Live Music Event
When a railroad paymaster and the $25,000 he was carrying disappear, returning WWI ace Billy Stokes is put on the case in this landmark silent film that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Q&A to follow.
The Flying Ace is an aspirational "race film," chronicling a Black WWI fighter pilot who, after honorably serving, returns to his civilian job as a railroad detective. He uses his military training and detective skills to find and capture a gang of railroad thieves who stole $25,000 from his company. Shot at a time when racism and segregation prevented Black people from becoming pilots in the armed forces and when Hollywood continually portrayed Black people as one-dimensional caricatures, The Flying Ace empowers Black people and features multi-dimensional representations of Black life, culture, and identities. The film was directed by Richard E. Norman and stars Laurence Criner, Katherine Boyd, and Steve "Peg" Reynolds. The Flying Ace is the lone surviving film made at Richard E. Norman's Jacksonville, FL-based Norman Studios, and this year marks the centennial of its release. Fully restored by the Library of Congress, the film was selected for the National Film Registry in 2021. [65 min; mystery, adventure; silent with English title cards]
A Q&A with Black Film Center & Archive Director Novotny Lawrence and ReelAbilities Director of Engagement Lawrence Carter-Long will follow the screening.
“Advertised as ‘the greatest airplane thriller ever filmed,’ it also liberally borrows from detective thrillers, slapstick comedy, and romantic melodrama.” – Nathanael Hood, Unseen Films
“All in all, The Flying Ace is a fine bit of unpretentious silent entertainment and even without its historical importance, it works as a diverting detective yarn. This is a must-see for nerds and casual fans alike.” – Movies Silently
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
