Crimson Romance

Plot synopsis:
In 1916, childhood best friends, Bob Wilson (Ben Lyon) and Fred von Bergen (James Bush), are test pilots working for an American company that builds bombers for the European allies. Since he is German-born and faces prejudice against his heritage, 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 aviation company and joins his friend in Germany.
On their way to a German airfield, Red Cross nurse Alida Hoffman (Sari Maritza) accidentally runs Bob and Fred off the road, Both men are immediately drawn to Alida, especially Bob although Fred is more shy. After Bob's first unsuccessful mission, Captain Wolters (Erich von Stroheim), the squadron's tyrannical leader, expresses his doubt about his loyalty but, desperate for pilots, gives him another chance.
As the United States is drawn into the war, instead of sending him into a crucial air battle, Wolters arrests Bob. Fred, heartbroken that Alida has chosen Bob, quarrels with his friend, calling him a coward. Later, however, Fred allows his friend to escape from a firing squad and flee to the Allied lines.
To prove his allegiance, Bob leads 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. After the war, Bob returns to Germany to marry Alida. The newly married couple then returns to the United States, and pay their respects to Fred's mother.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Friendship or Country?. When Fred is forced to leave his job as a test pilot for being a German immigrant his friend Bob goes with him. These are the days prior to America's entry in to World War One and anti German hysteria is running high. Unable to find work Fred decides to return to Germany "where he's wanted" and Bob goes with him. Both men fall in love with a pretty ambulance driver complicating their friendship. Things get even more complicated when America enters the war and Bob feels he must join his fellow countrymen on the other side. His only hope to escape would be with Fred's help, but to do so would put Fred into terrible danger.Interesting war drama about love, friendship and nationalism in time of war. Certainly its a pot boiler first (and a good one at that) but it also forces you to wonder which is more important friendship or country? The answer isn't that easy especially when any choice will be deadly. There really isn't much more to say beyond that except its a good little movie thats well told. Its an enjoyable hour and change that probably won't change your life but will keep you entertained.. Germany...we're kinda sorry about WWI.. In the late 1920s into the 1930s, quite a few films began re-thinking America's involvement in WWI. While the Germans had previously been described as monstrous, the post-war years brought a realization that the First World War was a crime against humanity and there were no 'good guys'....just victims of this accursed war. Films like "Ever In My Heart" (1933), "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) and "Four Sons" (1928) now showed Germans in a very sympathetic light and they presented a much more realistic view of the war.When the story begins, Fred is fired from his job because he's a German and there's a lot of anti-German sentiment in the USA*. After not begin able to find work, he decides to immigrate back to Germany---and his friend, Bob (Ben Lyon) goes with him even though he's not German. Both soon join the German army**. Soon they are transferred to the air corps, as they both are trained pilots. Unfortunately, Bob makes a terrible pilot. He seems to think more of his German sweetie, Alida, than he does serving Germany. As a result of this relationship, Bob and Fred have a falling out...which makes little sense in light of Bob's actions leading up to this (quitting the USA and standing up for Fred repeatedly up until this time). He also is torn when the USA enters the war...will he keep serving Germany, go to prison for refusing to fight or will he try to go across enemy lines and join his American comrades?This is an okay film.....and not nearly as impactful as the ones I mentioned above. This is for a few reasons I can think of right away...such as some bad acting here or there (with folks who couldn't approximate a German accent if their lives depended on it!), a muddled message (Bob, if you think about it, really WAS a traitorous sort of guy) and a finale pitting Bob against Fred which just seems ridiculous. Overall, watchable but a missed opportunity to be something more.*It's hard to believe now, but in cities across the USA, there were anti-German riots and German immigrants WERE targeted for attacks in many places, such as Cincinnati and Milwaukee (primarily German cities, in fact). Additionally, famous German-Americans lost jobs in places like Chicago and Nashville. This was mirrored in countries like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. **Before the USA entered the war in the Spring of 1917, some Americans volunteered to fight in the war. The vast majority fought for the French or British, though some (like in this film) did fight for the Reich....so this story element isn't far-fetched. What IS far-fetched is that neither of the friends sound the least bit German! While it made sense for Bob not to speak German or have an accent...where is Fred's?! Plus, a few of the Germans in the film have very thick accents...yet others have almost none!!. Exactly 100 years ago... A lot of history can be recorded in a century, and while we haven't yet reached the centennial of America's involvement in the great war, society advancements make it seem like a millennium. Look at aircraft alone, from the one seaters of more than a century ago to the huge airline industry of today. America's involvement in the first world war didn't come until the end if it, and certainly the outcome for the boys was grim when they returned. An American pilot leaves the service of his country when his German pal is kicked out over paranoia during pre- American involvement times. He follows his friend to Germany and ends up serving under the Kaiser. But America's involvement is inevitable, causing conflict inside him, as does his love for a pretty German girl. "Please don't go away mad. Just go away", he tells his German pal, but under the thumb of commander Erich von Stroheim, he finds more than his share if issues to deal with.There's believable conflict in this above average B film that flies by in an hour. Ben Lyon is quite good as the American, with von Stroheim both subtle and powerful in his supporting role. This gives a reminder that the enemy is not always individually rotten as we would like to think, and the conflicts of war involve more than just two sides. Seeing that this came out as Germany was rebuilding under the Nazi's makes this all the more interesting and in the case of when it was released, very timely.