STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 847, 16 December 1929, Page 15

STRAND

“THE RED DANCE” Fin© story, great cast, artistic direction and splendid entertainment just about describes “The Red Dance,” which had its premier on the screen of the Strand Theatre last week and was shown on Saturday before a capacity audience. This latest Fox picture is a story of Russia during the revolution, with Dolores Del Rio and Charles Farrell in the stellar roles. The beautiful Mexican gives probably her greatest performance since her role of Charmaine in “What Price Glory,” as the peasant girl who becomes the famous Red Dancer of Moscow and a leader of the Revolution. Charles Farrell is equally effective as Prince Eugen, whose sympathies are with the people but who, in the turmoil of rebellion, is sentenced to die before a firing squad. These two young players furnish the romance of th'e story as well as some of the thrills. But probably one of the most startling discoveries made in pictures in some time is Ivan Linow, a giant Russian and former professional wrestler, in the role, first of a common soldier and then a “Red” general. Linow is simply great. The huge man would have stolen the picture from almost any two other players by his remarkable performance. As it is. the trio under the masterly direction of Raoul Walsh, give a performance in this Fox feature that will not soon be forgotten. There is plenty of action, thrills, humour and historical interest in this production. Rasputin, the black monk. Trotsky, the Tsar apd his family and other famous characters of Jthe revolution play their parts- in this, one of the best pictures seen here in many months. It is synchronised throughout with the music of the Roxy Orchestra, New York, of over 100 pieces. The talkie items on the supporting programme include “The Knife,” the all-talking version of the famous English play by Henry Arthur Jones, also a Fox Movietone News.