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Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator
For those who were mesmerized by Flying Luck, a true Comedy masterpiece from 1927, its influence on Comedy cinema remains a vital reference point for fans today. This list serves as a bridge to other Comedy experiences that are just as potent.
The legacy of Flying Luck is built upon its ability to blend thematic complexity with stunning visual execution.
Monty Banks wants to be like his hero Charles Lindbergh, and will do anything to learn to fly a plane. After building his own doesn't go so well, he winds up enlisting in the Army. During basic training, Monty falls in love with the Colonel's daughter (played by a young Jean Arthur), tangles with a mean drill sergeant (Kewpie Morgan) and is mistaken for a visiting French dignitary. But eventually Monty winds up in a plane and wins the big Army-Navy air polo match! On May 20, 1927 Charles Lindbergh successfully performed the first transatlantic solo flight, captivating the nation, if not the world. Two months later, motion picture trade papers announced that comedian Monty Banks' next feature-length comedy would be An Ace in the Hole -- which was released on December 5, 1927 as Flying Luck. This aviation-inspired comedy was the last produced of a string of Monty Banks features made 1924-27. Monty Banks entered films in 1916 and, after supporting other comedians for a few years, had a successful series of starring shorts from 1920 to 1924. Banks is probably best known for the climactic reels of his thrill comedy feature Play Safe (1927), which were featured in Robert Youngson's compilation movie The Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961). Flying Luck capitalizes on the 1927 airplane craze and co-stars a young Jean Arthur (Easy Living, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Shane). This extremely rare silent film has never been available on home video, and is seen here in a transfer from a rare, vintage 35mm nitrate print. BONUS: This DVD includes 40 minutes of newsreels covering Lucky Lindy's infamous flight from New York to Paris from "weeklies" (newsreels) produced by Kinograms, the William J. Ganz Company and Pathé News. 100 mins, B&W, unrated; stereo. Musical scores copyright 2014 by Ben Model, all rights reserved. Produced
Flying Luck was a significant production in United States, showcasing the immense talent of Tom Mintz, Kewpie Morgan, Eddy Chandler. It continues to be a top recommendation for anyone studying Comedy history.
Based on the unique cult status of Flying Luck, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Alfred J. Goulding
Two tramps wrest a pistol from a hold up man, then try to pull a stick up of their own, unfortunately for them, a cop appears and takes the money back and then chases them through a park with a lake. One steals canoe and the chase continues when a mob of cops go after him in more boats.
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Dir: Unknown Director
The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.
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Dir: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
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Dir: Vernon Stallings
Krazy Kat is held in jail and Ignatz finally bails him out after encountering "guilt".
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Dir: Malcolm St. Clair
A dancing instructor gets involved with a newly rich family.
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Dir: Bud Fisher
Mutt and Jeff go on strike and make their own film.
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Dir: Henry Edwards
A millionaire bets £25,000 that he can earn his own living for six months.
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Dir: Herman C. Raymaker
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
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Dir: Herman C. Raymaker
The trials and tribulations of a woman gasoline attendant, showing that motorists patronize the station only for the free air and water which it affords.
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Dir: Maurice Campbell
Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to Flying Luck
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 'Em Ragged | Gothic | Abstract | 93% Match |
| New Ralgia | Ethereal | High | 85% Match |
| His Royal Slyness | Gothic | Layered | 92% Match |
| The Great Cheese Robbery | Surreal | Linear | 87% Match |
| Don't Weaken! | Tense | Dense | 89% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Herman C. Raymaker's archive. Last updated: 6/26/2026.
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