Central Airport (Warner Bros.) (1933)

CURRENT PUBLICITY “Central Airport” Thrills and Pulsates; With Barthelmess In His Finest Role|siucanas Strong Dramaan and Romance Beautifully Done, Offers Season’s Superb Film Sally Kilers as Reckless and Unconventional Stunter, Adds Zest to Perfectly Cast Picture (Review) HERE seems to be an uncanny knack with which Warner Bros.-First National continue to smack the movie going publie between the eyes, so to speak, with a procession of timely and topical, yet tremendously entertaining screen offerings. Richard Barthelmess’ newest starring vehicle ‘‘Central Airport’’ which stirred to fever pitch the imagination and enthusiasm of yesterday’s audiences at the proof of this fact. is merely another Barthelmess fans must ‘itacd be gratified to find that the producers have again ‘done right’ by our Dick. For in ‘‘ Central Airport’’ is presented something entirely new in aviation narratives, which couples this more timely peace time angle of air heroics with an enveloping romance that sweeps the star to new heights as a romantic lover par-excellence. In fact the almost unbelievable thrills which abound in this spectacular drama of daring and self-sacrifice are at times completely overshadowed by the tense and gripping love story that truly classifies ‘‘ Central Airport’’ as one of the best screen romances of the year. Parachute jumps, wrecks in passenger and stunt planes, at sea and on land, sensational and awe-inspiring as they are, serve as incidents which build up an enthralling love interest to greater and greater degrees until the powerful denoument in the final fadeout. — In ‘Central Airport’’ Richard AD ELUDVUM rene PILE continental passenger plane through newly charted airplanes. Then engine trouble, a forced landing and snuffed out lives and Barthelmess becomes a discredited commercial flyer. Cast adrift from his profession, Dick finally ends up as a stunt flyer with a traveling air-circus, where he meets and falls in love with Sally Eilers who plays a parachute jumper as daring as she is comely. Their love affair developes into proportions equally reckless, unconventional and defiant, as they are of danger. No Right to Marry When Dick’s best friend is killed in a crack-up, leaving behind a widow and two children, Dick remarks that no flyer has a right to get married and his pal’s fate has served as a lesson to him. Sally, marries someone else and Dick becomes ever more reckless in the air. His fame for daring spreads far and wide and while in tropical waters becomes a national hero for his courageous rescue work in one of the most sensational plane disasters the world had known. You’ll have to see ‘‘Central Airport’’ if for no other reason, to see this marvellous rescue scene. We feel it is our privilege to wax enthusiastic over ‘‘Central Airport.’’ From the standpoint of engrossing romance, stirring drama and originality of treatment, ‘‘Central Air port’’ has set itself upon a pee sies of ite awn. reveals his histrionic genius as never before. He lives and breathes a characterization that few screen idols dare attempt. Sally Hilers in spite of the most exacting demands upon her beauty and artistry she has ever experienced, gives a splendid performance. Tom Brown, adds another rung in his ladder to stardom as Dick’s younger brother. Others in the fine cast who help immeasurably with well-played roles are Glenda Farrell, Harold Huber, James Murray, Claire MacDowell, Grant Mitchell, Willard Moffitt, by Rian James and James Seymour. : William A. Wellman who turned out ‘‘Wings’’ and ‘‘ Young Hagles,’’ directed this magnificient production, which was adapted to the screen from the story ‘‘Hawk’s Mate’’ by Jack Moffitt, by Rian James and James Seymour. Take our word for it that ‘‘ Central Airport’’ with Richard Barthelmess is the one picture worth seeing. Opening day story | Richard Barthelmess At Strand Today In ‘Central Airport’’ Richard Barthelmess zooms into town in his latest First National picture “Central Airport” today for day engagement at the Theatre. This thrilling air story is unusual in that it glories the commercial flyers of peace, rather than the birdmen of war, and it is said that “Central Airport” tops anything ever filmed in a picture of this nature in breathtaking flying scenes, romantic love, and unusual story content. One of the most fascinating love triangles is formed between Dick, who believes a flyer’s place is in the sky, not in the home, his younger aviator brother Tom _ Brown, whose viewpoint is just the opposite, and the girl, Sally Eilers, who wants Dick’s love but Tom’s security. Barthelmess plays the role of a commercial pilot who cracks up with a plane filled with passengers. Discredited he resorts to stunting with a traveling air-circus, which provides the colorful story with many intensely gripping scenes, After losing his sweetheart Barthelmess enters free-lance piloting with a savage recklessness, seeking danger in far off places, always to come through unscathed because of his uneanny ability. William A. Wellman, a decorated World War airman as well as being one of Hollywood’s foremost directors, megaphoned “Central Airport.” In his fine cast supporting the stars are Glenda Farrell, Harold Huber, Claire MacDowell, and James Murray. Ist day of run Richard Barthelmess in “‘Gentral Airport’ Familiar With Planes When Richard Barthelmess started work on the production of ‘‘ Central Airport,’? a First National picture now showingat the Thea = a SALLY EILERS in port” at the Strand. Richard Barthelmess is the film’s star. “Central Air Cut No.8 Out15ce Mat be 2nd day of run Glenda Farrell Had Narrow Escape From Death in Air Film Glenda Farrell was condemned to die in ‘‘Central Airport,’’ Richard Barthelmess’ latest First National picture now showing at the ................ Theatre. And like a good trouper she did die) that is for picture purpdses. The dying was accomplished without pain and with comparative comfort on the side of a wooded slope in the California hills where she had supposedly fallen with a cracked up plane driven by Barthelmess. Yet while she came to her death without danger, Glenda, a few short hours before cume near to shuffling off her mortal coil in a scene in which it was not supposed there were any hazards at all. She was a passenger in a plane driven by Paul Mantz and Howard Batt in which they were being photographed by a cameraman in another plane. This plane was doing no stunting and the pilots were both men of long experience. But in landing they misjudged the height of the plane from the ground and struck the top of a telegraph pole, cutting through high tension wires. The plane hit the ground with a terrific bump but no one was injured outside of.a shaking up. ‘‘But,’? said Glenda, ‘‘I sure thought it was all over. It looked as if Director Wellman had switched scenes on me and intended to make this a realistic death.’’ The picture is filled with air thrills of which the near casualty was an unintentional one. The screen play by Rian James and James Seymour, taken from the story ‘‘Hawk’s Mate,’’ by Jack Moffitt, is a stirring romance of the air depicting the heroic deeds of peacetime flyers. Others in the cast include Sally Eilers, Tom Brown, Harold Huber, Grant Mitchell and James Murray. tre, he already had had considerable experience in the making of air pictures. He had previously played in two productions in which he was an air pilot. These were ‘‘Yhe Last Flight’’ and ‘*The Dawn Patrol.’’ Both of these pictures, however, dealt with the war heroes, while ‘‘Central Airport’’ glorifies the daring deeds of peacetime flyers. Both films gave him an excellent background for work on his latest picture. Some of the others connected with the production had an equally well experienced background. William A. Wellman, the director, is a war time ace and taught flying in the American air corps, while Sally Eilers, the leading lady holds a pilot’s license. CURRENT SHORTS Pilots Kept Busy in Barthelmess Air Film 3rd day of run Five professional stunt pilots take ~ part in Richard Barthelmess’ First National picture, “Central Airport,” now showing at the Theatre. There is one woman, Mary Wiggin and four men, Paul. Mantz, William (Wild Bill) Dodson, Howard Batt and Harvey Perry. All have national reputations as daring airmen, reputations they lived up to when performing the hazardous work before the cameras. Stunt Flyer Explodes Fallacious Air Terms Air ‘‘pockets’’ and ‘‘ vacuum’ just do not exist, according to Paul Mantz, stunt flyer in Richard Barthelmess’ latest picture for First National, ‘‘Central Airport,’’ now showing at the ‘«They’re an exploded theory’’ he says. ‘‘They were nice, round-sounding words in the mouths of literary ‘Central Airport” Is 3rd Barthelmess Air Film yes SCTRE. and James Seymour and the direction | pilots of the early after-the-war pe riod, but they have no basis in fact. ‘*A ‘vacuum,’ in which a plane either stands motionless or falls, is a downward pushing current of air, and a pocket, in which a plane rises, is an upward pushing current of air. ‘<The discovery of this has enabled daring flyers to fly through gaps and canyons like Boulder Dam. The Grand Canyon and Yosemite, that formerly would have been considered suicidal. ‘‘The modern stunt flyer, equipped with scientific knowledge rather than high sounding and fearsome words, merely puts extra power on his motor and flies right through these obstructions. ’”? ‘Central Airport’’ is a spectacular air picture with a glowing romance taken from Jack Moffitt’s story ‘*Hawk’s Mate.’’ The cast supporting Barthelmess includes Sally Eilers, Tom Brown, Harold Huber, Glenda Farrell, Grant Mitchell and James Murray. 1eg ye. “ian” James by William A. Wellman. 4th day of run Sally Eilers At Ease in ‘‘Central Airport’ Sally Eilers was selected as Richard Barthelmess’ leading lady in First National’s air thriller, ‘‘Central Airport,’’ now showing at the ................ Theatre, partly because of her knowledge of the science of, and experience in, flying. Her histrionie talents received first consideration, naturally, as her part is an extremely important one, and the ability to act was more essential than that she could fly. But the fact that she is a flyer turned the balance to her favor as she is experienced in both. Miss Eilers received her pilot’s license in “1931, shortly after she married Hoot Gibson, who taught her to fly, she is constantly in the air when not working, and frequently goes out for a solo SALLY flight. EILERS Consequently Cut No. 11 she is well fitCut 15e Mat 5c ted for her part in “Central Airport,’ a role that calls for both flying and parachute jumping. She takes part in many spectacular air scenes in a picture that is filled with thrills. The screen play by Rian James and James Seymour, taken from the story ‘‘Hawk’s Mate,’’ by Jack Moffitt, paints in glowing colors the heroic deeds of pioneer commercial flyers. Other prominent members of the cast include Tom Brown, Glenda Farrell, Harold Huber, Grant Mitchell, James Murray and Claire MceDowell. The picture was directed by William A. Wellman, himself an ace. “Central Airport,” the First National picture now showing at the Theatre, is Richard Barthelmess’ third air production. The two others in which he starred are, “The Last Flight” and “The Dawn Patrol.” “Central Airport” is a combination of intense drama and absorbing romance which depicts the valor of commercial flyers. Glenda Farrell With Richard Barthelmess in “Central Airport” Glenda Farrell,, sensational new find at First National studios, and now appearing with Richard Barthelmess in “Central Airport,” his latest production for that company at the theatre, had given up trying to succed in Hollywood when _ success finally did come. She was formerly a leading lady a one of the. downtown Los Angeles Leyitline Le i een course, like everyone on the stage in that city, tried from time to time, to be noticed by the motion picture producers. But they always looked the other way. She ran out of patience, finally, packed up and went to New York, where she was a hit overnight. Not long afterward she came to Hollywood for her now historic role in “Life Begins”—and the rest, as the Saying goes, was a cinch. She was signed to a long term Warner BrosFirst National contract. With Barthelmess in this latest air epic of his are Sally Eilers, Tom Brown, Harold Huber, James Murray and Claire McDowell. The direction is by William Wellman, well known director of many air pictures. Story is by Jack Moffitt; screen play by Rian James and James Seymour. ‘Central Airport’ Has Noted Parachute Jumper William Dodson, who does much of the preliminary parachute jumping to test air currents in Richard Barthelmess’ latest First National picture, “Central Airport,” now showing Bb the ese theatre, is a member of the Caterpillar club and has more than 400 jumps to his credit. The Caterpillar club members are all airmen who have been forced to leap from their planes in parachutes. A voluntary leap does not make them eligible. Willard Robertson Has Important Role with Richard Barthelmess Willard Robertson,who has an important role in Richard Barthelmess’ latest First National picture, “Central Airport,” now showing at the pilin «cp piies cE theatre, has had a distinguished career not only on the stage and in pictures, but in commercial life. He interrupted his stage career, in which he was starred or played leading roles in many famous productions, to become secretary to James B. Harlan of the Interstate Commerce Commission. A law graduate, he was later appointed attorney for the commission. But the call of the stage was too strong and he finally drifted back to it. Page Three