“WINGS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 14

“WINGS”

TO BE SEEN ON FRIDAY Five different methods of communication were used by William Wellman in directing the great battle sequences of “Wings,” Paramount’s epic of the air, coming to the New Regent Theatre on Friday. In re-enacting the battle of St. Mihiel, which utilised the services of more than 8,000 men and every branch of modern warfare, it was necessary to carry out the movements by means of radio, amplifiers, telephone, panels and semaphores. Each of the 100 airplanes used were equipped with receiving sets, and regulated their movements according to instructions coming from Wellman, who held the microphone at the top of a 100 ft. parallel. Troops in the foreground trenches “carried on” by means of 10 huge loud-speakers, which were placed at various points of vantage. Explosions, controlled at 72 sub-stations throughout the battle area were directed by telephone. The movements of tanks were taken care of by semaphore device, and as a precautionary measure for the flyers, a panel system of signals were installed near the ground cameras. Twelve ground cameras and four in the air recorded the big scenes for the film. TO REMIXD YOU The Ladies* Progressive Motor Cycle Club is holding a dance to-morrow evening in St. Sepulchre’s Hall, off Khyber Pass. Dancing will be from p.m to 11 p.m. to music by the Six Vagabonds Orchestra. Charlie Chaplin has received so many applications for the role of Napoleon in his film showing the Corsican’s personality and private life that he is willing to believe all the anecdotes which begin with the line: “He thinks he’s Napoleon. . .