Something of an epic World War 1 movie over 2 hours 20, notable for its elaborate and exciting aerial sequences and impressive ground combat footage. Charles Rogers thinks he loves Jobyna Ralston but she really loves Richard Arlen. Rogers' girl-next-door Clara Bow is nuts about him but he doesn't realise. The rivals go to war but end up buddies; thus the ending is suitably ironic when Rogers kills his friend, who's stolen a German aircraft (cue an early version of a plane flying into a house).
Amusing scene in Paris where Rogers is so drunk he doesn't recognise Bow; then she is sacked when military police think they're having a thing - most unfair!
The restoration is great - the flames from the aircraft have been coloured giving the battle scenes an extra vividity (if that is a word). Spectacular scenes of destruction e.g. bombings, with synchronized sound.
Gary Cooper has a brief but telling appearance; Roscoe Karns features briefly.
It was the fist time I'd encountered the 'It Girl' Clara Bow - found her a bit OTT.
Wellman himself has been a WW1 flyer so he knew his stuff, and reckons that was the only reason that got him the job at the tender age of 28. Original author John Monk Saunders had been too. DP Harry Perry had dozens of cameramen, Russell Harlan among them.
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