Four of eight reels survive at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
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Russ Kane obtains work as a pilot in the airmail service with the purpose of robbing
the mails. However, during his training period at the Reno field, he becomes imbued
with the spirit of the service and dedicates himself to getting the mail through.
Russ is forced to make an emergency landing near a ghost town, where he meets
Alice Rendon and her invalid father, who is badly in need of medicine. Russ repairs
his plane and promises to return on the following day with the elder Rendon's medicine.
Making good on his promise, Russ returns, carrying with him a valuable mail shipment
and his friend, Sandy. The plane is attacked by two planes belonging to a gang that
smuggles dope and aliens across the Mexican border. Sandy makes a parachute jump with the mail sack, and Russ maneuvers his craft so that the pursuing planes are forced to
crash. Russ then lands his plane, only to discover that the Rendons have been
captured by three escaped convicts. Russ manages to bring the men to justice, winning
the gratitude and love of Alice. Sandy realizes the crowning ambition of his young
life and delivers the mail.
Description from AFI Catalog Silent Films
Little is known about this film. The filming in Rhyolite apparently took place around the Bottle House, It has been said that Paramount Studios rebuilt the bottle house just before the movie was made.
We have found that the only thing that was done was a hole that was made for the camera and repair of the hole after the movie was made. As you can see from the poster above (compliments of Bill Miller) some shooting was done
in the center of town. You can just see the railroad depot in the background. After the filming was complete, Paramount Studios turned the Bottle House over to the Beatty Improvement Association. From that point on, someone has been taking
care of the Bottle House in Rhyolite.
Some of the Cast
 Warner Baxter as Russ Kane |
 Billie Dove as Alice Rendon |
 Mary Brian as Minnie Wade |
 Douglas Fairbanks Jr.as Sandy |
 Saturday Matinee Premiere Sidney Lust's Leader Theater at 507 Ninth Street NW in Washington, D.C. Now playing: The Air Mail, starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and an Our Gang short. National Photo Company glass negative. - from Shorpy |
 In 1925, Paramount Pictures came out with a movie call Air Mail, with the good guys, bad guys, love and romance. The only good part of the picture was the ground and aerial scenes in which the old reliable DH-4 was the star of the show. At least that seems to interest such air mail personnel as (left to right) Steve Kaufman, Ed Carney, Robert Ellis, Shirley Short (holding reel), Randolph Page and Johnny Ruden. Chicago, 1925. from Airmail Pioneers |