Wings of Destiny
| Wings of Destiny | |
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| Directed by | Rupert Kathner |
| Produced by | Rupert Kathner |
| Written by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | Syd Wood |
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Production
company |
Enterprise Film Company
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| Distributed by | National Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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68 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Wings of Destiny is a 1940 action war film directed by Rupert Kathner and stars Marshall Crosby and John Fernside. The film is about the activities of fifth columnists in Australia during the Second World War. Wings of Destiny was one of the first films of the war to depict fifth columnists as well as the aboriginal Australians.
A group of Australian officials are investigating a reported discovery of wolframite, a strategic material needed for the manufacture of munitions. The rich mineral is found in central Australia on land owned by Frederick Jamieson (Marshall Crosby), a rich businessman. They also realize that German agent, Mark Heinrich (John Fernside) is behind an attempt to steal the war matérial.
When an aircraft flown by Jamieson's pilot, Jerry Marsden (Jim McMahon), is sabotaged by Heinrich, the aircraft is forced down in the outback. Marsden and mechanic Monty Martin (George Lloyd) survive and encounter "Mulga" Flannigan (Reginald King), an old prospector who warns the pair about the dangers of the outback. The next morning, in affirmation of the lurid tales Mulga has told, another prospector staggers into their improvised campsite, with a spear wound and soon dies. Aboriginals, including Peters (Raymond Longford, a bushman, offers to help them.
An aircraft flown by Tommy Ryan (Johnny Williams) swoops low over the stranded fliers, but Ryan, who is working for Heinrich, flies on to Alice Springs. Ryan lies about what he had seen, telling Marion (Patricia McDonald), Jamieson's daughter, who loves Marsden, that the young pilot was killed. Ryan was told to kill Marsden but tries to find a way to doublecross the enemy agent.
Deciding to press his advantage, Heinrich visits Jamieson, hoping to force the businessman to surrender his claim on the wolframite mineral. The meeting devolves into violence and Jamieson is shot and killed. Marion is threatened but Ryan appears to confront him. Ultimately, Marion is rescued and Heinrich is apprehended.
Wings of Destiny was shot, in part, on location at the Sydney waterfront and featured footage of aboriginal tribal life from Kathner's earlier film,Phantom Gold (1937). It reportedly took two years to research and six months to film at a cost of "thousands of good Australian pounds."
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