“The Patriot”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 596, 23 February 1929, Page 25

“The Patriot”

FALL OF MAD TSAR Emil Jannings at the National EMIL JANNINGS is soon to add to his list of Auckland successes. “The Patriot,” a drama of Russia and the fall of a mad Tsar, is coming to the National. This is a picture that is bound to attract unusual attention and considerable comment. It is by no means a “one man show,” for a powerful cast supports Jannings, but the star certainly makes the film.

We have seen Emil Jannings as a circus man, a Russian prince of the Great War years, and a city gang leader. Now he harks back to the Russia of many generations ago to portray one of the most amazing characters in history. Every kingdom has had its mad ruler, but Russia’s Paul I. was the

maddest of them all. His court ■was a chaos of greed, selfishness and petty tyranny of an Impossible kind. Alice once attended a function in Wonderland that was similar — “We’re all mad here,” said the Hatter. “I’m mad; you’re mad.”

you re mau. “I’m not mad,” said Alice. “Yes you are,” said the Hatter. “If you weren’t mad you wouldn’t be here.” So it was in St. Petersburg where Paul held vicious and insane sway. That atmosphere is suggested admirably in the production, and Jannings is magnificent as the childish ruler who comes within an ace of bringing his country to ruin. The title of the film is suggested by the character of Count Pahlen, played by Lewis Stone, who stakes life, honour, love —everything—-on a gigantic gamble to save the empire. Realising that a drastic change must be made, he plans to overthrow the throne. To this end he insinuates himself

into the good graces of the Tsar and becomes, finally, the ruler’s most trusted favourite. Even then Pahlen is unable to gain the necessary control, so he enlists his lady-love and sends her to the Tsar. Infuriated by what she believes to be a sign of Pahlen’s disregard, the woman betrays the plot, but the Count lies his way out of the situation and succeeds in having the Tsar’s son arrested.

At last the plans are ready. The revolutionaries with Pahlen at their head storm the castle and kill the ruler. He dies shouting “Pahlen, Pahlen!” with terrifying frenzy.

Florence Vidor is the leading lady of this remarkable picture. It represents the best work Jannings has done and should not be missed.

Dream City Hollywood Writer Views Film Colony A BUNGALOW “AT HOME"

r P HIS is a Hollywood impression from Wells Root the dramatist, who is writing screen plays and dialogue for Paramount sound pictures. His most recent work teas “Varsity,” Charles Rogers's first starring picture

BOS ANGELES lies around the hills like a dream on its day off. There are soft horizons, miles of ocean, and behind you a

chunky file of circling hills. This agreeable panorama is excitedly improved by real estate companies. On the face of the green hills they have reared glowing monuments to their own cupidity in the form of the largest advertising signs in the world. These same men of property have

built an enviable toy town. Graceful and low, with flowers in the window boxes, the endless bungalows have the most leisurely, inviting living-rooms in all the world. I am told they are built with paper and putty and stuck together with paste; but this is not true, I live in one. It looks like a child’s Christmas present, but it works perfectly and there are six of everything. The surrounding inhabitants seem to me to be the most genuinely and unconsciously courteous I have ever known. An amazing advertisenjent is this Californian courtesy. May it never be sloganised. Wandering in Hollywood one comes to the motion picture studios. Wandering through one of them, one should pinch one’s-self at intevals. I encountered in quick succession, a live tiger, Moscow under several feet of snow, Clara Bow, an ocean liner, an elephant and two actors sitting In bathtubs full of hot mud. Two hours later I sneaked back and they were still sitting there. No wonder the country lad leaves home.