ANOTHER FILM OF IRISH REBELLION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 83, 24 April 1937, Page 11

ANOTHER FILM OF IRISH REBELLION

A passionate conflict between love-of wifo'and loyalty to a popular "cause" such as must have torn many a youhg patriot when the fighters consecrated themselves to revolt, provides powerlul drania for Preston Eoster, in "The Plough and The Stars," which is based on events of the "Uprising" of 1916. "The Plough and The Stars," tells the deeply dramatic story oi a young irish .girl ior whom life and love are complicated by the rebellion. it gives Barbara \Stanwyck, as the girl, one of -.the richest roles of her career. Produeed by the same company, director, " scenario writer, and executive staff- as "The Infoimer," . which was widely acclaimed as the finest film of 1935, "The Plough and the Stars" is taken from the play by the Irjsh dramatist, Sean O'Casey. I'oster • appears as (Jlitheroe, a nian of the Dublin slums who must choose between the call to dangerous service and his wife's pleas that he remain with her. The story sweeps to near tradegy as he is made a commander of one of the idealistic regiments of .the story. The tragic drama that gripped those women whose husbands c-r lovers were for an entire week absent in the street fighting is reflected in this story of Nora (Jiitheroe's struggle. A proud young woman, her attempts to cling to clefanliness and respectability in the slums made her an outcast among her pcverty-ridden neighbonrs. Thus added pathos is given to her struggle becauso she has to fight alone, without the consolation of feminine sympathy. "The Plough and The Stars" was directed .by John Pord, who won the , Acadeany award for directing "The Informer." It js relieved by comedy to a greater degree than that film. The comedy is furnished chieily by fivo ckaracters portrayed by members of the famous Abbey Theatre, of Dublin, who were specially brought from Iroland for the film. TJna O'Connor, J. M. Kerrigan, Bonita Granviile, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Moroni Olsen and others join the Abbey Players in the cast. The latter include Barry Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea, Eileen Crowe, Arthur Sliields, and F. J. MeUormick. Dudley Nichols, winner of the Acaremy- award for his screen play of "The Informer," adapted "The Plough and The Stars" to the screen.