"BRIGADIER GERARD”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 273, 8 February 1928, Page 15

"BRIGADIER GERARD”

PRINCESS, TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S ‘'Napoleon kidnapped!" Imagine what a furore this news would have created had it been flashed across France in the early eighteen hundreds. This occurs in “Brigadier Gerard," a screen version of Conan Doy’le “Adventures of Gerard." Rod La Roeque, in the title role, is a swashbuckling young officer in Napoleon’s army. Circumstances have brought about the unjust sentence—death at the hands of a firing squad! La Roeque, whose bravery and daring are conspicuous even in his death cell is willing to die, but feels that the niost should be made of his execution. To have his emperor present, in La Roeque’s eyes, would make the event an important affair. With the help of a beautiful and clever Countess portrayed by Phyllis Haver, he escapes from his cell, jumps astride a waiting horse, and gallops madly away to intercept the-coach of Napoleon. He is successful in his attempt, and after overpowering the postillion of the coach, dons his uniform and drives the coach at break-neck speed to the scene of his execution. This series of events leads to a tensely dramatic climax in which Napoleon plays no small part. Donald Crisp directed. “Brigadier Gerard,” which will be shown at the Princess, Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres tomorrow. The cast embraces in addition to La Roeque and Miss Haver, Max Barwyn, Sam De Grasse, Julia Faye, Sally Rand, Clarence Burton, and Alphonse Ethier. In “Home Made,” Johnny Hines’s latest comedy, which will also be shown at the Princess and Tivoli, film fans will see the most unique and. elaborate set ever photographed by the comedian and his cohorts. For this is probably the first time in the movies that a genuine airplane has been used as a speaker’s table at a banquet. The wings serve as the table, and the cockpit is the seat of honour. PICTURE STARS DOLORES DEL RIO Dolores Del Rio will be the world's greatest motion picture star. Her popularity is already an assured fact. In the short space of one year this amazing personality has captivated the in-

ternational cinema world. Her Latin fire and dash typical of her native Mexico and her charm have an irresistible appeal for both sexes and all ages. No screen personality in years has risen to the heights of popularity now enjoyed by Miss Del

Dolores Del Rio Rio. She is acclaimed by the critics of America as the outstanding screen find of the past ten years. As her pictures are shown in Australia and New Zealand so will the favourable opinion of Press and public spread. She has earned her place through sheer artistry and ability and enjoys what is perhaps the most winning personality ever seen on the screen. During 1928 Dolores Del Rio will appear in the Wifiiam Fox extended season attraction “The Loves of Carmen," together with two other William Fox attractions, “Jungle Rose” and “My Wife's Honour." Miss Dolores Del Rio’s work in “What Price Glory" is already well known to the public of* Auckland. Frank R. Conklin, the Christie scenario man, took ail eight weeks* trip to France and has just returned to Hollywood full of fresh ideas for the new season of Paramount-Christie comedies. One of these will present Neal Burns as a young married man, with his wife and dog, and the fun which arise from their troubles in a French hotel with their trick dog. Five hundred Hollywood extras, now playing Russian soldiers in the new Emil Jannings starring picture, -The Last Command," were drilled in their manual of arms by ex-officers of the old Russian Imperial Army, now working in pictures. The drill-masters, including Captain Nicholas Kobliansky. Major N. Nicholaw, and Colonel V. Ikonnokov. The picture is nearing completion at the Paramount studio.