Vintage original 8x10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the 1930's flying circus barnstorming-themed action/adventure drama/romance, FLYING DEVILS, released in 1933 by RKO Radio Pictures and directed by Russell Birdwell. Ann Hardy (Arline Judge) is a parachute-stunt diver with a flying-circus group of barnstorming pilots which her husband, "Speed" Hardy (Ralph Bellamy) heads. She meets and falls in love with Bud Murray (Eric Linden), the younger brother of her husbands partner "Ace" Murray (Bruce Cabot), when they are teamed to do a double-parachute jump as a daily stunt. "Speed" learns about the romance and, in his half-crazed condition, from a World War I accident, he devises a scheme to get rid of Bud: he suggests to Bud that they pull a sensational stunt, zooming toward each other in their airplanes and then bailing-out just before the two planes crash. Bud agrees but does not known that "Speed" has cut the lines on his parachute. The cast includes Cliff Edwards, June Brewster, Frank LaRue, Mary Carr, Jimmy Aubrey, Eddie Borden, and Garry Owen.

The image features an exterior close shot of the flying-circus barnstorming pilot, "Screwy" Edwards (Cliff Edwards) signing an autograph from a "Fresh Autograph Seeker" (Eddie Borden, right) while a freckle-faced fan watches. Edwards' biplane is shown directly behind them. It is in near-fine condition with one pinhole in the background area above Edwards' head and random signs of wear in the borders. The image quality is very sharp with very fine detail and nice contrast.

 

Bruce Cabot was an experienced pilot and did most of his own flying in this movie, which shows the Black Cats fly Standard J-1, Stearman C-3R, Travel Air 2000 and 4000 biplanes.