Die große Abenteuerin (1928) Review: Planes and Pouty Faces

If you are looking for something to watch tonight and you actually enjoy the flicker of old 1920s celluloid, then Die große Abenteuerin is a pretty safe bet. It is definitely for people who like that specific era where everyone looked like they were wearing five layers of wool even in the summer.

If you hate silent films or find old-school romance a bit too cheesy, you will probably loathe this. It’s got all the tropes.

The whole thing is basically about two aviation firms—one British and one French—trying to out-fly each other. It’s the kind of rivalry where men in suits point at maps very intensely and look worried about the weather.

Then the French guy goes to London and falls for a girl. Of course, she’s the daughter of the British rival. It’s like Romeo and Juliet but with more grease and propellers. 🛩️

Lili Damita is the real reason to sit through this one. She has these eyes that seem to take up half the screen. Every time she’s in a shot, the movie feels alive, but when she leaves, it’s just guys talking about engines again.

I noticed the sets in the London scenes look almost too clean. It’s clearly a studio backlot, but it has this weird, cozy charm to it.

There is a moment where the head of the French firm—played by Félix de Pomés—is trying to look suave, but he just looks like he’s got a very stiff neck. It’s a bit funny if you watch his posture too closely.

The aviation stuff is actually pretty cool to look at. You can tell they were really proud of those planes. They look like they are held together by hope and some very thin wires.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Die große Abenteuerin (1928) through its definitive frames.

It reminds me a bit of A Rare Bird, though that one was maybe a bit more focused on the comedy. This one tries to be a bit more serious about the business side of things, which is the boring part, honestly.

The pacing gets a little wonky in the middle. There is a scene in an office that goes on for what feels like twenty minutes. They just keep passing papers back and forth.

I kept waiting for something to explode, but this isn't that kind of movie. It’s more about the drama of the sky.

Paul Hörbiger is in this too, and he’s always a delight to see. He has this way of making even a boring scene feel like something is actually happening. He’s much better here than in some of those other fluff pieces like White Slippers.

The writing by Ferdinand Ujhelyi is okay, I guess. It’s not breaking any new ground. It feels like it was written in a weekend over a lot of coffee.

One reaction shot of the British rival lingers for so long it becomes slightly awkward. You start counting the seconds and wondering if the director forgot to yell cut. ⏱️

I also loved the costumes. The hats alone are worth the price of admission. Everyone has a hat, and everyone knows exactly how to tip it.

If you’ve seen Man and Maid, you know how these late silent romances can get a bit mushy. This one stays a bit more grounded because of the airplanes.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Die große Abenteuerin (1928) through its definitive frames.

The French-British rivalry is played for laughs sometimes, but it’s mostly just there to keep the plot moving. It’s not exactly a deep political commentary.

The film gets noticeably better once the romance actually starts to create problems for the businesses. That’s when the actors stop posing and start actually acting.

There’s this one specific shot of a plane taking off against a sunset (or maybe a very bright lamp) that is genuinely beautiful. It’s one of those moments where you remember why people fell in love with movies in the first place.

It’s definitely better than The Little 'Fraid Lady, which I found a bit too slow even for my tastes. This one at least has the sense to put a plane in the air every once in a while.

I did find myself wondering how they kept their scarves so perfectly white while flying those dirty engines. It’s a movie mystery that will never be solved.

Overall, it’s a nice little trip back in time. It’s not a masterpiece, and it won't change your life, but it’s a pleasant way to spend an hour or so.

Don't expect too much from the ending. It’s exactly what you think it’s going to be. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you want.

If you like Lili Damita, just watch it. She’s magnetic. If you’re here for the technical history of aviation, you might find it a bit light on the details, but the visuals are still fun.

It’s got that weird, grainy texture that makes everything look like a dream. I miss that in modern movies. Everything is too sharp now.

Anyway, give it a go if you’re in the mood for something light and airy. Just like the planes. ✈️