ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 5

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"Wings of the Navy."

"Wings of the Navy," a Warner Bros.Cosmopolitan production, which is declared to be by far the best to date of the successful "service" pictures turned out at that studio, comes to the screen of the St. James Theatre tomorrow, with a cast headed by George Brent, Olivia de Havilland, John Payne, and Frank McHugh. The Warner studio-'s pre-eminence in .the field of pictures dealing with life 'in the various divisions of the armed forces of the nation was first established several years ago with the production of "Here Comes the Navy." Since then such pictures as "Devil Dogs of the Air" and "Submarine Dl" have enabled this studio to continue its supremacy. As its title indicates,' "Wings of the Navy" is a .story laid against a background of naval aviation. It is a powerful tale that effectively transfers to the screen the spirit and traditions of the aerial divisions of the nation's guardians of sea and coastline, and in the course of telling the story the film production impressively unfolds scenes which give the onlooker a vivid conception of the strength and competence of the navy's aerial wing. In obtaining such scenes, the studio was given the unstinted cooperation of the United States navy, .with the result; that there are breathtaking shots of aerial formations and manoeuvres which even the .newsreel cameramen have never been able to photograph. Aside from the mass flying scenes, there are a number ©f sensational shots of hair-raising stunts by individual pilots, and, as part of the plot, three thrilling crash scenes. The screen play, an original by Michael Fessier, is built around two naval flyers, played by George Brent and John Payne, who are sons of a pioneer naval flying officer who died in the line of duty. ■■•,..