Hollywood Takes to the Air: Lilac Time

Based on the play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin, this silent romantic war story takes place during World War I, when a young British aviator falls in love with a farmer’s daughter while stationed with his squadron in France. As the flyers head off on a dangerous mission, the pilot promises to return to his beloved. Lilac Time was the first big aviation film released with a synchronized Vitaphone track. The film was shot silent, but music and sound effects were added in post-production. The film paired major star Colleen Moore with rising leading man Gary Cooper, fresh off his breakthrough role in Wings. Airplane crack-up master Dick Grace did some major stunts in the film, and aerial footage shot for this film reappeared in the 1930 film The Dawn Patrol.

1928, 100 minutes, black and white, 35mm | Directed by George Fitzmaurice; adaptation by Willis Goldbeck, scenario by Carey Wilson, based on the play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin; with Colleen Moore, Gary Cooper, Burr McIntosh, George Cooper, Cleve Moore, Kathryn McGuire, Eugenie Besserer.

CRAIG BARRON has contributed visual effects to more than 100 films including The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Hugo. He earned an Oscar® nomination for his work on Batman Returns and received an Oscar for Visual Effects for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

BEN BURTT's first two Oscars® were Special Achievement Awards for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices featured in Star Wars and for Sound Effects Editing for Raiders of the Lost Ark. He has since earned Oscars for his work on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and nominations for Return of the Jedi, Willow and WALL-E, among others.