THE PICTURE ROUSES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 9

THE PICTURE ROUSES

MUNICIPAL. The gorgeous splendour of the semi-barbaric court of the Grand Kahn of Tartary shown in full colour in the Universal-Film de France production of the famous Jules Verne melodrama “Michael Strogoff,” which comes to the Municipal Theatre tonight, presents a striking contrast to the civilized magnificence of the Imperial Place at Moscow of Alexander 11., Czar of all Russia in 1850, which is also a feature of the huge spectacular photodrama. In those days Czar and Kahn were absolute rulers. Their word was law for life or death. Surely no finer opportunity for gorgeous colour effects could be given a director than this famous old melodrama of Jules Verne’s, which in book and play form has achieved a popularity with all ages and all races. The colour scenes include the place of the Czar; the Imperial Court Ball; the camp (a tent city of ten thousand souls), of the Grand Kahn of Tartary; the harem, the dance of the bayaderes, thousands of wild Tartar tribesmen in their picturesque and gaudily coloured flowing robes of silk, and many others. The new art is called the French stencil process, and is said to give more faithfully the colourings of the objects photographed than any of those heretofore shown in America. The perfection of colour photograhpy as applied to motion pictures is said to have been reached by a new invention exhibited in this country for the first time in the Universal-Film de France production “Michael Strogoff.’’ A special prologue has been designed for this production that should satisfy the most captious. COSY DE LUXE.

Tim McCoy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s popular outdoor star, doe's not confine his activities to pictures dealing with Red Indian warfare. His latest starring vehicle, “Foreign Devils,’’ has the Chinese Boxer Rebellion of 1900 as a unique and colourful background, and historical interest is admirably blended with thrills, action, and a charming love story. Now showing at Cosy Theatre, “Foreign Devils” tells of the plight of the members of the various foreign Legations beseiged in Pekin by the Boxers, and has as its central theme the love that sprang to life in spite of perils and hardships between a young Marine officer, and an English girl. The Eastern atmosphere is splendidly mautained throughout, and McCoy demonstrates some more of his amazingly original stunts. The entry of the relieving forces into Pekin is a unique bit of screen pageantry, showing the British, American, French, Bushian and German contingents hastening ton the rescue of their countrymen. Beautiful Claire Windsor is McCoy’s leading lady, and Cyril Chadwick, Frank Curier and Emily Fitzroy are elso in the cast. Supports of customary excellence are also shown.