|
The Big Hop
(1928) United States of America
B&W : Seven reels / [?] 6550 or 6750? feet
Directed by James M. Horne (James W. Horne)
Cast: Buck Jones [Buck Bronson], Jobyna Ralston [June Halloway], Ernest Hilliard [Ben Barnett], Charles K. French [Buck’s father], Charles Clary [June’s father], Duke Lee (Duke R. Lee) [the ranch foreman], Edward Hearn [the pilot], Jack Dill [the mechanic]
Buck Jones Productions production. / Produced by Buck Jones. Scenario by J.B. Mack, from a screen story by J.B. Mack. Cinematography by Al Siegler (Allen G. Siegler). Film editor, Donn McElwaine. Intertitles written by Donn McElwaine. / Released 31 August 1928. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Stunt pilot Frank Baker was killed during production. The film was also released in the USA in a silent version. / Silent film, with synchronized [?] music? and sound effects.
Drama: Action-Adventure.
Synopsis: [Motion Picture News, 6 October 1928, page 1097] Buck starts out as a failure as a ranch hand and winds up a failure as an aviator, but only because of the dire villainy of his society rival for the girl’s hand. This girl, who meets Buck as he descends from a parachute jump immediately becomes interested in him and persuades her wealthy father to back Buck and his pal in the Honolulu race. The Villainous rival sees to it that the pilot pal is drugged just before the race starts, so Buck, an inexperienced pilot is compelled to handle the ship on the perilous journey. A feed pipe goes amiss a thousand miles at sea and Buck and his pal crash. They are picked up by a passing ship, but the pal is quite dead. Buck, given up for lost, returns unexpectedly, routs the villain and wins the girl.
Reviews: [Variety, 9 January 1929, page ?] This is Buck Jones’ first on his own. It’s hopeless. Even in the grinds they laugh at what Buck and Murray Garson [Garsson] figured would go over as a high meller. / Buck does his level best out of the saddle, but as a bedroom artist, garden swain and aviator he isn’t there in this one. / The cowboy hero turned flyer isn’t half as bad as Jobyna Ralston. The less said about her the better, because a couple of more like this and she’s through, except as atmosphere. Director James Horne should be called on the carpet for The Big Hop. The general unnaturalness of his characters, their camera hogging and amateur gesticulating and general pre-war technique points to the megaphone — unless Buck tried a Harry Langdon. // [Photoplay, April 1929, page 8] Mr. Jones crosses the Pacific. A good film.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Aviation: Airplanes, Pilots - Hawaii: Honolulu - Parachuting - Races: Airplanes - Rescues: Sea
Listing updated: 12 February 2011.
References: AFI-F2 n. F2.0397; Farmer-Broken p. ?; Rainey-Jones pp. 179-180 : Variety-19290109 p. ? : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
|
