StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Pamela Short
It is my ambition to add as many silent film synopsis of films that have a survival status of unknown or presumed lost. I try to do as much research as I can and it is not my intention to deceive anyone, for sometimes the film does exist. I am more than delighted if someone has knowledge of a film listed as lost but survives, as I wish all silent films did survive. I hope the reader enjoys this brief synopsis.In the early 1920's, several foreign powers decide to attack the United States. Realizing that their country is defenseless, nervous American officials offer a reward of one million dollars to anyone who invents a weapon capable of defeating the invading force. Hearing of the prize, novelist and detective Winthrop Clavering ( John Emerson ) encourages his friend, the scientist Bartholomew Thompson ( Spottiswoode Aitken ), to complete his plans for a flying torpedo. Just as Bartholomew is about to apply the finishing touches, however, a gang of spies kills him and steals his plans. Winthrop and his Swedish maid Hulda (Bessie Love) set out to find the spies who have been invading the United States. Winthrop and Hulda catch up with the spies just as they invade California. Winthrop retrieves the plans and builds the torpedoes, then gives them to the American army. As a result, the United States is able to repel the foreign fleet, which had gathered off the California coast, and Winthrop can claim the million dollars. and force them out of the country with the same device they stole.This 1916 silent science fiction/drama was produced by The Fine Arts Film Company, starring John Emerson, Spottiswoode Aitken and Bessie Love. Eric von Stroheim played a small supporting role as an evil German officer. The production began shooting in July 1915. The survival status of The Flying Torpedo is listed in the American Silent Feature Film Database as; No holdings located in archives.
