"THE FLAMING FRONTIER."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18890, 4 January 1927, Page 14

"THE FLAMING FRONTIER."

STIRRING ADVENTURE ON THE PRAIRIES. What i 3 a sensation in New York is bound to be a sensation in London, and what London approvee tho whole world endorses. This rule holds good in nearly every. inatance, but mostly i 3 it applicable to the stage and screen. When, therefore, "The Flaming Frontier," a massive spectacular production from tho Universal Studios, will bo presented at' the "Grand Theatre next Monday, Christchurch will be' seeing a picture which has been a triumphant and enthusiastic success in both the JKdw and the Old Worlds', and now comes to capture the popular'fancy of the southern lands. For any picture to- excite such enthusiasm, something "more than mere solidity of construction and power of plot, is neceesary; something ' mora than excellence of acting and strength of direction ore required. That high-souled spirit of courage and adventure, of noble patriotism, and sublime disregard of self which are found in the classic scripts of ancient Greece and Rome; that aroma, of diplomatic intrigue which swopt Europe during the Middle Ages, and still intrigues more than a few brilliant personalities; that atmosphere of accomplishment of' great things in the face of any | obstacle, and the love which blooms under any sky—all theso attributes which go towards making a truly great picture, and one which the world speedily recognises as such, go to the making of "Tho Flaming Frontier " All the world love 3 a good pugnacious story, and all the world loves a •good, stirring, fight-filled picture of.the bravo old days, when a man could stand up to his enemy, when gleaming Redskins infested the prairies and' menaced the frontiers, and a man's matchlock or musket was always ready at his side. Such a picture is ' The Flam. in» Frontier," a romantic and candidly thrilling-page out of the very romance and thrilling book of the story of fcorth America. No matter what feats of colomsation tho Anglo-Saxon race has performed the men and women, who, in the face of terrific odds, won America from the Indian stand a, the executors of the prondea.feat ofhem all and to accentuate difficulties, they encountered'in their efforts one of the most warlike raceo in the world. Hostile, bitter savage, to tho very end the lord of the undulating prairies, the American Indian fought for his country and his undoubted rights, fought and was beaten in a onesided fight. His story makes entrancing reading, still more entrancing plays, and this picture i 3 a dramatisation of one of the greatest and most heroic stands in the history Qf tho under-dog. Students of American history wiH recollect Custer's lasVstand, an action which toot place dunng the Presi-, dency of Ulysses S. Grant, when Colonel Custer and his diminished band were completely annihilated at the. hands of hostile Sioux. This .engagement is one of the oiitstanding features of the picture, full of daring, thrills, incident, pure drama, and, whisper it lightly, romance. Embracing in its entirety Buch unquestioned factors of entertainment, the picture standi as one of tne finest contributions ever made to the cinema. It is produced with an admirable regard tor historical accuracy and th* customs of the period, and from a material point of view it is imposing and effective. Huge bands of Indians lend a realism to the picture which is not ; without its romantically picturesque suggestion. In the leading role Hoot Gibson plays what is-certainly the most interesting character he has yet portrayed, human and likeable, yet surrounded by the glamour of noble deeds and. charming romance, a character which appeals to the eternal Peter Pan in every man, even though he has the appearance of a hoary and venerable patriarch. Ann Cornwall heads the large supporting cast, and acts with unusual ability. The box plans open at The Bristol Piano Company on. Thursday morning.