BRITANNIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 14

BRITANNIA

“BRIGADIER GERARD” A glittering romance of love and adventure, action-full and very vivid, laid ] in those memorable days when Na- | poleon ruled Europe—when gladly, 2 brave Frenchmen died to serve his ’ over-riding ambitions—when love of - country, intrigue, bravery and daring 5 were the passports to glory and fame. / Rod La Rocque’s fine new starring i vehicle, which is being shown at the j t Britannia Theatre, possesses all those - qualities that go to make a production s both entertaining and instructive. Ac- - complishing both through the glamour ■, and historical accuracy of the se- j e quences, La Koeque makes of Gerard | s a very virile figure, not merely a saw- _ dust automaton, and the role of the t Countess de Launay is admirably in- _ terpreted by Phyllis Haver. The pict tues goes with a dash and a swing - from start to finish, just one of the t j inimitable Gerard’s exploits being the kidnapping of Napoleon, while the s august personage sits amazed at his j own coach. The main theme hinges 5 on the necessity of the proud Emperor obtaining possession of papers bearing 5 evidence incriminating the scheming e Talleyrand, admirably limned in a brils liant characterisation by Sam De Grasse. It is certain that theatregoers i. will follow with completely absorbed interest all the varied vicissitudes of 'the braggart brigadier, Gerard.