The film, a romantic action-war picture, was rewritten by scriptwriters Hope Loring and Louis D. Lighton from a story by John Monk Saunders to accommodate Bow, Paramount's biggest star at the time. Wellman was hired, as he was the only director in Hollywood at the time who had World War I combat pilot experience, although Richard Arlen and John Monk Saunders had also served in the war as military aviators. The film was shot on location on a budget of $2 million (equivalent to $ million in ) at Kelly Field in San Antonio, between September 7, 1926, and April 7, 1927. Hundreds of extras and some 300 pilots were involved in the filming, including pilots and planes of the United States Army Air Corps which were brought in for the filming and to provide assistance and supervision. Wellman extensively rehearsed the scenes for the Battle of Saint-Mihiel over ten days with some 3,500 infantrymen on a battlefield made for the production on location. Although the cast and crew had much spare time during the filming because of weather delays, shooting conditions were intense, and Wellman frequently conflicted with the military officers brought in to supervise the picture.
The film a romantic action-war picture was rewritten by scriptwriters Hope Loring and Louis D Lighton from a story by John Monk Saunders to accommodate Bow Paramount's biggest star at the time Wellman was hired as he was the only director in Hollywood at the time who had World War I combat pilot experience although Richard Arlen and John Monk Saunders had also served in the war as military aviators The film was shot on location on a budget of $2 million (equivalent to $ million in ) at Kelly Field in San Antonio between September 7 1926 and April 7 1927 Hundreds of extras and some 300 pilots were involved in the filming including pilots and planes of the United States Army Air Corps which were brought in for the filming and to provide assistance and supervision Wellman extensively rehearsed the scenes for the Battle of Saint-Mihiel over ten days with some 3500 infantrymen on a battlefield made for the production on location Although the cast and crew had much spare time during the filming because of weather delays shooting conditions were intense and Wellman frequently conflicted with the military officers brought in to supervise the picture