SHIPWRECK!

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 14

SHIPWRECK!

GRIM DRAMA AT CIVIC BIG SUCCESS OF “ATLANTIC” “An ocean disaster unprecedented in history has happened in the Atlantic, the liner Titanic, on her maiden voyage, carrying nearly 3,000 people, has been lost, and there is grave reason to believe that less than 700 passengers and crew have been saved.” —Official message. theme of the talking film, ■*" “Atlantic,” which was shown at the Civic Theatre last evening, was suggested by the Titanic disaster. It is to be wondered at that the Titanic story has not been used by dramatists before this. It has every element of drama, from sheerest tragedy to some glimpses of steady humour, and over and above all. it is a magnificent tribute to the courage and heroism of the British race. The tragedy is treated with extreme delicacy*. The opening scenes are like scenes in a floating Vanity Fair. On board the magnificent liner, an orchestra plays, while men and women, dressed in the height of fashion, dance, play cards, gamble, laugh and flirt. There are sparkling eyes and hearts free from care. It is all so gay, so far removed from the trivial cares of life, that thoughts of disaster seem absurd, impossible. Yet up the mast the look-out strains his eyes over the calm, dark sea. Rumours that icebergs have been seen do not stop the gaiety. When the stately vessel draws near the icebergs ominous orders are shouted. When the great ship crashes, her plates ripped from centre to stern, with water pouring in, and the knowledge bursts on the people that they have only* three hours to live, the atmosphere undergoes a complete change. LIFEBOATS FILLED Amid scenes of unforgettable excitement the lifeboats are filled —“Women and children first.” Then comes the test of all sorts and conditions of people bn board. They are the cynical men who believe that the whole business is “too silly”; the husband and the beautiful, woman with whom he is infatuated; the bride who refuses to leave without her husband; the cripple in his invalid chair, and his faithful man servant; the padre always serene. When the end draws near and all the lifeboats have left the vessel, and the mirth of the frivolous has been turned to heaviness, those who remain show different types of emotion, but the captain’s orders from the bridge, “Be British,” stimulate and strengthen them all, and they meet their fate with the courage of the race to which tliey r belong. These scenes, when everyone is just waiting for the end, are sufficiently’ moving to bring a lump to the throat of the most hardened cinema-goer. And even that last great scene, when the band is play’ing “Nearer, My God, To Thee” and the Titanic’s decks are awash, is in the most perfect taste. “Atlantic” must be definitely written down as a production that defies criticism, 0 well staged. acted, and spoken with dignity. This is a British production, with British types, and with the very r best of English actors and handled throughout with English restraint.

The music from the light pieces when Vanity Fair is at its height.

to the last solemn notes of the liymn, is excellent, and the photograpliv equal to the best. There has seldom been such good screen acting as in “Atlantic,” and the best is by Mr. Franklyn Dyall as John Rool, the invalid, Donald Calthrop as his servant, and John Longdon as the second officer, but every play’er is good. The power of the chief film quite overshadows the remainder of the programme, but it is an exceptionally fine one, nevertheless. Ted Henkel’s Civic Concert Orchestra gives a brilliant rendering of the overture “Britannia” (Mackenzie), which includes the beautiful “Land of Hope and Glory*.” At the Civic grand organ. Fred Scholl played, in celebration of Mothers’ Day*, “Mother o’ Mine” (Kipling) arrd little Desmond Casey”, with his lovely soprano voice, sang “My’ Mother's Ey*es.” Tie had a great reception. Two or three gazettes and a sound cartoon completed an excellent entertainment. TIVOLI THEATRE In “The Virginians,” now at the Tivoli Theatre, there is a picture that gets 3 ou and holds you,'" as showmen say. It is a faithful reproduction in talking film of the renowned novfl bv Gwen Wister. That alone, should be recommendation enough for any doubting Thomas. Nearly evervone is familiar with the story.