“Brigadier Gerard”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 270, 4 February 1928, Page 25

“Brigadier Gerard”

CONAN DOYLE ON SCREEN Famous Novel Picturised CLASSIC OF NAPOLEONIC ERA HISTORY has no more enthralling period than the Napoleonic era. Every soldier, so ’twas said, carried a marshal’s baton in his knapsack. The great Emperor himself: never forgot the fact that he was once a humble lieutenant of artillery, and his povertystricken family, then newly arrived from Corsica. “Brigadier Gerard,” the new De Mille feature, which will he screened at the Princess, Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres on February 7, deals with this fascinating period.

THE production, directed by Donald Crisp, is said to rise at times to the dignity of drama, and the featured players including Fhyllis Haver, Julia Faye, Sally Rand and Sam de Grasse appear to excellent advantage. The fascinating period of Napoleonic rula in France is the background of one of the best pictures in which Rod La Rocque has been seen since he became a star. The star is seen as an ambitious country boy whose sole desire is to attach himself to the Emperor’s guard. Friend of Napoleon He accomplished this by certain deeds of daring in behalf of Countess da Launay, a secret agent of Napoleon’s, with whom he falls in love and whom he aids against the treacherous intrigues of Talleyrand, one of Napoleon’s, ministers. Etienne Gerard fights duels smilingly, boasts of “my friend the Emper or,” balks Talleyrand, and is finally brought before a firing squad by his enemies. How he escapes his fate lis thrillingly visualised, and how

Napoleon makes Etienne’s boasts d ls believed to make a charming fln j!f 0 h is seen in the stellar role as Gerard. Miss Haver is excellent as Countess de Launay, while Julia Faye is regal as Josephine. Mr. de Grasse as Talleyrand proves himself as smooth a villain as the screen can offer. Sally Rand as Talleyrand’s secretary plays with commendable restraint and.force. The Napoleon as played by Max Barwyn is a realistic one. Barwyn’s Napoleon will live long in the memory of tlie admirers of the Little Corporal. Famous Author The picture ls a screen version of Conan Doyle’s famous novel, “The Adventures of Gerard.” It was adapted by Douglas Z. Doty, and the direction by Donald Crisp was of the best. C. Gardner Sullivan supervised the production. “Brigadier Gerard” is being released in Auckland under the direction of the O’Brien Theatres, an organisation which is securing some remarkably interesting pictures these days.