In the years before the United States' involvement in World War I, John Merrick and Jerry Somers, attachés to the American embassy in Vienna, attend an elaborate fundraiser at the aristocratic Walden home, where John meets the countess Vilma Walden and romance blooms.
Vilma's twin brother, combat veteran Count Carl Walden, along with Vilma and Carl's father, asks John when Americans will fight against Austria. Kapitan Wolke, a family friend, emerges as a rival for the affections of Vilma. A heated confrontation takes place between John and Wolke.
When the United States goes to war, John requests a post at the Italian front where Carl is stationed. John returns to the Walden home and breaks the news to Vilma, who promises to return to the pool by the house each day until John's reflection appears beside her own.
After duty in France, John is transferred to the Italian front where he faces an enemy squadron led by Wolke and his ace pilot Carl. In the air over the Italian Alps, John spots Wolke's aircraft and downs it, landing nearby to try to rescue the pilot. John is astonished to discover that the pilot is actually Carl, who had borrowed Wolke's aircraft for the mission.
John is overcome with grief and announces that he wishes to kill no more. After refusing to join his squadron on a flight against the enemy, John steals an aircraft and flies to the Walden house behind enemy lines. He confesses to Vilma that he killed Carl and begs her forgiveness, but she refuses.
For his desertion, John is court-martialed with Jerry, his defense attorney, unsuccessfully defending him. Despondent and apathetic, he is found guilty and receives a dishonorable discharge and a sentence of hard labor.
Peace finally comes and John visits the Walden estate, which is now a home for war orphans. As Vilma sits by the pool, she sees John's reflection beside hers, and they embrace.
The film is set primarily in Italy but was filmed in California, with the San Gabriel Mountains taking the place of the Italian Alps.
Newspaper advertisement for Heartbreak
Reception
In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Mordaunt Hall wrote: "It is a mildly entertaining affair, with some excellent flying scenes that are presumed to be in the Italian Alps."[6]
References
Notes
^The recreated British base at the Triunfo airfield, near Thousand Oaks, California was used as a setting for many aviation films, including Heartbreak.[5]
^Sennwald, Andre (October 17, 1931). "Her Foster Father". The New York Times. p. 20.
Bibliography
Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation (1st ed.). Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: TAB Books 1984. ISBN978-0-83062-374-7.
Paris, Michael. From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995. ISBN978-0-7190-4074-0.
Pendo, Stephen. Aviation in the Cinema. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. ISBN0-8-1081-746-2.
Solomon, Aubrey. The Fox Film Corporation, 1915 - 1935: A History and Filmography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2011. ISBN978-0-78646-286-5.
Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN978-0-93312-685-5.
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