LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 13

LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS

Strongly reminiscent in treatment and significance of the sensational ‘ Lives of a Bengal Lancer,’ but with an individual appeal that should, nevertheless, make it as eminently successful as the ‘ Lancer ’ production, ‘ The Last Outpost ’ is now showing at the Laurior. Heading the cast of principals is Claude Rains, appearing in a role quite apart from any he has yet attempted on the screen, with Cary Grant, Gertrude Michael, Kathleen Burke, and Colin Tapley, Set against the colourful background of the eastern front during the World War, ‘The Last Outpost’ tells a strangely intriguing, authentic story of the relentless warfare that the Turks waged in Kurdistan, in their endeavour to strike at India, the heart of the British Empire. Into this seething field of battle comes Cary Grant, captain of a British armoured car division. Captured by a band of Kurdish cavalry, he_ is rescued by Claude Rains, a British Intelligence officer, who refuses to reveal his identity. The two form a strange friendship and together they save an entire Armenian Balkan village from massacre by the Kurds by taking men, women, children, and cattle across a swollen river to the Mesopotamia Mountains, at the same time averting a surprise attack on the British Army stationed there. Gripping drama, tense climax after climax, .thrilling, fast-moving action, romantic interludes following each other In rapid succession in this photoplay of the love of two men for one woman, complicated by their common mission as soldiers in the sun-scorched deserts and jungle hells of Arabia, make ‘ The Last Outpost ’ a noteworthy achievement. GREEN ISLAND George O’Brien, most popular of film stars, increases his "prestige by his superb acting in ‘ When A Man’s A Man/ which "begins at the Green Island Theatre to-morrow. This Box Eilm piture. a Lesser-Zanft production, is based on the well-known Harold Bell Wright story which has captivated more than 16,000,000 lovers of thrilling fiction. An unforgettable portrayal of the hero, who changes from an Eastern “ softie ” to a rugged Western man _ of action, is given by George O’Brien, supported by a splendid cast made up or Dorothy Wilson, Paul Kelly, Harry Woods, Jimmy Butler, and others. One of the most spectacular screen offerings of a decade is promised support in ‘ Babooma,’ the latest African adventure film of Mr and Mrs Martin Johnston. ‘ Baboona ' is described as an “ aerial epic over

Africa.” Requiring 20 months xn the filming, it was made while the Martin Johnstons toured 60,000 miles of unexplored jungle, visiting many spots in the Dark Continent never before seen by civilised man. This screen exploit of the intrepid pair reveals man’s most dramatic conquest—the first record of Africa’s remotest secrets filmed from the air.