ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 954, 23 April 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

“NOAH’S ARK” Ham, Shem, Japlieth, sons of the patriarch, play prominent parts in the Biblical sequences of “Noah's Ark. the Warner Bros, and Vitaphone super- j special, starring Dolores Costello with George O’Brien, and now showing at . the St. James Theatre. This is with- ; out doubt the first time that the heroes } of the Flood have been dramatised, if one makes the exception of the opera which was a sequel to the immortal < Dryden’s "Fall of Man” —“Noah s ! Flood; or the History of the General Deluge.’* l George O’Brien gives a magnificent portrayal of the fearless and fiery Japheth m “Noah's Ark.” This is a * dual role, O’Brien in the earlier, mod- ! j ern sequences of the stupendous spectacle, plaving the part of a young soldier of the World War. During a vivid story told by a chaplain in the = midst of bombardment, the characters, Travis and his sweetheart. Mary—played by Dolores Costello, are wafted back to the days of Noah, playing their parts in the tumult and terror of the days before the Deluge, Travis (Japheth) finally bearing Mary (Miriam ) to the safety of the Ark. “Noah’s Ark.” with it 3 magnificent sets, its colourful costuming anil thousands of people in the cast, as a striking background for Noah Beery’s vital performance. The supporting programme includes vocal selections by the Revellers’ Quartet, an amusing sketch in which the modern flapper comes in for condemnation, and a magnificent solo by Giovanni MartinellL __ J I believe we have an eve;: more i brilliant story in the Vitaphone version of “Disraeli” than we had on the stage,” says George Arliss, who for many years has played the role ol' Britain’s great statesman behind the footlights, and who again plays this rolo for the talking production. “Disraeli.” It was written especially for ! him at his suggestion, after he had * studied the life of the great Bremier for some years.