Wellman was hired as he was the only director in Hollywood at the time who had World War I combat pilot experience, although Richard Arlen and John Monk Saunders had also served in the war as military aviators.
Wellman foi contratado por ser o único director en Hollywood que tiña experiencia como piloto de combate na primeira guerra mundial, malia que Richard Arlen e John Monk Saunders tamén serviran na guerra como aviadores.