Silent Aviation Double Feature: Daring Deeds (1927) / Won in the Clouds (1928) (DVD)

Daring Deeds (B&W, 1927, SILENT): William Gordon, Jr. is the rebellious heir to a million dollar airplane business. He leaves home in search of adventure, and falls in love with Helen, the daughter of an eccentric, destitute inventor. William enters an air race using a plane souped-up with the inventor's new engine. If he can win a big government contract for the old man, he will be able to marry the girl of his dreams. Leading man Billy Sullivan was the nephew of champion boxer John L. Sullivan. Molly Malone entered films at the relatively late age of 29 after being discovered by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Earl Metcalfe, who plays the villain, died while shooting another aviation picture the next year, Eagle of the Night (1928). Starring Billy Sullivan, Molly Malone and Earl Metcalfe. Directed by Duke Worne.

Won In The Clouds (B&W, 1928, SILENT): News reaches America that a plague has struck the workers at the Consolidated Diamond Mine in South Africa. Dr. Cecil James and his daughter Grace are sent to investigate, unaware that the outbreak is a hoax perpetrated by the mine's manager, Jack Woods. Planning to steal the diamonds, he sends a tribe of natives to waylay the doctor and his daughter. They are saved in the nick of time by daredevil aviator Art Blake, who pledges to help them smash Woods' scheme once and for all. Billed as "A Universal Thriller", Won in the Clouds stars real-life aviator Al Wilson. Tragically, shortly after completing stunts in Howard Hughes' classic Hell's Angels (1930), Wilson died during an air show in Ohio. Starring Al Wilson and Helen Foster. Directed by Bruce Mitchell.

• silent