‘Starry Squadron’: The Polish Film That Never Was Hashtag (topic) #interrupted country #film Nagłówek super artykułu Title on page in header ‘Starry Squadron’: The Polish Film That Never Was Image or video gwiazdzista_eskadra_kadr_fn_34.jpg Podpis dla multimediów Still from 'Starry Squadron' directed by Leonard Buczkowski, 1930. Pictured: Barbara Orwid and Andrzej Karewicz, photo: Polish National Film Archive / www.fototeka.fn.org.pl Header text color rgb(255, 255, 255) Enable audio for video Off Zawartość (treść strony Super Artykułu) Tekst Gwiaździsta Eskadra (Starry Squadron) was one of the most eagerly watched films of its time, but now, not even a fragment remains. It was created for the purpose of commemorating a critical time in Polish history, yet for decades, all memory of it was supressed. How is it possible that a pre-war Polish blockbuster disappeared without a trace? How did an entire nation fall silent about a story that meant so much to its own citizens? Could it be that the mythology built up around Gwiaździsta Eskadra surpasses the picture itself? What is the real history behind this film that never was? Text size standard fonts size Podpis obrazka Photograph from 'Starry Squadron' film set, directed by Leonard Buczkowski, 1930, photo: www.poznan.naszemiasto.pl Tekst Bond – the man who stopped the Bolsheviks Although production on Gwiaździsta Eskadra didn’t begin until 1929, its beginnings stretch back a full decade. Leonard Buczkowski’s film tells a fictionalised account of the Kościuszko Squadron, a Polish unit made up of American pilots who voluntarily joined to help fight the Polish-Soviet War in 1920. Text size standard fonts size Columns style right column static Left column In the real-life story, one of these pilots was Merian C. Cooper – who, after being stationed in France during World War I, went on to join a humanitarian mission to help rebuild Poland. Right column Advertisement stating: 'In theatre "Zeter" the 5th Week Primary School Committee screens the great Polish flying epic about love and blood brotherhood "Starry Squadron" on 7, 8 and 9 November 1938!' Photo: National Library of Poland Tekst A year later, Cooper and Marjorie Crosby-Słomczyńska welcomed their son Maciej into the world. Maciej would later grew up to be one of the best-known translators of English in Poland; thus far, he remains the only person to have translated the complete works of Shakespeare. Cooper eventually left for the States, where he became a film producer known for works such as the 1933 King Kong, one of the most popular films of the time period. On that very film set, he once again returned to his time-tested skills. In the scene where a pilot shoots at the powerful gorilla standing on top of a skyscraper, it is actually Cooper himself behind the wheel. Text size standard fonts size Video King Kong (1933)- Climbing the Empire State Building Scene (9/10) | Movieclips Autoplay video On Play video in loop Off Video without audio On Tekst Youthful ambition Cooper’s story became the inspiration for the two creators of Gwiaździsta Eskadra – Leonard Buczkowski, a director, and Janusz Meissner, a writer and pilot. Buczkowski was a rising star in Poland, having already created the patriotic Szaleńcy (Madmen), a tale of the Polish Legion’s 1914 march, which had landed in theatres in 1928. Not only had audiences reacted warmly to the story, but a few months later, Buczkowski won a gold medal at the Parisian World Fair. This solidified his talent in the eyes of any sceptics. Meissner was also beginning his career, but he had already won enough acclaim to be taken seriously. Besides his writing talent, Meissner had something else – experience as a pilot and expertise he could use in writing the script. The young director asked for his collaboration, which Meissner was not immediately thrilled about, as evidenced in his own writing: Text size standard fonts size Columns style right column static Left column I don’t really have the time for or interest in something like this. First of all, in two days, I go on vacation: I’m going with the boys to Gdynia. Second of all, I have no idea how to write scripts. Right column Advertisement in 'Kino dla Wszystkich' (Cinema for Everyone) published 15 December 1929, photo: city archives Tekst Our friendship & yours And so, work began on the script for Gwiaździsta Eskadra, the first Polish film about pilots. The director encouraged his collaborator to take dramatic risks, saying: Text size standard fonts size The action is supposed to be sensational, fluid, with dramatic tension – some kind of kidnapping, chase scene, with a dangerous adventure, and all of this against the backdrop of the war efforts of the air escadrille. Lots of outdoor scenes, flying fights, a great battle with a cavalry, footmen and artillery. – Don’t worry about technical difficulties. If we need to get an army division, that’s my problem to make that happen. If you create a trip across a river, a bombarded town or a blown-up bridge with a train – I’ll make it happen! Signature Trans. AZ Text size standard fonts size Fullscreen gallery items Text The topic itself – the joint war efforts of Poland and the US – was of the utmost importance. In preparation for the 10-year anniversary of the Warsaw victory, which Edward Shepard Creasy labelled as the 18th most important battle in the history of civilisation, Polish leaders wanted to underscore Poland’s belonging to Western civilisation, while also reminding the US of its shared relationship, which was already friendly. Podpis obrazka Selected pages from the Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States, signed by the president of the Republic of Poland, high-ranking government officials, national institutions, social and religious organisations; tome 1, 1926, photo: US Library of Congress Text position left top Text To get a sense of just how friendly, consider these words from Jan Karski in conversation with Waldemar Piascki, the author of the legendary biography of the Polish Underground State: 'When in 1926, America was celebrating 150 years of independence, Poland authored a ‘Declaration of Admiration and Friendship’ towards the United States. It was signed by the president of the Republic of Poland Ignacy Mościcki, the Polish cardinal Aleksander Kakowski and Prime Minister Kazimierz Bartel, along with the entire Chancellery, the Minister of Military Affairs, Józef Piłsudski, members of the Sejm and senators, along with five and a half million citizens, or one in six Poles'. Podpis obrazka Selected pages from the Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States, tome 1, 1926, photo: US Library of Congress Text position left top Text The film, inspired by the story of American soldiers fighting arm-in-arm with their Polish friends, was meant to be a commemoration of the victory, as well as a tale of the camaraderie and love that existed between the two nations. Podpis obrazka Signatures from the Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States, tome 7, 1926, photo: US Library of Congress Text position left top Tekst The film’s hero, an American captain named Bond, volunteers to the front lines of the war, devoted to helping the Polish army. His soldierly duty comes first, so the enamoured Bond has no time to marry his beloved Lily. Despite this, the woman travels to Poland with him. Here, the brave captain meets the Polish pilot Woyda, who becomes his comrade-in-arms. Eventually, Bond and Woyda’s fiancée, Zosia, grow to have feelings for one another, while Woyda and Bond’s wife grow closer as well. When Soviet soldiers capture Lily, it is Woyda who rushes out to save her, while the brave American pilot perishes from enemy fire. In his memoir, Meissner wrote: Text size standard fonts size I wrote this screenplay. It’s titled ‘Gwiaździsta Eskadra’, and it is full of incredible events which take your breath away and cause your blood to boil – but which could also, more or less, really happen. Signature Trans. AZ Text size standard fonts size Tekst Meissner’s story included patriotic themes, but it went against more conservative tastes. Gwiaździsta Eskadra was a story of great friendship in a time of war; at the same time, it was also a love tragedy, in which loss divides lovers. The propagandistic commemoration of the victory was cut into a tasteful melodrama. Text size standard fonts size Columns style both columns static Left column Heaven above Poznań Production began in 1929 in Poznań, funded by the production company Klio-Film, which had been known as the National Historical Film Production Company. Right column Wielkopolska Illustration 1930.01.12 Nr. 15, photo: Wielkopolska Digital Library / Poznań University Library Columns style both columns static Left column Photo from 'Starry Squadron' production, directed by Lonard Buczkowski, 1930, photo: weekly magazine Kino archives, nr. 1 from 1930 Right column Through the help of the Polish army, the spectacular military scenes dreamed up by Meissner and Buczkowski could become a reality. Video YouTube Video (prtXgdZhWXY) Autoplay video On Play video in loop Off Video without audio On Columns style both columns static Left column Love in the air Second to war, love was at the heart of the film. And it was love that was supposed to draw in millions of viewers. Right column Barbara Orwid and Andrzej Karewicz in 'Starry Squadron' photo: Jerzy Benedykt Dorys / National Library of Poland Tekst In the shadow of death Meissner, who also took part in the production, almost paid with his life, as the pilot of an airplane which was also carrying one of the camera operators. They were supposed to film the footmen attacking with bayonets, the cavalry charging forward and the artillery strikes. An errant hit from the artillery damaged the plane, however, which the writer described in his diary as follows: Text size standard fonts size Columns style right column static Left column Then, when I had just completed another loop – two metres above the smoke – from the underbelly of the machine, a slow explosive explodes; a tremor, a shaking, a geyser of sand and gravel slams against the controls and the cockpit! Right column Scan of 'Kurier Poznański', photo: www.poznan.naszemiasto.pl Tekst Meissner and the camera operator had plenty of luck, but not all were so lucky. On 12th November 1929, a deadly accident occurred over the Ławica airport. Pilot Jan Bilski and the second lieutenant perished in the plane crash. Text size standard fonts size Podpis obrazka Photograph from the chronicles of the 3rd Aviation Regiment in Ławica, photo: www.poznan.naszemiasto.pl Tekst Their death was a tragic end to the production. Primary production had already ended, while the only crew left were those in charge of filming pick-up shots. During filming, two planes crashed into each other – all of which was captured on the camera operators’ 35mm reels. One of the planes from the crash began plummeting from the air, and despite the best efforts of the pilot, it slammed into the ground. Unfortunately, this was not the only death linked to this forgotten blockbuster. The next one would take place a just few years later. The glory of success Text size standard fonts size Podpis obrazka Playbill, 1st image: 'Humour, song, satire, story, you'll see it all in this beautiful Polish film titled "Trójka Hultajska"; 2nd image: 'Powerful flying drama full of emotions, bravery and sacrifice titles "Starry Squadron"' [...] 1930-1939, 'Ars', Bałucki Rynek, photo: National Library of Poland Tekst Buczkowski’s film hit theatres on 10th April 1930. In Warsaw, a special screening was organised for Józef Piłsudski and his closest comrades from the war. John Willys, the American ambassador at the time, was also in attendance. Gwiaździsta Eskadra immediately gained the public’s favour as they shed tears over the patriotic production. Compared to the modest melodramas and tearful comedies that graced theatres at the time, a story on such an epic scale must have made quite an impression upon viewers. Text size standard fonts size Fullscreen gallery items Text In a conversation with Waldemar Piasecki, Jan Karski reminisced on Gwiaździsta Eskadra: 'Along with my friends, I was enamoured with the film and convinced that America was fated to be with Poland. The film was a hymn exalting Polish-American friendship. Many people thought that the film was in large part dedicated to the current man in the White House, Herbert Hoover, an honorary citizen of Poland'. But the film also stirred up controversy. Not everyone approved of the screenwriter’s decision to kill off the American pilot. Merian Cooper’s story was well-known in Poland, and the film Bond’s real-life counterpart received much adulation amongst Poles. Podpis obrazka Scan of 'Starry Squadron' programme, directed by Leonard Buczkowski, 1930, photo: Cinema Museum Łódż archives Text position left top Text Critics also took jabs at the film’s aesthetics. Sam Meissner recalled his father saying: '[The film] did not enter the history of Polish cinema as a work of artistic merit. In all honesty, it was a sensationalist melodrama, and only the aerial aspect of the story caused it to have such a strong reception – and even to have sound added to it. It played for a long time in provincial theatres'. Podpis obrazka Scan of 'Starry Squadron' programme, directed by Leonard Buczkowski, 1930, photo: Cinema Museum Łódż archives Text position left top Tekst Life after life Gwiaździsta Eskadra played in cinemas for a long time – first as a silent film, and later, after adding sound and a soundtrack by Tadeusz Górzyński, as a talkie. The picture was also distributed beyond Poland. It travelled around Europe, and a few copies even made their way to the United States. It also became known in the Soviet Union, but not for artistic reasons – rather, for reasons of censorship. Soviet officials considered the film radical propaganda and banned its propagation. The Russian public was not to be reminded of their lost battle against the Polish-American foe. Text size standard fonts size Fullscreen gallery items Text The anti-Soviet stance of the film was later to be the reason why all proof of its existence was wiped out. When the Red Army crossed over into Poland on 17th September 1939, they were closely followed by the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, whose mission was to repress Polish culture. One of their tasks was purging theatres of any films contrary to their beliefs. Gwiaździsta Eskadra was at the top of the list of undesirable films. Podpis obrazka Photograph from 'Starry Squadron' production, 1930, photo: weekly magazine Kino archives, nr. 15 from 1930 Text position left top Tekst The Commissariat’s actions led to another death attributed to this legendary film. In his diary, Jan Karski described a theatre-owner in Lviv, who, after attempting to hide a copy of the film, was shot by Soviet soldiers. In time, the Soviets confiscated most copies of the film. Similarly, on the land occupied by Nazi German soldiers, Gwiaździsta Eskadra had no chance of distribution. These invaders were willing to allow sentimental comedies, but any film with a whiff of nationalism was banned from returning to the silver screen. Text size standard fonts size Podpis obrazka Still from 'Starry Squadron', directed by Lenoard Buczkowski, 1930, pictured: Barbara Orwid and Andrzej Karewicz, photo: Polish National Film Archive / www.fototeka.fn.org.pl Columns style both columns static Left column Thus, Buczkowski’s spectacle disappeared without a trace. To this day, not a single copy of the film, which was supposed to be the biggest production of the Interwar era, has been found. Right column Wielkopolska Jlustracja 1930.01.12 Nr 15, fragment of an article about 'Starry Suqadron', directed by Leonard Buczkowski, 1930, photo: Wielkopolska Digital Library / Poznań University Library Tekst Originally written in Polish by Bartosz Staszczyszyn, Aug 2019; translated by Alicja Zapalska, Oct 2019 Sources: K. Trojanowski, Świnie w kinie? Film w okupowanej Polsce, Warszawa 2018. | J. Meissner, Jak dziś pamiętam, Warszawa 1967. | J. Meissner, Wiatr w podeszwach, Warszawa 1976. | T. Lubelski, Historia kina polskiego 1895-2014, Kraków 2015. | R. S. Fenn, R. F. Karolevitz, Dług honorowy, Warszawa 2005 r. | J. Peltz, Filmy Leonarda Buczkowskiego, „Kino” 1971, nr 4, s. 17-27 | Jan Marek Ka, https://ebiedrusko.pl/artykuly/filmowe-biedrusko/filmowe-biedrusko-w-starym-kinie-gwiazdzista-eskadra-1930-15/ (dostęp z dnia 21.08.2019) Text size standard fonts size More Super Articles Title Witkacy's ‘Madness’: The Lost Manuscript of a Total Artist URL https://culture.pl/en/interrupted-country/witkacys-madness-the-lost-manuscript-… Thumbnail Image URLhttps://api.culture.pl/sites/default/files/2019-08/witkacy_autoportret_1912.jpg Title (Non-)Presence: Capturing Zuzanna Ginczanka URL https://culture.pl/en/interrupted-country/non-presence-capturing-zuzanna-gincza… Thumbnail Image URLhttps://api.culture.pl/sites/default/files/2019-08/ginczanka_x.10426.jpg Title Karol Hiller: The Alchemist from the Evil City URL https://culture.pl/en/interrupted-country/karol-hiller-the-alchemist-from-the-e… Thumbnail Image URLhttps://api.culture.pl/sites/default/files/2019-08/karol_hiller_ms_sn_gr_141001.jpg Introduction It was the largest film production in Poland before World War II… but all that remains of it is an incomplete handful of photos, reviews and articles. After the war, the film disappeared without a trace, becoming one of the legends of Polish cinema. Not standard color version Off Series label Poland 1939: Interrupted Country Summary It was the largest film production in Poland before World War II… but all that remains of it is an incomplete handful of photos, reviews and articles. After the war, the film disappeared without a trace, becoming one of the legends of Polish cinema. Cover Thumbnail size default [360 px] Thumbnail gwiazdzista_eskadra_kadr_fn_34.jpg
