“Trail of ’98”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 25

“Trail of ’9B”

REGENT’S NEW BOOKING

Dolores Del Rio Ralph Forbes

AT last Robert W. Service's d Trail of '98,” is offered as i on March 14 under the bam and is described as the success* Clarence Brown is the dii fare. The stars are Dolores D* Dane “The Trait of ’9B” promises to occupy a high place on the list of the year’s outstanding films. It is the most ambitious production of M.-G.-M. since ‘‘Ben Hur,” and the dramatic material is excellent. The cast alone serves to indicate the importance of this offering. Besides the three principals there are George Cooper, Tenen Holtz, Harry Carey, Emily Fitzroy, Polly Moran. Russell, Simpson and Cesare Cravina, and 24 people in minor roles.

Behind this powerful group is an army of 15,000 extras in some of the most spectacular scenes and thrilling sequences ever filmed. The story of the play follows closely

the incidents of the book. It tells of

the Klondyke rush in ’9B and the breaking of a girl on the wheel of greed when her lover’s eyes were blinded with the glitter of the little yellow grains. The big scenes in the picture were taken on the Colorado Divide, but the camera has caught also the “rush” scenes at ’Frisco, portraying with remarkable vividness the stampeding effect of the gold call on a huge band of men and women of all types and ages.

The mighty climax is said to rival even the famous chariot race :in “Bexr Hur,” hitherto the greatest spectacular thrill placed on celluloid. It depicts the overpowering rush of a mighty avalanche, roaring horribly, sweeping hundreds to death, and carrying boats, supplies and equipment to destruction.

Over 12 months was spent in Alaska by the M.-G.-M. Company, and the snow scenes produced are wonderful in their beauty and scope. The work of the gold-seekers on the claims is contrasted vividly with the scenes in

Iramatic Klondyke story, “The a film. It comes to the Regent ner of Met ro-Goldwyn-Ma ye r ;or to “jßen-Hur.” rector of this exceptional pic•el Rio, Ralph Forbes and Karl the huge dance hall, where gold is flung into the lap of chance, and greed Is a supreme dictator. At the close of the picture comes another big scene—the historic burning of Dawson City following the death of the man who had wrecked a girl’s life. Dolores Del Rio adds another excellent characterisation to her list, and Ralph Forbes is an ideal hero.