Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-05-03
The Eagles Wings
At The Metropolitan

General interest will be created in
the announcement that "The Eagles
Wings" will be presented at the Met
ropolitan theatre on May 9Th and 7th
in Bluebird ~Photoplays. Aside from
the fact that this attraction is one Of
the best photodramas ever screened,
there will be unusual concern in the
! photographic exploitation of Indus
trial Preparedness"-a topic that has
been widely discussed and is still
| misunderstood by a large majority
Of our citizens.
"The Eagles Wings is a non-polit-
teal, strictly American reflection of
| economical and industrial prepared
ness for military emergency in time
of sudden and unexpected attack by
any other nation. While the world
war and its effect upon the great ma
| tion involved was Instrumental in
prompting the production, there is no
specific reference to any particular
nation as opposed to the United States
the subject is strictly neutral, and
absolutely pro-American.
The basis of the feature is an in
teresting love story, with plot and in
terplot to Gomplicate the situation and
keep the outcome in suspense. The
main artery of interest is in the idea
advanced by the foreman of a great
industrial plant, that every factory,
mill and workshop in the country
should be c%anvassed with a view to
ascertaining what each concern could
contribute in munitions or supplies
for the army and navy in time of
war. This done the government could
proceed understandingly to the dis
cussion Of any problem of internation-
al Importance.
AS a matter of fact, the United
States has done just this. The Naval
Consulting Board, an organization for
industrial preparedness, is doing ex-
actly the things pictured by Bluebird
in its extraordinary release, "The
Eagles Wings" 1t might be better
said that the photoplay is an exact il
lustration, in its scientific details, of
what the Naval consulting board was
organized and empowered to do.
Thomas A. Edison is chairman of the
board, and the original membership
has been augmented by state organ
i~zations that feed directly into the
headquarters at Washington the in
formation that is thus gathered
throughout the country.
Every manufacturing plant, factory,
mill, foundry or shop has been pro-
vided by the Naval construction board
with blanks upon which they are urg-
ed to give details that, when tabulat-
ed will show at a glance just what
Uncle Sam may expect his subjects
to do for him, in time of need,
through industrial cooperation. ."The
Eagles Wings" gives pictorial ans
wer tt a great many of these ques-
lions.
Rufus Steele wrote the story that
links Industry with heart interest.
Maud Grange prepared the scenario,
Robert Leonard produced and R. e.
Irish Photographed. Herbert Rawlin-
son and Grace Carlyle lead a large
company of players and the matters
of scenario presentation has been
elaborately provided for. Considered
among the average of best moving
pictures "The Eagles Wings would
be regarded as a corking fine picture
and when the industrial features are
added a "Bluebird Extraordinary, re-
suits.
Mr.. Steele spent months in arrang-
ing to take photographs that reflect
actual operations in the manufacture
of munitions, guns, shells, shrapnel,
fuse, armor plate, castings and every
element that enters into modern war
fare as conducted by civilized nations.
Latfes and wheels whirl before ones
eyes CARRYING steel and iron, while the
finished product is followed from its
earliest stages until it is raeked and
stacked ready for shipment. And the
remarkable part Of most Of the pic
lures comes ri consideration Of the
fact that everything is being done in
mills and factories originally built
and operated for the peaceful pur-
suit of mercantile manufacture.