Crimson Romance
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
David Howard
Ben Lyon
Sari Maritza
Erich Von Stroheim
Hardie Albright
James Bush
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1916, pilots Bob Wilson and Fred von Bergen, childhood best friends, test airplanes for an American company that builds bombers for the European allies. Because he is German-born, Fred loses his job and, unable to find other employment, decides to return to Germany to fight for his homeland. Although he has no special attachment to the German cause, Bob quits the airplane factory and joins his friend in Germany. On their way to a German airfield, Bob and Fred are accidentally run off the road by Red Cross nurse Alida Hoffman, who immediately catches the eye of playboy Bob and later impresses shy Fred. After Bob's first unsuccessful mission, Captain Wolters, the squadron's tyrannical leader, expresses his doubt about Bob's loyalty but, desperate for pilots, gives him another chance. However, when Bob chooses to make love to Alida instead of participating in a crucial air battle, Wolters, aware that the Americans have joined the Allies, arrests him. Fred, heartbroken that Alida has chosen Bob, quarrels with his friend and calls him a coward. Later, however, he allows him to escape from a firing squad and flee to the British forces. To prove his allegiance, Bob leads the British bombers to the German base, while Fred is told by Wolters that he must shoot down Bob to prove his loyalty. Neither man is capable of killing the other, and in the end, Fred sacrifices his life for Bob, who then returns to American with Alida.
Director
David Howard
Cast
Ben Lyon
Sari Maritza
Erich Von Stroheim
Hardie Albright
James Bush
William Bakewell
Herman Bing
Bodil Rosing
Vince Barnett
Arthur Clayton
Oscar Apfel
Purnell Pratt
William Von Brincken
Brandon Hurst
Craufurd Kent
Jamison Thomas
Eric Arnold
Fred Vogeding
Harry Schultz
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to modern sources, Erich von Stroheim also acted as a technical adviser on this production. In a modern interview, von Stroheim describes his participation in the production: "For the first time in my long career, I just acted like an automaton in order to bring home the shekels-and there were very few at that!"
