“THE LONG, LONG TRAIL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 908, 27 February 1930, Page 17

“THE LONG, LONG TRAIL”

HOOT GIBSON’S FIRST TALKIE SUCCESS AT THE ROXY Hoot Gibson galloped into the Roxy Theatre yesterday in “The Long, Long Trail,” a Universal picture of the romantic West that will thrill the hearts of young and old. It is with dialogue. Hoot appears in a devil-may-care role that is guaranteed to engage the attention and interest of any audience. He plays the part of a. cowboy who gets simultaneously entangled In the nets of love and the spares of villainy. The picture gives Hoot a chance to display his remarkable riding ability to the fullest extent. In brief, the story concerns Itself with the adventure of a young cowboy who gets an unjustified reputation for hard drinking through his playful habit of shooting up the town. Despite himself he falls in love with a beautiful Eastern girl. His employer counts on him to win the big rodeo sweepstakes race for his ranch. With his romance and the race both depending on his efforts, the start of the contest finds him apparently a victim of drink. How Hoot fights his way through makes a picture that fairly sizzles with action. Gibson has an exceptionally strong supporting cast in “The Long, Long Trail.” Beautiful Sally Eilers, his leading lady, goes through her role with ability that: matches her charm. Others playing important parts in a highly commendable fashion are Kathryn MacGuire, James Mason, Archie Ricks, Walter Brennan and Howard Truesdell. Some of the most colourful action of the picture is composed of scenes taken at a big Western rodeo. Much of the credit for the high quality of “The Long Long Trail” should go to Arthur Rosson, who directed. Rosson kept things moving at a rapid pace throughout. He also did exceptional work in the handling of the humorous sequences. An exceptional programme of talking and singing features completes an outstanding entertainment.