DRAMA OF COURAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 851, 20 December 1929, Page 17

DRAMA OF COURAGE

“THE VALIANT” APPEARS AT MAJESTIC GOOD CHRISTMAS BILL A poignant drama built on the theme of a son’s sacrifice for his mother is “The Valiant," screened for the first time at the head of ' of an excellent film bill at the Majestic last evening. The story, appealing because of its very simplicity, is given its keynote by the lines from “Julius Caesar”: Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Certainly no better personification of valour could be desired than the figure of “James Dyke,” who is prepared to walk to the scaffold leaving tho world in ignorance of his true identity; this because somewhere, a long way away, a little old mother is waiting proudly to hear news of her son in the city. There is a welcome Christmas flavour about the Majestic's latest programme, and it harmonises excellently with the feeling that should be abroad in the Yuletide days. Short subjects and long are equally attractive and there is admirable variety. “The Valiant,” in analysis, bases its success on foundations that are somewhat new to talkies. It is a drama, and a powerful one, that leans heavily on dialogue rather than using it to improve the picture as a film. The only other talkie built on similar principle that one can call to mind having been shown in Auckland is “The Doctor’s Secret,” which, in the same way, introduced dialogue, not as an adjunct, but as a highly necessary and integral part of the performance. “The Valiant,” being as it is, it follows that the production* must stand or fall on the efficiency of its talking. Fortunately, the speech is highly satisfactory in that (t is clear and precise. One learns what is going on and hears what is being said without strain, and is able to forget the cinema and enter into the spirit and atmosphere of the play. Paul Muni, who appears as the young man, condemned to death for a crime he did not commit, but distressed only at the possibility of his mother learning of the tragedy, gives an outstanding and remarkable performance in a difficult and highly delicate role. He acts with restrained emotion and a manly vigour that sets the production on a high plane. Edith Yorke) an actress in mature roles of long experience and popularity, gives an artistic and also wonderfully restained performance as the mother. The picture discloses that her voice is mellow and characteristic. Marguerite Churchill, wlio had a successful talkie debut in “Pleasure Crazed,” acts and looks as well as ever. Without saying that her reproduced voice is strikingly pleasant, one may claim fairly that Miss Churchill is among the very few actresses discovered to date who are able to convey their lines to the screen clearly and with proper light and shade of meaning. Another member of the oast is John Mack Brown, a highly successful voung player who seems to have some part or other in at least every second Fox Movietone production. “Forget Me Not,” a pretty Christmas story set, apparently, in old-world Europe, is a supporting feature and the programme is further added to by a good Pa the news budget and a really funny Clark and McCullough talking comedy. Finally Mr. J. Whiteford Waugh and his orchestra played excellent incidental music.