NATIONAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 563, 16 January 1929, Page 15

NATIONAL

“LEGION OF THE CONDEMNED” Romance and adventure of the air are combined skilfully in the picture ‘ The Legion of the Condemned,” a companion picture to the notable film "Wings,” now showing for an extended season at the National Theatre. Gary Cooper and Fay Wray have the leading roles, and their performance in this film has been the subject of much favourable comment from critics. Albert Conti and Barry Norton are in the tJ As a picture of war in the air the film called for the services of skilled pilots and the parts of the noted band of daredevil French pilots are taken by men with actual war-time experience. The director. William Welman. who was responsible for the making of "Wings.” was also an airman of considerable war experience. An authentic detail of prison me, copied from the regular daily routine at a real gaol, was enacted at the Paramount studio in Hollywood recently. It was the night lock-up, during which all the convicts are returned to their cells and locked in. It was taken during the filming of "Forgotten Faces,” a contrasting melodrama of society and crook life, which will be shown at the National Theatre on Saturday next. Interesting supporting pictures are shown, and sympathetic musical accompaniments provided by Mr. F . Bartlett's orchestra. Convicts marching in regular order, passed down a long cell block, falling out as they came to their respective cells to be locked in by a trusty and uniformed guard. Above the cell block corridor on a high gruard wall paced other uniformed guards, armed with rifles. . ... Fit tv extras, garbed in regulation convict garb, were used in this scene, which was filmed in the tremendous prison set erected at the studio for the picture. Clive Brook and Fred Konler, two featured members of the production's all-star cast, were also among the screen convicts herded to their ceils. Two well-known Paramount artists •ind a director recently signed new contracts with the organisation whereby they will make more pictures during the coming year. They are Charles Rogers, Wallace Beery and Dorothy Arzner.