# The Flying Ace

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A 1926 black-and-white silent drama film directed by Richard E. Norman with an all-African-American cast, a mix of professionals such as Laurence Criner and Kathryn Boyd, and non-professional actors. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Cast and Crew :
| Crew ||
| Director | Richard Edward Norman (d. 1960) |
| Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1960, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 63 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States. ||
The "Flying Ace" PART ONE
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
Entire Cast Composed of Colored Artists.
Mayport, a little station on the Main Line of the M. N. & Q. Railroad. It is here that passengers change for the Eastern branch of the road.
American Railway Express
No. 9 left only one passenger this sunny morning.
Blair Kimball, Paymaster of the M. N. & Q. Railroad,
— Boise De Legge
Thomas Sawtelle, Station Master at Mayport,
— George Colvin
"I am surprised to see you here to-day, you arn't due until to-morrow."
Dr. Maynard, the local dentist,
— Sam Jordan
Finley Tucker, local aviator, who has a mysterious source of income,
— Harold Platts
All of it.
POLICE 13 DEPARTMENT
Jed Splivins, local constable. He met all trains in the hope of arresting some petty offender,
— Lyons Daniels
"Kimball isn't due until to-morrow. Wonder if he's got the pay-roll in that satchel?"
"Hardly; he hasn't got his guards along to-day."
"Number 42, your train up the Eastern Branch, is an hour late. Come into the office and make yourself comfortable."
"'Pears to me I better make sartin if the pay-roll's in that there satchel and help take care of it."
"Do your duty Officer!"
TICKET OFFICE
NO ADMITTANCE
"Ye havn't the pay-roll with ye, have ye Mr. Kimball?"
"Yes, Jed; I'm not expected to-day and no one will know I have $25,000 with me for the Eastern Division pay-roll."
"Seein' as how you didn't bring any guards along, I'll help take care of this here pay-roll."
"Thanks, Jed; but I won't need your help; just keep mum and no one will molest me."
"Number 42's reported two hours late; you have a long wait ahead of you."
"Number 42's a couple of hours late and Kimball's stuck here until then."
The Apple of the station Master's Eye, Ruth Sawtelle, his daughter,
— Kathryn Boyd
"Oh! Finley, when are you going to give me a ride in that new airplane of yours?"
"Go home and put on that flying suit I brought you from Chicago and meet me at the flying field in an hour!"
"How glorious! I'll be there all ready in an hour!"
"Dad, I'm just thrilled to death. Finley is going to take me for a ride in his new airplane."
"I must run on now. I am to meet him in an hour."
Sixty minutes later, many things have happened; least of all, and contrary to woman's custom, Ruth is on time.
"Now that I have my flying suit, I feel like a real flyer and you must show me how to operate a plane!"
"All right then; the plane has two controls, the Stick and Rudder."
"See this little bar that looks like a broom stick, it is 'the stick;' it controls the plane in Banking and Perpendicular flight."
"If you wish to go to the right, you push the stick to the right; to the left, vice-versa. To descend, push it forward; to ascend, pull it backwards."
"The rudder is worked by the feet, controlling the horizontal flight of the plane."
"Now, when you want to start it, you open these two valves, turn this switch, push this button, and—"
"Gracious! Is it as complicated as all that? I fear I can never learn to fly."
Traveling at a speed of 140 miles an hour, the earth appears to float lazily beneath them from their perch, a mile high in the air.
"For the hundredth time, Ruth, I again ask you to marry me?"
"Now Finley, don't be foolish. For the hundredth time I tell you that I am not certain I love you."
"Confound the perversity if woman. The next time I get her in that plane of mine, she'll say YES or get out and walk on a cloud."
END OF PART ONE.
The "Flying Ace" PART TWO
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
Howard Mac Andrews, General Manager of the M. N. & Q. Railroad,
— Dr. R. L. Brown
THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
Captain Wm. Stokes Back From World War
WINS FAME AS FLYING ACE IN FRANCE
FLYING ACE
The many friends of Captain Wm. Stokes, World War Hero and Flying Ace, welcomed him back home by a banquet given last night at the Hotel Pennsylvania in his honor. Captain Stokes is credited with bringing down seven German planes during the "big push" and bears many scars of the encounter. Captain Stokes was a flyer of some ability before the War. Own- ing his own plane, he had learned to fly here on the local field and only a brief training was necessary be- fore he was sent to France. Before his entrance in the war, he was a railroad detective for the M. N. & Q. Railroad and he was instrument- al in clearing up mysterious freight thefts and bringing about the ar- rest of a clever gang of box car thieves operating of the railroad. Stationed at Chateau Thierry Going over with the first con- tingent of flyers recruited in this country, Captain Stoker first saw service at the front at Chateau
"Well! Well! So Billy Stokes, our former railroad detective, has covered himself with glory."
Billy Stokes, former railroad detective and World War Aviator, feels the spell of the rails tug at his heart.
The flying Ace,
— J. Lawrence Criner
Ped, Stokes's mechanic who lost a leg in the World War,
— Steve Reynolds
"Old 76 is making good time. Remember what a tough fight we had arresting those crooks who derailed her two years ago?"
"There you go again. Gettin' the 'rail fever' or I'm a Dutchman."
"Peg, you're a better detective than I thought. Guess I'll go over and see the General Manager."
Bad news travels fast.
"Billy, I'm glad to see you back safely. Just been reading in the paper how you've covered yourself with glory."
TELEGRAM All messages addressed to Officials on trains must be enclosed in sealed envelopes
X C TS ST. NICHOLAS 7/1
MAC ANDREWS HEADQUARTERS
PAYMASTER KIMBALL AND PAYROLL VANISH FROM MY OFFICE HALF HOUR AGO. SEND DETECTIVES. DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.
THOMAS SAWTELLE STATION MASTER.
"There's a poser! Kimball and the Eastern Division pay-roll have disappeared."
"Billy, there's a mystery no one can clear as quick as you. The old job's yours at double pay. Go to it!"
"I'll order a 'Special' and rush you to Mayport."
"Never mind. I will use my plane and get there in an hour."
"I don't bother work, work don't bother me; I'se fo' time happy as a bumblebee."
"The Pay-master has been robbed of $25,000 at Mayport. Disguise yourself as a tramp; hop the Lightning Freight and drop off at Mayport; I'll meet you there."
"I tell you Mr. Tucker, I don't know how it happened! I swear I don't! We were sittin' here, an' he had the bag on the floor besides him—"
"There Father, suppose you wait until the detective from the railroad comes. You're just wearing yourself out—"
"Ruth, I'm trying to help your father. It looks bad for him now. If we can get some clew as to how it happened—"
"Headquarters sent me down. Which of you is Mr. Sawtelle?"
"I'm the station-master."
"I don't know how it happened. Mr. Kimball's gone."
"My name's Tucker. I'm butting in as an amateur detective trying to help solve the case before you came."
"Now, just how and when did he disappear?"
"Mr. Kimball get off Number 9 to change for the local—Number 42—that goes up the eastern branch of the road."
"He was sitting there, with the bag of money near him and I had just started to send a message, when—"
"The next thing I knew I was lying on the floor just coming out of a sleep."
"Mr. Kimball was gone, and the satchel was gone."
"That's all I know. But I didn't do it, Mr. Stokes. I swear I didn't."
"What'd they hit you with?"
"They didn't. I just looked out the door, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor."
"No sore places on your head, or your jaw?"
"No. But I didn't kidnap him or kill him either, like Mr. Tucker seems to think."
"Father! Nobody suspects you."
"I don't know just how you could get knocked out without any signs. How about chloroform?"
"I didn't smell anything. I didn't see anything. I don't know anything. He just disappeared!"
"Ruth, your father's story is too thin. He's in a pickle and has lost his nerve."
"I'll get Stokes out of here until your father can collect his wits."
END OF PART TWO.
The "Flying Ace" PART THREE
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
"Stokes, suppose you come along with me for a minute. I can show you something interesting."
"What's that?"
"Nothing much."
"Father, don't worry. I know you are innocent and everything will be cleared up."
JUNCTION LUNCH
"Howdo, Jed!"
"This is the local Sherlock. He's a local constable, a sort of deputy sheriff."
"Jed, this is Mr. Stokes a railroad detective."
"Thought as how you might be an aviator at fust with all that riggin' on. Funny what disguises these big times detectives wear."
"Have a chaw of terbacker?"
"Any news, Jed?"
"Not much, but if Sawtelle didn't murder that man an' throw him in the swamp, I'm a Swede."
"Don't go arresting him too soon."
"Jed's been hoping to find somebody in the swamp for a long time."
"I'm going up there an' look for buzzards. If I see 'em circlin' over one spot, I'll know Kimball's there."
"Wal' I swan! That big city detective sure looks swell in that there disguise. Guess I'll get me one."
At Tucker's Airplane Hangar.
"What was it you wanted to show me?"
"I brought you here, to offer you $500 to disable yourself, so you can't do any more detecting for a day or two."
"Don't be foolish. What's the idea?"
"Then $500 to box me two rounds?"
"Aside from the silliness of the thing, what did you bring me here for anyway?"
"Confound it, man, I don't want you poking about here! What'll you do, if I smash you one?"
"Put you in the Hospital! Why all this byplay?"
"What sort of scrub detective are you? Can't I get you to arrest me for killing Kimball?"
"I don't think you did it. I've no proof of your guilt."
"Go on up to the swamp. You'll see buzzards floating over it. Kimball's there."
"Then come back and make your pinch. Now get the hang out of here!"
"I'll probably take you up about the swamp."
"Hang around the Station. Pick up what evidence you can; I'm known there."
Century Book Co.
To
Dr. A. G. MAYNARD
MAYPORT FLA.
VAL $^¢$150$^{00}$
"Just freshly packed; and made up to look like it was coming in instead of going out."
"Gimme a' Loco Foco!"
"What's that?"
"Loco Foco, meaning—Lucifer Match!"
"You bum! If I wasn't huntin' murderers, I'd arrest ye; instead, I'll give you the Hokus-on-the-Pokus, meaning—"
"Drugs come in such little vials. Probably Ethyl Chloride."
"What's it good for?"
"Break off the little snout; a single whiff, and unconsciousness is a matter of seconds."
"This would make Sawtelle's story hold water, allright. But——"
"Scout around and see if you can locate a swamp near here and keep your eyes open!"
"What! You around here yet. Vamoose, ye varmint, or I'll give you more Hokus Pokus."
"I don't want any more of this Hokus Pokus stuff!"
"Mr. Stokes, this just came in for you."
"Mr. Sawtelle, there's blood on this message."
"I—I—blood makes me ill to look at. I—I don't notice it before."
"How did that happen?"
"I—I don't know."
"Those cuts could be caused by just such a little vial."
"I wish you would show me the way to a swamp that's somewhere near. Is it too far to walk?"
"About a mile and a half. I'll walk with you to the cross-roads and point it out to you."
END OF PART THREE.
The "Flying Ace" PART FOUR
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
Collecting for the feast.
"You don't suspect my father, do you? He didn't—"
"I know he didn't, but confound him, how didn't he?"
"The marsh is just over the next hilltop. W-will you need me any longer?"
"Thanks for guiding me. Have you people got a horse and wagon?"
"Yes! And father came up this way in it this morning. He makes a little extra money by delivering freight."
"There's something over there dead. It's too far out in the marshy water to reach on foot."
"I saw a man in a wagon come out of the marsh here."
"There he is coming back!"
"Can I give you a lift?"
"How can I get to whatever it is those buzzards are flying over?"
"You'd have to wade through mud up to your arm-pits. Why?"
"I'm afraid it's a man. The paymaster of the railroad is missing. Mr. Tucker suggested I take a look here."
"I saw Sawtelle here this morning. He was just pulling his wagon out of the marsh. Bet he'd just dropped—that—"
"He was? Well, Tucker seemed to invite suspicion on himself."
"You can count on Tucker making a fool of himself trying to get Sawtelle out of trouble. Tucker's in love with Sawtelle's daughter."
"I'll bet he was trying to sacrifice himself to give old Sawtelle a change to escape."
"Jump in the wagon. I'm going back to town. My name's Maynard, Doctor Maynard, Dentist."
"There's an express package at the station for you."
"I've sent for some books. They've probably come."
"The harness on your horse is loose."
"There's swamp mud on the back of your coat. It was a hog you planted out there, wasn't it?"
"Yes! How'd you know?"
"Clever idea of you people hiding the $25,000 payroll in that express package of yours."
The pink haze of a setting sun gives way to the twilight shades of night.
"Father, you must drink and eat something. You hardly touched your lunch."
"I've searched your horse and found some of the missing money. Look, there's blood stains on it, and your hand's been bleeding!"
"You killed him an' hid his body in th' swamp! Where's th' money you stole? Where is it?"
"I didn't do it! Go ahead and hang me, but I didn't do it!"
"I suppose you've come to arrest me, for murder?"
"Then you'll arrest Sawtelle. I tried to help the old fellow out, for Ruth's sake."
"Tucker, you offered me your fist to smell this afternoon. Smell it yourself!"
"The smell of paper money clings to your fingers. You planned this dirty work and packed the payroll in Dr. Maynard's box."
"Soak him, Pard! Soak him! Give 'im th' Hokus Pokus!"
"I won't charge you $500. for those two rounds you offered me this afternoon."
"What's the matter? I'm not going to arrest your father. Found nothing but a hog in the swamp."
"Oh… It's you! I'm so glad you're back! Jed—Jed's arrested father and is going to take him to jail!"
END OF PART FOUR.
The "Flying Ace" PART FIVE
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
"Here's part of the money he stole with bloodstains on it! I'm goin' to take him to jail!"
"Very well, Jed! You'd better handcuff him to yourself so he won't escape. I'll help you. Give me your keys!"
"Jed, when you sprayed that Ethyl Chloride on Mr. Kimball and Mr. Sawtelle here, you spilled some on your fingers."
"Jed! Look at those white stains on your hands!"
"Peg, go tell Mr. Kimball to come here. You know where we left him hid!"
"Mr. Sawtelle, go to the express room and bring here a package you will find addressed to Dr. Maynard!"
"For your benefit, Mr. Kimball, Mr. Sawtelle and Miss Ruth, I will show you just how this dirty job was pulled off."
"When Mr. Kimball heard that knock on the door—"
With an extra key, Jed succeeds in releasing himself.
"Tucker planned to spirit Kimball away to-night in his plane in which he used the secret compartment to haul liquor. He is a bootlegger."
"I found this out when Tucker was absent from his airplane hangar. It was then I released Kimball."
"Gad, Stokes! You're a wonder! This is the best day's work you ever did!"
"The Fast Mail is due soon. Your duty is at the station. Guard the payroll!"
END OF PART FIVE.
The "Flying Ace" PART SIX
Produced by NORMAN STUDIOS Arlington Fla.
"Now, my beauty, you're mine!"
"One little kiss, my sweetie, or you get out and walk on a cloud."
"By Gad! Tucker's plane's on fire!"
"Not much hope for them now. If I can get above their plane probably Ruth can catch hold of my rope ladder."
"Look up! LOOK UP! CLIMB!"
"CLIMB! CLIMB!"
"Look like he's going to make a landing in those trees."
"You've covered yourself with glory again, Stokes. I suppose you will be going back to-morrow?"
"Why, yes, I—er—"
♫ Thro' the moon-light my song en-treat-ing Gen-tly pleads with thee; To thy cham-ber win-dow rov-ing, Love hath led his feet. ♫
♫ Si-lent pray-ers of bliss-ful feel-ing Link you through a-part. On the breath of mu-sic steal-ing To thy dream-ing heart. ♫
"I'm going to stick around here a day or so after I take the prisoners to the County seat, and—"
"And—er—see if I can detect a way to—er—make Miss Sawtelle let me call her Ruth."
THE END.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1960, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 63 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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