
First one stranger, then another, arrive at the presidio, each with a government pass and each claiming to have been robbed by the notorious Captain Fly-by-Night and his highwaymen..


The first time I saw Captain Fly-by-Night I swore the celluloid itself was breathing—an unsteady inhale each time the gaunt silhouette of Victory Bateman glided across the presidio’s torch-lit arcade, an exhale whenever the camera discovered Bert Wheeler’s nervous grin twitching beneath a stolen officer’s helmet. Nin...


Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.

William K. Howard

Robert N. Bradbury
Community
Log in to comment.
" The first time I saw Captain Fly-by-Night I swore the celluloid itself was breathing—an unsteady inhale each time the gaunt silhouette of Victory Bateman glided across the presidio’s torch-lit arcade, an exhale whenever the camera discovered Bert Wheeler’s nervous grin twitching beneath a stolen officer’s helmet. Ninety-six years after its premiere, this 1927 First National oddity still possesses that illicit pulse, a clandestine heartbeat muffled under the scratchy gray coat of time. Plot Re..."
Eve Unsell, Johnston McCulley
United States


Deep dive into the cult classic
Discover similar cinematic experiences
A Directorial Spotlight on William K. Howard