STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1940, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“THE LION HAS WINGS.” No more gripping, topical and authentic motion picture than “The Lion Has Wings” has ever been brought to Masterton. In the words of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Menzies; “This film seems to capture the spirit of Britain and the Australian Air Ministry.” Mr Holt: “It is stirring and moving and demonstrates with great clearness the principles underlying the present conflict.” In Great Britain, where it was filmed with the co-opera-tion of the Royal Air Force, in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, “The Lion Has Wings” has captured intense public interest. This film which ran in Auckland for more than two months began its Masterton season at the State Theatre last night. Britain does the new dance “Boomps-a-Daisy” while in Germany, storm-troopers learn, the “goose-step”—that is the note' on which the film opens. But, as Hitler breaks his word time after time in 1939, Britain wakens to the fact that she is faced by a man who lives not by peace and negotiation but by ruthless force. . . . Britain pre-

pares to defend democratic freedom — she builds up her navy and the drone of the Air Force swells louder and louder. War comes —Britain springs to the watch and into action. Ralph Richardson, who is remembered for his fine acting in “The Citadel,” plays the part of an R.A.F. Squadron-Leader, and Merle Oberon is his wife. After Mr Chamberlain's broadcast announcing a state of war with Germany, events move like lightning. Britain’s intricate defence system slips grimly into action and the R.A.F. launches a swift attack on warships in the Kiel Canal. The famous raid in which Masterton airmen took part, is reenacted for the film and is the subject of fine photography. The late Squad-ron-Leader Lennox Lamb is among the specially selected airmen who made the raid. To say that “The Lion Has Wings” is timely is an understatement. It is a vivid explanation of this war and the way we fight in the air that will play a notable part in proving that New Zealand, the young Lion of the South also is capable of growing Wings.