REGENT THEATRE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 184, 21 August 1937, Page 13

REGENT THEATRE

"ELEPHAKT BOV." "Elephant Boy," which screens at the Regent to-night, is more than a mere film. It is an object lesson — an object-lesson' demonstrating that all the high-powered equipment of the studio is not indispensable to the making of a really great film. "Elephant Boy" has been made almost entirely outdoors. No elaborate aids of incandescent ligbting, of lavish setting, were enlisted in its making. Yet the film stands on a peak of eminence in spite of it all — or rather, perliaps, because of it. i1 or its settmg is the foxmidable uiagiilhcence oi india's mountain and jungle, aiid its cast is compoaed ot simple charaote'rs in the giant elephants of India and their all-wise, understanding and gentle mahouts. The story does not rely upon ingenious subtletxes for its effect ; it does not have to. Kiphng's "Toomai of the Elephants" iurnished its basis and from that material has been made a splcudid film. This film is notahle for two tliings, tho direction of Robert Flaherty and the acting of Sabu, a 13-year-old Indian boy. Sabu is responsihle for a wonderfully convincing portrayal in the part of Toomai. His acting is simple and straightforward. The production contains many impressive and spectaeular scenes that are characteristic of films produeed by Alexander Korda.