MAJESTIC

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 196, 12 April 1932, Page 3

MAJESTIC

TO-DAY AND TO-NIGHT Unforgettable men and boys moving in a dramatic panorama — a tense story moving smoofhly and told tell iiigly — thrilling action on the ground and in the air — Richard Barthelmess in a characterisation radically differing'from anything he has done heretofore — these are the highlights oi "The Dawn Patrol," the First Nation-al-Vitaphone production which opened last night at the Majestic Theatre. _ Never has the star, Barthelmess, given such a vivid portrayal. Never has 'he appeared in anything as gripping and sheerly dramatic. And this is saying a great deal coming as it does close upon the heels of such splendid offierings as "Weary River," "Drag," and "Son of the Gods." "The Dawn Patrol" relates the story of a group of youthful flyers in the Royal Flying Corps. The time is 1915 and the situation concerns these inexperienced youths taken from school, placed in antiquated planes and sent up to almost certain death against better-equipped and more experienced German aces. It is a new phase. of war — a new story to tell audiences.

The production is excellently mounted and teems with tense situations, powerful dialogue, fine character studies and thrilling action in battles on ground and air. Howard Hawks, himself a flyer, has directed it with skill and given a strong interpretation to the John Monk Saunders original story. vBarthelmess has never been supported by a finer cast which includes Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Neil Hamilton, William Janney, Gardner James, Clyde Cook, Frank McHugh, Edmund Breon, James Finlayson, and smaller roles are handled by Harodd Lockwood, Jr., Claude Gillingwater, Jr., and others.