“BARDELYS, MAGNIFICENT”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 146, 10 September 1927, Page 15

“BARDELYS, MAGNIFICENT”

A SABATINi PRODUCTION “I can win any woman for my wife, but, moil Dieu, I don’t want a wife!” So said Bardelys the Magnificent., but there came a day when he wooed in earnest, and all he got was a hangman’s noose. But he lived to love again, and this time the beautiful Lady Roxalanne became his bride. “Bardelys the Magnificent” is a typical Sabatini novel, and it has been faithfully recorded by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer corporation. Tho scenes are set in mediaeval France, and the characters could only come from Sabatini’s pen.

John Gilbert is the Bardelys of the production, a dashing, care-free fellow*, who is prepared to risk his head at any minute for a pretty face, and who, even cn the scaffold, finds it hard to repent his sins, because “they all had pretty ankles.” A foolish wager with his enemy, Chatellerault, to the effect that he would win the hand of the Lady Roxalanne, whom he had never seen, was the cause of his trouble.

Mistaken for a rebel, he is wounded by the king’s, men, and seeks refuge at her castle. Her parents are working in secret against the king, and they are glad to offer protection to one whom they suppose to be the leader of the rebel cause.

As such he wins the love of Lady toxalanne. The fact that she has teard of the infamous wager made by Bardelys prevents him from disclosng his real identity when lie is acused by a rejected suitor of being

betrothed to another. Humiliated, she denounces him to the king’s troopers, and despite his protestations that lie is Bardelys, the king’s favourite, he is about to be hung, when the timely arrival of the king secures his release. Although it is very doubtful if Sabatini intended Bardelys to perform to many athletic stunts, it is all very interesting. Whether scaling castle walls, fighting duels, pole-vaulting over the heads of the pikemen, or in making love, Bardelys is truly magnificent. There is a thrill in every foot. Eleanor Boardman makes a very desirable Lady Roxalanne, and. with Gilbert, heads a strong cast. An interesting Majestic News, Eve’s Review, and a very original farce, •Light Housekeeping,” complete a well varied programme. In addition to providing a very suitable musical accompaniment for the picture programme, tlie Majestic new' orchestra also gave a capital arrangement of popular Gilbert and Sullivan numbers. Jocelyn Lee, cue of the few' red-heads in pictures, was cast by E. H. Griffith veteran director, to play the vamp in “Afraid to Love." Florence Vidor’s next starring release for Paramount. Olive Brook is leading man of the picture, which is to have early release.