The widely-heralded war picture, "Wings", which opened Monday evening at the Tremont Theatre, lives up to its reputation. There are plenty of thrills, and there is plenty of "realism" and an element of tragedy, all of which help to make the picture successful in being what is purports to be. But even though war in the air is a subject that has not been worn out, there is much to the picture that recalls the "Big Parade" and "What Price Glory" too strongly to be effective. And unfortunately "Wings" outdoes either of the other two in the amount of slush that is thrown in. In "Wings" it is particularly out of place, because the genuine material of the picture is enough to make it exceptional, and the other element jars terribly by contrast.

But even a liberal allowance of extraneous matter is not sufficient to rob the picture of its real power and forcefulness. The photography is remarkable and the pictured duels in the air are things to be seen and not described. These parts of the picture are what has made it justly famous.

One cannot but regret that the producers were not content with this much. To weave an elaborate plot and a large measure of what passes for "heart interest" into a spectacular subject of this sort does not help the picture, but destroys its balance. "Wings" is a picture that is well worth seeing, but one is sorry that the excellent material of it is highly diluted.