“FROZEN JUSTICE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 893, 10 February 1930, Page 14

“FROZEN JUSTICE”

GREAT DRAMA OF ALASKA

PLAZA’S FINE TALKIE

For able, polished melodrama, telling situations and broad, sweeping action, “Frozen Justice” is recommended without reservation. Much praise is due to Miss Ulric and Allan Dwan, who directed “Frozen Justice.” We insist it is a real triumph for both. The former Xew York stage star, in the role of “Talu,” the half-caste belle of the Yukon dance halls,, delineates a character that will remain indelibly on the mind; her “Talu” is indeed as powerful as “Lulu Belle” &nd equally distinctive. And that’s saying a lot. “Frozen Justice” recounts a moving tale of betrayal and revenge and it is told with rich colouring and a minimum of lost motion. Pictorially perfect, new values of acting are brought to the screen of the Plaza Theatre. “Talu” is the half-caste wife of the Eskimo chief, Lanak, played by Robert Frazer. A trading schooner, captured by the villainous Ullrich Haupt, arrives in port and “Talu” is lost! Flirtations follow, and a wild orgy on the ship, which culminates as the ice floe breaks the good ship Bowhead to bits. This is a powerful scene, superbly pictured, and ably acted. Beaten by her husband for her wantonness, she flees to the honky tonks of the Yukon with Haupt. But civilisation proves tawdry, her heart becomes contrite especially after other dance hall girls make life miserable for her, and she attempts to return to her people. Aided by Louis Wolheim, who, as usual, manages to carve out a rich role for himself, her escape is planned only to be frustrated when Wolheim is slain by Haupt. But justice prevails in an absorbing way, which for sheer dramatic heights is seldom equalled. The remainder of the programme is also of a high standard, and includes a number of really entertaining talking and singing featurettes.