AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 73, 22 August 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

“ELEPHANT BOY”

it new and lemarkable boy. star is introduced in “Elephant Boy” which is produced by Alexander Korda, and is screening at the De Luxe Theatre on /Tuesday and Wednesday (matinee Wednesday). He is Sabii. a 13-year-eid Indian lad who was discovered in India by Robert Flaherty, co-direct-or of the film, working in the Alaharajah’s elephant stables. This naive unaffected child is one of' the most delightful personalities ever brought to the screen.

“Elephant Boy” is rare and rest!ul entertainment, right off the beaten track. The story, based on “’loomai of the Elephants,” one of Eudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” yarns, tells of a little Indian boy. son of a mahout, who dreams of the day. wliem he teo will become? a great elephant driver like his famous grandfather, the renowned “Toomai of the Elephants.” Little Toomai’s father is killed, and tlie hoy mourns with Kala Nag, his favourite elephant, a giant tusker. Kala Nag attacks his new driver and runs riot. Fearing disaster Petersen Sahib, the white hunter, decides to shoot the huge beast. Rut little Toomai boldly approaches his elephant friend and soothes him. Owing to a misunderstanding Toomai runs away with Kala Nag into the jungle that night. Petersen leads a party in search of them, loomai is found utterly exhausted but he bears news of an enormous herd of elephants in the vicinity. A blockade is Imilt. heaters are hastily assembled and there fallows an exciting roundup in which more elephants are caught than have ever been known before. And the happy boy returns to tamp proudly riding Kala Nag not as littlo Toomai but as Toomai of the Elephants. The elephant drive provides a thrilling climax to a magnificent picture. Seldom lias such realism been captured by a camera. It is the rare sort of film which provides excellent entertainment for the entire family. Jt was nearly three years in the making, two of which were spent on locale in India. The transfer of the Kipling story could not have been in more sympathetic hands than those of Robert Flaherty and Zoltan Korda, the directors who deserve the warmest congratulations for one of the truly memorable pictures of the year.