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Across the Atlantic

Across the Atlantic

1928

Passed

Director

Howard Bretherton

Runtime

60 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Brothers Hugh and Dan Clayton are both in love with Phyllis, their father's secretary. She finally chooses Hugh, and they marry before he joins the army and is sent overseas as a fighter pilot. He is shot down in a dogfight, crashes and loses his memory and drifts around Europe. Years go by, and Phyllis decides to try to find him in France before consenting to marry Dan, who still loves her. Complications ensue.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

2.5/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film focuses on a traditional romantic triangle centered on heterosexual attraction. It lacks any evidence of non-cisnormative identities or critiques of heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Fair

Phyllis drives the central conflict through her romantic choices. However, her agency is defined by her relationships with two men, adhering to period-specific domestic tropes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

The narrative is Western-centric, set within American and European contexts. It appears to reflect the homogeneous casting norms of 1928 Hollywood.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The story follows conventional Western narrative structures regarding military service and romance. It emphasizes individual resolution rather than questioning social hierarchies.

Disability Representation

Minimal

Amnesia serves as a standard plot device to facilitate a romantic trope. There is no nuanced exploration of cognitive disability or neurodivergence.

Strengths

  • The female protagonist, Phyllis, exercises agency by making decisive romantic choices between two suitors.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks diverse casting and fails to include non-cisnormative identities.
  • Female agency is limited to domestic and marital contexts rather than broader social roles.
  • Disability is used as a convenient plot device rather than a meaningful character study.

AI Analysis

Across the Atlantic is a conventional romantic drama that adheres strictly to the social and narrative hierarchies of the late 1920s. The plot relies on established tropes of the era, such as the romantic triangle and the 'lost and found' hero. The film lacks intersectional representation, focusing instead on a Western-centric story of military service and marital stability. While the female lead exercises choice, her character arc remains tethered to her suitors. Ultimately, the film functions as a product of its time, reinforcing standard romantic and social norms without attempting to subvert them.

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