The Phantom Flyer (1928) Online

A modern range war -- modern for 1928 -- complete with oil derricks in the backyard, horsemen being pursued by motorcyclists, and there's stunt flyer Al Wilson to save the day. This fairly typical late-silent western is enlivened by some good production values, nice stunt work, good photography and one or two jokes that still work. Definitely worth your while.

"The Phantom Flyer" is now available on a very good Alpha DVD, and is certainly well worth buying and watching. True, it is obviously a second string movie (even though it was actually made by Universal), but don't let that fact turn you off.

By the standards of the second feature, production values are excellent. The star, Al Wilson, is not only most competent but really was an aerial stunt man by profession.

Unless they have the desire to make their pile and to get out early, aerial stunt men don't last long. It's not necessary the plane hit an air pocket, it just have to move an inch or two off course and the stunt man will miss his footing and fall to earth. (This actually happened to Al Wilson in 1932. He was killed when he missed his footing whilst doing stunts at the Cleveland Air Races.)

"The Phantom Flyer" is very competently directed. According to Alpha's blurb, the director was Bruce Mitchell. Never heard of him! But according to "The Universal Story" authored by that very astute critic, Clive Hirschhorn, the astute director was actually none other than Robert North Bradbury.