Western Talkie

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 846, 14 December 1929, Page 30

Western Talkie

KEN MAYNARD’S SUCCESS

“The Wagon Master” for Roxy

COMING to the Eoxy shortly is the first western talkie since Fox’s “In Old Arizona.” It is Universal’s “The Wagon Master,” one of the most successful dialogue films produced by that company. A typical outdoor drama with a host of thrills leadingup to an exciting climax, this picture demonstrates clearly the great increase in entertainment value made possible by speech.

It has been said that the coming ol' , talkies spelt the doom of western pic- I tures. This may be true in the sense I that the western h killed as a lead ing story type, bn isolated western talkies are appear ing with consisten regularity now tha some of the diffi culties of outdoo reproduction haw been overcome. ' “The Wagon Master” is a worth

while programme feature for several reasons. First, it is a particularly good talkie, well devised and technically excellent. Secondly, Ken Maynard offers the best work of his career, and, thirdly, no pains have been spared to provide the star with a good story, a strong- supporting cast, and a backing of magnificent scenes. Maynard appears as “The Rambler," who organises a wagon service in the far west to combat a powerful transport monopoly. Acting as wagon master he tails foul of various interests, who are attempting to prevent. the wagon from reaching its destination, and affairs culminate in a violent battle with whips in a dance hall. "The Rambler’s” efforts are brought to successful fruition by the action of a girl who secures the confidence of the enemy and carries their plans to her lover. | Opposite Maynard is Edith Roberts, j who is excellently cast as Sue, the girl who battles so valiantly against, the transport monopoly. Frederick Dana plays the ranchman and Tom Santschi, ! dean of western “bad men,” is the particularly efficient “menace” of the production. In the course of the picture the star both talks and sings the songs of the old western cowboys.