“THE FOREIGN LEGION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 15

“THE FOREIGN LEGION”

ADVENTURE IN THE DESERT DRAMA OF LOVE AND HATE AT PLAZA Thrilling adventure, exotic romance, picturesque scenes and characters, and a stirring story of love and revolt were all found in one picture last evening, when Universal’s gripping production, “The Foreign Legion,” opened at the Plaza Theatre. Not for a. long time has an, audience here seen a picture thq.t equalled “The Foreign Legion” in any of the above features. None will soon fox-get the horror of the iron discipline, the fateful situations into which the hero is thrown or the remarkable character which causes his downfall —a ravishing beauty-blonde, hot-blooded and deadly. Two of the sequences remain in the mind especially because of their realism and beauty. One of them is the sand storm on the desert, catching the soldiers of the Foreign Legion unawares. The other* is the trial scene in the courtroom. For these two sequences alone, the picture is worth going to see. The story tells of a young Englishman who is disgraced because of an affair over a man-crazy woman, Sylvia. To disappear, he joins the French Foreign Legion, and is assigned to duty under- a Colonel Destinn, who is in reality his father, although neither know it. Sylvia crosses their path again in Algiers, and to offset her machinations with Legion officers, father and son, have to go off to a desert outpost with reinforcements. They arrive too late because of a sandstorm, and to save their lives have to join a mutiny. When the mutiny is quelled, the young man is court-martialed and judged by his father. He escapes the sentence after many thrilling experiences in the desert. * Norman Kerry and Lewis Stone, two of the best known actors on the screen, undoubtedly do the finest work of their long and successful careers in the starring roles. Kerry as Richard, the unfortunate victim of circumstances, and Stone as his unknown father. Colonel Destinn, have opportunities for acting that rarely come in other pictures. Needless to say, both of these skilful players make the most of them. The supporting cast is also good. Mary Nolan as the unprincipled blonde and June Marlowe as the girl sweetheart appear to great advantage. Miss Nolan, a former Follies beauty, received her screen training in Germany, which partially explains her success in this exotic role. Crauford Kent and Walter Perry all do good work. Thousands of persons have read “The Red Mirage,” by I. A. R. Wylie, from which “The Foreign Legion” was adapted. The full flavour of the book has been retained in the film version. Baby June, the clever child impersonator, made a brief but well-ap-plauded appearance in the prologue, featuring the “Foreign Legion” march. An enjoyable musical programme was provided by Mr. Howard Moody’s Symphonic Orchestra.