A Dash Through the Clouds
About A Dash Through the Clouds
Martha is being courted by Chubby, a chewing-gum salesman, but she would rather fly with Slim. Over Chubby's objection she goes up with the pilot on a test flight. The next day Chubby, out selling, flirts with Carmelita. Her suitor and her family object. Chubby sends Martha a note by a boy and runs. She and Slim fly in and pull him out. Once he is safe, he has to watch her leave with Slim.
Cast & crew
More about A Dash Through the Clouds
Mack Sennett directed the Biograph comedy from a scenario by Dell Henderson. General Film Company released it on June 24, 1912, on a split reel with The New Baby. Percy Higginson photographed it. Slim is played by Philip Parmelee, a Wright-trained pilot Sennett hired as himself. Biograph copyrighted it on June 28. It runs 742 feet.
Themes
Making
Sennett liked putting real daredevils in the picture instead of staging the stunt with an actor. The flying was shot on location in Culver City.
Look
Percy Higginson shot the Culver City streets and the Wright-trained pilot's takeoffs and landings.
Music
Silent, with English title cards. No composer is credited.
Preservation
The Library of Congress and the George Eastman Museum both hold prints.
Notes
- Mabel Normand is Martha. Some synopses call her Josephine. Fred Mace is Arthur, called Chubby. Parmelee is Slim.
- Sylvia Ashton is Carmelita. Edward Dillon is her objecting suitor. Jack Pickford is the boy who carries Chubby's note. Kate Bruce is the older woman.
- Parmelee, trained by Wilbur Wright, was killed in a crash not long after the short was made.
- The next year Sennett used another public daredevil the same way: Barney Oldfield in Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life.
- Prints are at the Library of Congress and the George Eastman Museum.
Scenes
- Martha goes up with Slim while Chubby objects from the ground.
- Chubby's note, carried by the boy, brings the airplane back.
- After the rescue, Martha leaves with the pilot.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (A Dash Through the Clouds (1912).webm)
