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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
Alright, so you’re looking at a movie from 1928, The Air Patrol, and wondering, 'Is this even worth my time today?' 🤔 The honest answer: if you’re a fan of old silent films, especially ones with actual *action* and some pretty impressive stunts for their day, then absolutely, yes. You’ll find something here. If you need snappy dialogue and intricate plots, you’re probably gonna hate it. This one is for the folks who appreciate a historical peek at moviemaking, or just a good old-fashioned adventure. It’s got a certain rough charm to it.
From the moment the grainy footage starts, you’re just dropped into this world of early aviation. No real hand-holding, which is fine. The plot itself is pretty simple: our hero, Al Wilson playing pilot Art 'Lightning' Goebel, is part of some kind of air patrol, probably guarding borders or chasing smugglers. There’s a damsel in distress, because of course there is, and some bad guys who fly even worse planes. That’s it. That’s the movie. And it works.
The thing that really stands out are the aerial sequences. It’s clear they didn’t have much in the way of special effects back then, so when a plane dips and dives, or two planes are practically bumping wings, you know it’s real people doing real stunts. It’s exhilarating, actually. There’s a particular moment where Goebel’s biplane seems to just hang in the air, almost impossibly, before a stomach-lurching plunge. You just don't see that kind of raw, unpolished risk in films today. It really makes you sit up.
Some of the ground scenes, though, they drag. You get a lot of over-the-top acting, which is par for the course with silent films, but it feels a bit much sometimes. Especially when the villains are doing their nefarious plotting. It's like, *we get it*, they’re bad. The close-ups on their scowls go on for just a beat too long. You can almost feel the director thinking, 'Make sure they *really* understand the evil!'
But then you get back into the air, and everything is forgiven. Art Goebel, who was a real stunt pilot, is just fantastic to watch. You can tell he’s comfortable up there. The way he maneuvers that plane, it's almost like an extension of himself. There's a chase through a canyon that feels genuinely tense. It might just be the sheer novelty of seeing planes fly so close to terrain like that in 1928, but it really captures your attention.
And speaking of Goebel, his character, even without a single spoken word, carries a certain charisma. He’s not some brooding hero; he’s more of a daring, slightly reckless type. You root for him. When he makes a forced landing and has to fight off a few bad guys on foot, it feels a little clunky, but still fun. The fists are thrown with gusto!
What’s surprising is how much The Air Patrol gets away with on such a simple premise. It’s not trying to be Lilies of the Field or some deep character study. It just wants to show you some cool planes and a good chase. And for the most part, it does it well.
There are these small, almost blink-and-you’ll-miss-it details that stick with you. Like the way the wind whips through the pilot’s hair, or the old leather helmet he wears. It’s these tiny, authentic touches that transport you. You can almost smell the oil and gasoline.
The ending, without giving too much away, is exactly what you’d expect from this kind of film. It’s satisfying, tidy, and leaves you with a little smile. It doesn’t try to be clever or groundbreaking; it just delivers on its promise of adventure. ✈️
So, yeah, if you've got an hour to spare and want to see some early cinema magic unfold, give The Air Patrol a shot. Just remember to temper your expectations for modern storytelling. This is pure, unadulterated 1920s thrills, and it’s actually quite enjoyable for what it is. A little slice of aviation history on film.
IMDb —
1918
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