STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 352, 12 May 1928, Page 14

STRAND

' TOLSTOY’S “RESURRECTION” Beginning: the third and final week of its season, the screen version of “Resurrection,” Tolstoy’s immortal love drama, attracted large audiences to the Strand Theatre yesterday. To translate “Resurrection” from the written word to the screen was an enterprise presenting difficulties to the producer; but the most ardent Tolstoyan can have no complaint against the screen version. The main stream Of the story has not been interfered with, and more remarkable still, much of the philosophic message of the book has been communicated to the screen. This is really one of the triumphant phases of the production. When Tolstoy wrote “Resurrection” he set out to show that no matter what cynics might say, the love of man for woman -v s the greatest and noblest force in life. But before this hallowed state became possible, it was necessary for the spirit of the individual to be tempered by experience, for out of searing experience alone came wisdom and contentment. Tolstoy had the suffering heart, and he knew J that it was truth he spoke. The principal character's in the play are Prince Dimitri Nekhludof, and Katusha Maslova, a young peasant girl. The prince and the girl begin an idyll on a country estate, and the course of love is smooth until the time comes for Dimitri to go to the capital for military duty. He had Tworn fine oaths of fidelity to the girl, but before long he is plunged into vnnous excesses. When he returns to the country he seduces Katusha, and then abandons her to shame and misery. The girl then loses faith and begins living an abandoned life, finally being arraigned murder. Dimitri is on the jury that convicts her. She is sentenced to penal servitude, but the prince follows her to Siberia, and in the w r hite wastes there two hearts find love, and two minds come to wisdom.

Dolores del Rio plays Katusha, in a manner that would win film fame on this single Rod La Rocque also does memorable work as Dimitri. The Strand Orchestra, under Miss Ev© Bentley, slaved excellent incidental music. The “1812” overture was completed satisfying, and the stage scena added to the effect.