Hell's Angels (Original program for the 1930 film) by Howard Hughes (director); Harry Behn, Howard Estabrook, Joseph Moncure March (screenwriters); Ben Lyon, James Hall, Jean Harlow (starring) - 1930

Beverly Hills, CA: United Artists, 1930. 16 page vintage program for the 1930 film, announcing its showing at Broadway theaters in New York, with abundant black and white photographs of actors, aerial stunts, and Howard Hughes throughout. Hughes' most expensive and ambitious production, a story about World War I combat pilots, today still a dazzling work of blockbuster action and actual aerial biplane footage. Originally conceived as a silent film and then retooled as a talkie in the wake of "The Jazz Singer." Most of the film is shot in black and white, but one sequence is in color-the only color footage ever released of actress Jean Harlow before her untimely death. James Whale was hired by Hughes to direct the talking sequences, Whale's first major effort in Hollywood, but the overall production took so long, that Whale's subsequent directorial effort, "Journey's End," was released first. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Card wrappers, saddle stapled, 5 x 6.5 inches. 16… Read More

Western Lithograph Company, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good+. First Edition. Hardcover. Howard Hughes was shooting Hell's Angels as a Silent film when suddenly the Talkies stormed Hollywood. Hughes decided to completely reshoot Hell's Angles as a Talkie, but could not use his Swedish star due to her accent. Instead, he chose an unknown Chicago socialite as his new star: Jean Harlow. She was a sensation and defined the sexy leading lady until, perhaps, Marilyn Monroe hit the screen. A very scarce promotional booklet for the WWI epic widely considered revolutionary in its scope of production. Includes stills from the film, biographies of all the stars, details of production and background to the story and shooting. Minor shelf/edge wear, upper tips through, slightly loose in boards, else bright and clean. Black cloth spine, gold paper boards, black ink lettering and decorative elements, printed endpages. 12mo. np. Illus. (b/w plates).