“CEILING ZERO”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 7

“CEILING ZERO”

Thrilling New Aerial Drama at De Luxe To-day

There have been other big aerial pictures, but probably not one that can compare with the new Warner Bros.-Cosmo-politan picture opening at the De Luxe Theatre to-day, “Ceiling Zero.” It is a story of modern commercial aviation and takes the spectator behind the scenes of a big airliner and shows the rapid development in the scientific control of passenger and mail-plane while in the air. There is tremendous interest in the scenes showing the control room of an airport, the devices used for keeping machines on their course per medium of beam wireless, etc., but all this is but a colourful background to a story, of thrilling situations, romance and comedy. In a picture dealing with the commercial mail and passenger service of the air, the .plot is essentially drama, but in the everyday events in the lives of flyer's and those behind the intensive ground organisation there is plenty of humour.

"Ceiling Zero” is a title suggested by an aviation term used when the ground is obscured by fog, rain or sleet, and there is no visibility whatsoever. When nature shows her wrath, as the picture illustrates, it is zero hour in the lives of the men who go aloft—and their loved ones who wait behind —for who knows what?

The pals of “Here Comes the Navy” and “Devil Dogs of the Air,” James Cagney and Pat O’Brien, have the inimitable Stuart (Erwin to support them in this film, while the leading lady is a charming newcomer in June Travis. The three men are seen as war-time pals who have turned to commercial flying for a living. Cagney has his best role to date as the devil-may-care, stunting, irresponsible member of the trio, with O’Brien as a more sober superintendent of the flyers, and Erwin as a somewhat steadier flyer than Cagney. The irresponsible Cagney is also given to making love to every pretty girl he meets, which lands him in plenty of trouble. He is not entirely frivilous, however, for he rises on the supreme occasion to an heroic deed. Howard Hawks, maker of a great many of the screen’s most spectacular pictures, directed “Ceiling Zero.” Free Tickets From Air. To-day, at 1.45 p.m., the De Luxe has arranged (weather permitting) for Captain Stedman, of the Wellington Aero Club, to fly over the De Luxe and the city dropping balloons with free tickets attached. Two hundred balloons will be released—so look up! Model Aeroplane Competition. In connection with the opening of “Ceiling Zero,” the De Luxe Theatre and the Wellington Model Aero Club are conducting a model aeroplane competition, first prize of which is a free flight over Wellington, donated by the Aero Club. Entrants must have their models at the De Luxe by 10 a.m. to-morrow. Further details are available from the manager of the De Luxe, or the Wellington Model Aero Club.