Evening star., 1942-01-14

planes and more planes. Americans
will eat, sleep. dream planes for
many months to come"
No one can say that Hollywood
has neglected the airplane. In fact,
dating back to Is years ago-re-
member the famous wings p and
keeping pace with its development
for commerce and war, the airplane
has become the most spectacular
and melodramatic force in motion
pictures.
But, in the words of every Holly
wood studio, You amt seen nothing
vet" The Presidents address was
the cue for all scenario departments
to concentrate as never before-on
airplane pictures!
The head of one major lot sounded
the keynote of the Forthcoming pre-
dominant movie cycle in this man
ner:
LAS no movie crowd scene filmed
In the past six months has been
considered atmospherically correct
without liberal sprinkling Of SOL
diers and sailors In uniform, so no
motion picture from now on will be
regarded as true to our times unless
airplanes play some part in the &C
ton or background. OF course, this
cannot apply to costume or period
pictures. but I doubt if more than a
scattered few productions of that
type will be produced for some time
to come"
Another studio chief said he felt
o concentration on airplane drama
would answer whatever demand
small or large, the public may make
for war pictures. Since Pearl Har-
Dor, this point has been Hollywood's
principal worry-to make or not to
make ut-and-out war movies.
Actors, and actresses, too, need
have no worries about an over
whelming airplane cycle throwing
their careers into reverse; in fact
Just the opposite will be true If
records count for anything. Going
back to wings" the first aerial
epic. produced in 1927 there is proof
aplenty that participation in
flying movie is tantamount to
flight to stardom.
1t was Wings that first brought
Clara Bow into prominence. Later
of course, she became the 1T" girl.
but it was the flying film that really
launched her. Gary Cooper and
Buddy" Rogers also got under way
In the same picture. And, lest you
forget. Cooper has hefty chance
to land that Academy award this
year.
The truly colossal "Hell's Angels"
launched the late Jean Harlow on
the road to fame While assorted
heroes were battling the Germans,
sacrificing their lives and otherwise
conducting themselves in customary
heroic fashion, platinum tressed
Miss Harlow appeared briefly, but
spectacularly, in few scenes and
promptly became much in demand.
A somewhat obscure air movie.
"The Eagle and the Hawk" was
notable chiefly for brief, but
highly effective, appearance of
struggling young actress named
Carole Lombard In it she first
proved her ability as a dramatic
actress.
A pair of flying films, Might
Flight" and wings in the Dark"
did much to help Myrna 10y along
the road to fame. Jean Arthur,
down in the celluloid doldrums at
the time, took a role in only An
gels Have Wings" and found ler-
self right back at the top Of the
heap again. The same film re-
established Richard Barthelmess
and first focused attention On
Thomas Mitchell.
Wallace Beery had suffered an
eclipse but came out of it stronger
than ever through the memorable
Hell Divers" Clark Gable was in
that one, too. And you can't over
look Gables TEST Pilot" one of his
very best.
Olivia De Havilland made
healthy step up the ladder when she
appeared in wings Of the Navy"
story of the training Of naval avla-
tors in Pensacola, Fla.
Last year two promising new
comers got their start in aviation
pictures. Veronica Lake didn't have
a lot to do in Il Wanted Wings"
but what she did was spectacular
enough to make her one of 1941's
most discussed personalities. The
other was Alexis Smith, who made
her bow in olive Bomber another
story of naval aviation.
First Feminine player to get on
the screen with pair Of wings in
1912 will be Brenda Marshall. Miss
Marshall, of course. is not unknown
to moviegoers. But those who have
seen Captains of the Clouds" a
Technicolor tale OF Canadian stu
dent flyers, report enthusiastically
that this is something entirely new
In Brenda Marshalls.
The Nation has sprouted giant
wings in the wake of the Presidents
address-and Hollywood, always
geared to the headlines, will spread
them over the screens in every pos
sible production.
(Released by the North American News
paper Alliance, Inc)