crowds are cheering. Captain Lars and his daughter are onshore, welcoming the naval crew home.
Cast ActorRoleKnute EricksonLars LarsonMarcella DalyAnna Larson (Lar's wife)David DunbarKarl Kruger (Skipper of the "Gretchen")Frank HemphillJan JohnsonJames WangAh WingHarlan HiltonCommander Roger DavisCecil OgdenLieutenant Jack Connell - PilotSkiles Ralph PopeRalph Pope - navigation pilotOtto G. StantzOtis Stantz - Chief Radio OperatorRobert AndersonNuts SwansonJames Rolph Jr.Himself - Mayor of San FranciscoVirginia FryMarie LarsonWilliam SunderholmSang Hop, servant of Ah WingPeggy O'NeilOlga NelsonToshiye IchiokaExtra (uncredited)
Toshia Mori was born Toshiye Ichioka in 1912 and first appeared in several Japanese and Hollywood silent films. This film was her first role in an American silent film. She was 14 years old, and her role was uncredited. With her distinctly Asian looks and bangs, she played exotic Asian females in silent films and talkies. In 1932, Mori became the only non-Caucasian actress selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star, an annual list of young and promising film actresses. She dropped out of the movies in 1937.
Production Pre-production FBO mainly specialized in the production and distribution of low-budget films. These films were distributed to smaller venues throughout the United States. The average cost per production was $50,000 to $75,000 equivalent to $ to $ in 2022. FBO also produced and distributed a limited number of big-budget features labeled "Gold Bond" productions. In 1926, FBO had twelve gold bond productions including The Non-Stop Flight.
Development
The 1925 attempt by the United States Navy to fly three Seaplanes, non-stop, between San Pablo, California and Hawaii provided motivation for the Emilie Johnson story. Despite the flight's failure to reach Hawaii, one seaplane, PN-9 No. 1, set a Class C seaplane record for non-stop miles flown over the Pacific Ocean. That record would stand for five years. The September flight created quite a sensation, grabbing newspaper headlines around the world.
PN-9 No 1 was an open cockpit naval seaplane captained by U.S. Navy Commander John Rodgers. The plane departed San Pablo, California's calm waters, on August 31, 1925. On September 1, the flying boat had flown 1,841 miles. With its fuel supply running low, the crew made a forced landing on the Ocean, leaving the craft 450 miles short of its goal. The desperate crew rigged a sail from the fabric on the plane's wing and set sail for Hawaii, believing this gave them their best odds of recovery. At 1600 on September 10, 1925, nine days into their adventure, a submarine USS R-4 recovered the crew.Commander John Rodger's Non-Stop flight to Hawaii
A five-person naval crew piloted the twin-engine PN-9 No 1 seaplane: Commander John Rodgers Lieutenant Byron J. Connell Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class William M. Bowlin Chief Radioman Petty Officer 1st Class Otis G. Stantz Chief Petty Officer Skiles Ralph Pope
Casting Knute Erickson (18731945) was born Knut Timar on May 27, 1873, in Norrköping, Sweden. Erickson was years old when he portrayed the character of sea captain Lars Larson. Erickson migrated to the United States with his parents in 1881. They stayed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and kept living there until 1916. Erickson achieved naturalization on Jun 10, 1887, and launched a lucrative career as a vaudevillian comedian. His most famous stage creation was that of the character Swedish Immigrant Daffy Dan. Erickson began his film career in 1915 and kept appearing in films until 1936. Erickson's role in this film impressed Emory Johnson enough; he cast Erickson in his next movie, The Fourth Commandment. Marcella Daly (19011966) was born on January 31, 1901, in Kansas City, Missouri. Daly was years old when she portrayed the character of Anna Larson (Lar's wife). She was an actress, known for Accused (1925), The Midnight Watch (1927), and Black Paradise (1926). She died on 30 July 1966 in Torrance, California, USA. David Dunbar (18861953) was born on September 14, 1886, in West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. The Australian actor was years old when he portrayed the character of Karl Kruger (Skipper of the "Gretchen"). He was a stage actor in Australia, and Britain before beginning his screen career with Pathe Freres, Paris in 1910. He would remain active until his death in 1953. A few weeks before this movie was released, his wife Blanche was killed in a car collision in the Hollywood Hills.