MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 15

MAJESTIC

“THE IRON MASK” All the world loves romance. In his newest United Artists picture, “The Iron Mask,” now at the Majestic Theatre, Douglas Fairbanks embodies the romantic spirit of adventure and valour. Once more he is D’Artagnan, the dashing hero of Alexander Dumas’s stories of the 17th century France, as he was six years ago in his first picturisation of the adventures of the four faithful friends, “The Three Musketeers.” Again he rides with Athos, Porthos ancl Ararfiis through years of intrigue, war and love. The first part of the picture takes place during the reign of Louis XIII., when thp four musketeers wield their swords in defence of their king and his infant son. The time of the second part is 20 years later during the early period of the regime of the young Louis XIV. D’Artagnan and his companions are as valiant and loyal in their guardianship of the new king as they were of his father. D’Artagnan solves the mystery of the man in the iron mask, outwits the cardinal and his companions, restores the rightful Louis to his throne, and goes to his grave with the baton of the Marechal of France upon his breast. Lovers of the Dumas novels will find that the players in this picturisation of the. stories admirably fit the brilliant Frenchman’s descriptions of his characters. Athos, Porthos and Aramis are played by Leon Bary, Stanley J. Sandford and Gino Corrado, ideal types for the swashbuckling young musketeers. Nigel de Brulier is the crafty, conspiring cardinal, and Lon Poff plays his fellow churchman Father Joseph. Ulrich Haupt is cast as the villainous de Rochefort, and the two Louis, father and son, are portrayed by Rolfe Sedan and William Bakewell. Charles Stevens is Planchet, the faithful servant of D’Artagnan, and Henry Otto is Master of the Wardrobe. Marguerite de la Motte is once more Constance, to whom D’Artagnan gives the only love of his life, as she was in “The Three Musketeers.” The treacherous Milady de Winter is played by Dorothy Revier, and Vera Lewis is Madame Peronne, the midwife. Belle Bennett plays Anne of Austria, Queen mother of the young Louis XIV. With “The Iron Mask,” Allan Dwan has added another brilliant success to his long record of directorial achievements. The bright supporting programme includes a Fox News and Eve’s Review, with the latest events of the world, a Glenn Trvoti comedy, and new and enjoyable musical selections by the Majestic Octette under Mr. Whiteford-Waugh.