AMUSEMENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 36, 5 October 1931, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC TO-NIGHT. "Hell's Angels," the most expen sive and most talked about film-drama of all time, will be the de luxe attraction'at the Majestic Theatre, tonight. Nearly three years in the making, and bearing an overhead cost of approximately 4,000,000 dollars, this lavish air-thriller is the screen sensation of the new era of talkies. i Howard Hughes, the 25-year-old producer and director of "Hell's Angels" has shattered all records in time and money spent on a single picture. The story which leads up to this astounding spectacle is as absorbing as it is unusual. War is on and two brothers — one a noble and self-sacrificing, the other a scapegrace eager only for wine, women and song — enlist-in the Royal Flying Corps. Roy, the finer brother, is in love with a girl unworthy of his high ideals; the loves all girls, but no one So mucM&jj himself. Following a terrific bombardment in which the munitions plant is destroyed, they encounter Riphthofen's "Flying Circhs." Eng-: lish reinforcements arrivei and a terrific "dog-fight" of the skies follows in which the giant plane of the brothers is cracked up, and they are talcen prisoners. There is a tremendously strong scene when the Germans threaten to shoot both men unless they divulge the Allied plans. How Roy saves the situation, despite Monte's desire to reveal everything and his triumphant courage at the close of the picture,. result in a.stirring and inspiring climax. Ben Lyon as the cowardly brother, and James Hall as the heroic one, both eontribute exceptionally fine performanees. No miniatures were used for any of these shots. Every hazard risked by the actors was genuine. In the big battle sequences where several Zeppelins and many dozen air-planes took part both men almost lost their lives.