Eve Gray in British Film

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 241, 31 December 1927, Page 19

Eve Gray in British Film

“Poppies of Flanders” “CAN STAND COMPARISON” Flanders,” a new | British film, draws eulogies I Edi Tor he Dai,y Mail’s” Film ' • fu* u Gray ’ the Australian, | ts the heroine. He writes: noH. Erit - Sh film which can stand comdfamSti ir ?i every respect—technically, finest *1 and artistically—with the *t American productions, and come out of the ordeal with success, is the new British International picture T’oppies of Flanders.” which was shown privately at the Astoria. Charmg Cross Road, W.C.. recently. The ls brilliant, the direction magmficent. and the photography superb. Mr. Jameson Thomas scores a great personal triumph in a part which presented many difficulties, and which, if played by an actor of moderate abilitv, would have seriously affected the success of the film. Mr. Thomas has never had such a fine opportunity to show his gifts, and his skilful and imaginative interpretation of the character places him among the finest screen actors in the world. He possesses a distinctly pleasant personality, an easy natural presence, and a fine sense of drama and comedy. He

is one of the biggest assets British films possess. Fine British Cast

Miss Eve Gray, the pretty Australian actress, is charming as the heroine, and Mr. Thomas receives excellent supoprt from a fine British cast, which includes Mr. Henry Vibart, Mr. Malcolm Tod, Miss Daisy Campbell, Mr. Gibb McLaughlin, and Mr. Cameron Carr.

The story, w'hich tells of the regeneration during the war of a cashiered officer who had turned drunkard, has many original situations, and the producers have had the courage to end it in the only logical way—with che death of the hero. Mr. Arthur Maude, the director, has made a film which combines wonderful entertainment and real artistry. The early scenes, set in Africa, contain feeling and atmosphere. The war scenes are among the best the screen has given us. There are no mock heroics: the soldiers are real soldiers. who carry through to the best of their ability. One scene, a single-handed attack on a German machine gun post, is directed with a particularly fine sense of dramatic effect. Photographic Triumph Often the finest direction and acting can be marred by poor or unimaginative photography. Mr. G. W. Pocknall has given us a quality which is the equal of any that has been seen in German. American, or other productions. If there are still some who refuse to believe that Great Britain can produce films equal to. and in many cases better than, the best of foreign productions, “Poppies of Flanders provides another and a very striking answer. Eve Gray is a Sydney girl who won the “Evening News’s” beauty competition. She did not meet with a great deni of theatrical success in Australia, but on going to England she soon won recognition.