AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1930, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES

“THE LEG JON OF THE CONDEMNED.”

TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT!

A new field of endeavour has been opened to directors of motion pictures with the era of' aviation pictures. -. WiF liam Wellman, who directed “Wings,” tap'd “The Legion of the Condemned,” Jpiie latter production coming to the Princess Theatre to-night is the first director to become known as the “airdirector,” With the exploits of 001. Charles Lindbergh, and others, the country lias (been awakened to the possibilities of aviation, and the subject of air defence has been brought home with a forcible character. Lindbergh proved General William Mitchell’s con- | tention: that the next wai; will be fought in the air, and the only way in which a nation will survive in the next conflict is to have adequate air defence, is right. To begin with, Wellham is an airman. He served overseas with the

Lafayette Escadrille, the most famous ■ aerial organisation (born, of tlm war, rand was invalided hornet in ;1915.‘ because of wounds. There is a saying among aviators, that once an airman always an airman, and when Wellman became engaged in motion picture work, he always had an ambition to give to the screen a true account of what the life of an aviator iri- r the warwas. J. Monk Saunders, himself an aviation instructor -during -the war, and who is an author of no little repute, wrote a story entitled “Wings,” and Paramount produced it. ft' was a sensation because of the remarkable technical authenticity. So encouraged with the results was Paramount that permission was given to the two men to produce a second aviation picture, and this, “The Legion of the Condemned,” is the result. With experience gained .from their previous work, the latest air picture is said to rival closely the master production. . As a result of these two air pictures', film' folk 1 have become convinced' that aviation offers an opportunity to directors in this field of work. Wellman predicts that directors in the future will be confined to this branch alone. Wellman is looked upon as the father, of them all. Gary Cooper and Fay Wray play the leading roles in the picture, and are said to : .have registered one of their greatest successes of their careers. A Topical, Scenic'' and Comedy will also be showji . i.. / Tuesday: Richard Talmadge, Bar- j bara Bedford, David Torrence, and a superb cast .in.‘.‘The .Cavalier ” .