Early working titles for the film includedLucky StrikeandThe Northern Story.The film, inspired in part by the gruesome Donner Party story, was shot (over a period of 15 months from spring 1924-summer 1925) both on a Hollywood studio back lot and in Truckee, California/Nevada, and premiered in New York at the Strand Theatre in mid-August, 1925." ThePostreported: "IT FLIES!", while theNewsheadlined: "LOOK MA - NO WIRES!", theTimes: "BLUE BOMB BUZZES METROPOLIS," and thePlanet: "CAPED WONDER STUNS CITY...You""ve been there, right?...You sat on the edge of the bed, didn""t ya? You took off your shoes, put your finger between your toes and picked your feet.Apone (Al Matthews)wise-cracking and sarcastic Private Hudson (Bill Paxton)quiet and reserved Corporal Hicks (Michael Biehn)inept platoon leader Lt.