[1][2] The film's inspiration was the 1925 U.S. Navy's attempt to fly three twin-engine open-cockpit seaplanes non-stop between San Francisco, California, and Hawaii.

Even though the flight fell short of its goal, their harrowing adventures captured the imagination and newspaper headlines of the day.

[5] In Spring 1906, Captain Lars Larson and his wife, Anna, live in a modest cottage nestled in the harbor town of Laholm set on the western edge of Sweden.

We shift to 1925 - the United States Navy is attempting the first non-stop flight between San Francisco to Hawaii with three Seaplanes.

Years passed, and Lars Larson is the Captain of a tramp steamer smuggling Chinese laborers to Veracruz.

Ah Wing is in charge of the captive workers, an opium smuggler, and the man responsible for paying Captain Larson.

Along with Ah Wing, the Captain sees an older man and a young girl waving a distress flag.

Upon realizing that Maria is his daughter, Lars grabs his gun and heads to Ah wing's cabin.

FBO also produced and distributed a limited number of big-budget features labeled "Gold Bond" productions.

[7] The 1925 attempt by the United States Navy to fly three Seaplanes, non-stop, between San Pablo, California and Hawaii provided motivation for the Emilie Johnson story.

With its fuel supply running low, the crew made a forced landing on the Ocean, leaving the craft 450 miles short of its goal.

[9] A five-person naval crew piloted the twin-engine PN-9 No 1 seaplane: In 1923, Emilie and Emory Johnson signed a contract extension with FBO.

FBO also agreed to invest two and a half million dollars (In today's money – equivalent to $43,707,753 in 2022) on the remaining four films.

[15] Emory Johnson, the "Master of Melodrama", "King of Exploitation" and "Hero of the Working Class" movie-making career was not over.

Hopeful the flight details remained fresh in the public's mind, the story and screenplay were rushed to production.

After completing The Non-Stop Flight, Emilie Johnson would write the story for her son's next production - the March 1927 Universal release of The Fourth Commandment.

[20] Johnson publicly denied published reports he intended to make his film a political weapon.

Johnson also squelched rumors the production had any significance in the aviation controversy concerning Colonel Billy Mitchell in Washington.

I expect to pay as glowing a tribute as I am able to the great cause of aviation and particularly to the epochal hop to Hawaii made by those daring naval aviators who have left their names written in imperishable fire across the vast vault of the Pacific.Principal photography and Exteriors were shot in San Diego, California.

It requires skilled professionals working together to create a film that meets the director's vision and engages audiences.

However, in strong contrast to the authenticity of the scenes showing the seaplane in flight is the flagrantly fictitious element in the story.

It is just a hoak meller that will, for the better part, carry in some of the smaller grindhouses but isn't suited for a longer run, except where it comes in on a double feature bill.

The non-stop flight is worked into a picture through the Navy airman coming down near the island so that the tramp steamer affects the rescue of them as well as the castaways.

T. Andrews reviewed the photoplay in the April 27, 1926 issue of the Motion Picture News[28] It was inevitable that one of the most colorful incidents of current times should find its way to the screen.

After an exceptionally fine first reel, the director shows flashes of skill and introduces characters, the action slackens.

Like most independents, FBO was dependent on the moviehouse owners to rent their films for the company to show a profit.

Plenty of good acting and the world's of action, with several thrills that make 'em sit up in their seats—some splendid photographic shots from an airplane.

Full house both days and everyone pleasedRochester, Pennsylvania population 7,000[30]A very good mellow drama, but the scenario is very poorly constructed.

Dry mix classMany silent-era films did not survive for reasons as explained on this Wikipedia page.

In his book No Margin For Error, author Dwight Messimer points out the fate of the PN-9 No 1 after the Caribbean incident "because the towing distance to shore was too great, the plane was ignobly sunk by gunfire as a hazard to navigation.