The Flying Fool

Tay Garnett's first sound feature (he'd previously made a couple of comedy shorts, a silent feature and a part-talkie) is more than a bit rough around the edges. The sound is often muffled and has an unnatural echo, although most of the players handle it well. The exception is possibly Marie Prevost. Her singing is cleverly dubbed and maybe her whole role. She allegedly had a "thick New England accent", but there's no sign of it here.

The problem is not so much the sound recording itself, but the limitations it has placed on the camera. James Gleason's dull dialogue doesn't help either. Many scenes are simply staged in front of the microphone in boring, extended takes, though Garnett does move the camera occasionally; and when the movie takes to the skies (and all these sound effects were professionally dubbed) the photography at times is quite breathtaking.

"Hoppy" fans are not likely to be entranced by the sight of their hero here. Even though he laughs and smiles often, he looks old.