Exhibitors Herald (1927)

36 STUDIO SECTION OF December 31, 1927 Hollywood Producers Take to Air; Hughes Finishing Film Picture Will Show Authentic Army Planes in Use; Flying Circus Brought to Hollywood for Scenes By DOUGLAS HODGES HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28. — Aviation pictures are the popular trend. Hollywood’s film makers have taken to the air. Nearly every studio and location in the film colony and environs are swarming with planes, aviators, stunt men and world war heroes of the air. Many of the film plants resemble world war areas — the atmosphere throbs with aerial fireworks. Undoubtedly one of the biggest of all the air films is “Hell’s Angels,” which the Caddo Company is producing for United Artists release. “Hell’s Angels” is being produced on a pretentious scale, with lavish settings, expensive cast and novel photographic effects. It will cost upwards of $1,000,000. The film is based on an original story of the British Royal air force. Principals in the cast are Ben Lyon, James Hall and Greta Nissen. Others who have important roles include John Darrow, Lucien Prival, Thelma Todd, Evelyn Walsh Hall and George Cooper. Direction is by Luther Reed. Authentic Planes in Use More than 50 airplanes, including many of the identical type planes used by Germany and the Allies during the world war, have been rounded up for use in the Caddo air thriller. Howard Hughes, president of the Caddo Company, is said to have purchased all of the remaining true-type planes of the war period. The ships were bought from the various European governments, and America, and were reconditioned for use in the air picture at an airplane factory in Glendale, near here. The entire plant was taken over by the Caddo outfit to fit the war-type planes for flying in the air film. The Caddo Company built its own airport, modeled after a French front-line airdome, as setting for the spectacular scenes in the clouds. Cameramen with years of experience in aerial photography were engaged at great expense to shoot the spectacular flying episodes. Flying Circus Shot A dramatic highlight of the picture, which is based on an original story of the British Royal air force, is a reproduction of Baron von Richtofen’s Flying circus. Eighteen Fokker planes, of the type used by the famous German ace in his aerial exploits, are among the ships purchased by Hughes for his air thriller. These planes, flown by ex-war pilots, provide one of the outstanding thrills of the air-movie. English and French planes, of the war period models, play a spectacular part in the picture also. One of the finest technical staffs ever assembled by a film company is supervising the shooting of the aerial sequences. The technicians include J. B. Alexander, former general manager of the Los Angeles-San Diego Airline; Ted Parsons, world-famous air-fighter during the world war; Joachin Rehorst, a member of Baron von Richtofen’s flying circus; Howard Blanchard, former British flying ace; Ralph Douglas, world’s champion parachute-jumper, and many others. A beautiful love-drama is woven into the story of “Hell’s Angels.” The plot concerns the adventures during the war of two English boys, brothers and flyers in the Royal air force, played by Lyon and Hall. Both fall in love with an English girl, Helen. Greta Nissen, the Scandinavian star, is the heroine, and is said to bring to the screen in this role her finest characterization. Novel photographic effects are being secured by the use of the new incandescent lighting and the new technicolor process. Two of the celluloid industry’s best cameramen, Tony Gaudio and Harry Perry, are photographing the million-dollar air spectacle. $100,000 Ball-Room Scene A ball room sequence in the airmovie, alone, was filmed at a cost estimated at $100,000. It was one of the most extravagant scenes ever photographed by movie cameras. The set, a reproduction of the ball room in Buckingham Palace, London, alone cost $50, Found! Man of 97 Who Has Never Seen a Show ( Special to the Ht \ ^d) QUINCY, ILL., Dec. 27.— The original Hillbillie has been found! Simon Reineke, who celebrated his 97th birthday here on December 15, has never seen a motion picture or any other kind of theatrical performance. He doesn’t “believe in them” and declares that the place for a man to seek recreation is in church. However, he delights to ride in automobiles when someone else buys the gas, and he watches airplanes with delight. 000. More than 500 extras were used as atmosphere in the ball room sequence, which was filmed in technicolor. Other expensive settings erected as background for the interior shots, contribute to make “Hell’s Angels” one of the most elaborate and spectacular of the forthcoming releases. Director Reed, while he is making the most of the aerial histronics in “Hell’s Angels,” is not overlooking the dramatic and human interest elements which make for popular audience film plays. “The emotional details are after all the paramount elements which make for outstanding filmings,” said the director. “This holds true with every type of picture from the small human-interest drama to the war spectacles and other large productions. Love Interest Dominates “In filming ‘Hell’s Angels’ for example, we are expending enormous sums on airplanes, lavish sets, and expensive costurnings, not to mention the high salaried cast and technical staff. The film is replete with dramatic climaxes, spectacular air-fighting and thrilling war-time episodes. “But behind it all, is the dominating motif of the story — a beautiful love theme — with real flesh and blood characters; and their emotions, experiences and heart throbs, provide the real punch of the picture. The spectacular war scenes are after all incidental — the human side of the struggle is the compelling feature which will appeal to movie audiences everywhere, long since fed up on the ‘glory’ and ‘dramatics’ of war.” The Caddo Company, which is producing “Hell’s Angels,” is the new United Artists unit headed by Howard Hughes. Hughes is the youngest producer in the industry, and has created a sensation in film circles with his record to date, and his extravagant plans for future production. Hughes financed and produced “Two Arabian Knights,” a comedy which is establishing new box office records. With this impressive bow to the industry, he will soon introduce his second film offering. The young producer is spending money in an effort to make “Hell’s Angels” eclipse “Two Arabian Knights” in popular appeal. Milestone Directs Meighan HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 28.— Lewis Milestone, youthful director of “Two Arabian Knights,” will handle the megaphone on Thomas Meighan’s next picture. This will be Meighan’s first production under his new contract with Howard Hughes, president of the Caddo Company. Filming of the picture is scheduled to begin February 1. The film will be released by Paramount Famous Lasky. Grow Prosperous in Massachusetts IL » % a They look as successful as they are, do these exhibitors of the Bay State, who are (from left to right), Morris Pouzzner of the Regional Chain Theatres, Boston; A1 Foye of the Foye, Lynn; S. Beserosky, who operates a chain of nine houses in New Bedford; and Glover Ware of the Strand, Peabody.