CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 970, 13 May 1930, Page 14

CIVIC

“ATLANTIC” Everybody who sympathises with the struggle of British talkies for a place in the sun should see “Atlantic,” the all-British talkie, made and recorded at Elstree, London, which is now a: the Civic Theatre. From the play, “The Berg,” by Ernest Raymond, it has a sound beginning, and it is acted by a company of splendid artists, including Miss Ellaline Terris (Mrs. Seymour Hickc. Franklyn Dyall, John Longien, Donald Calthorp. Monty Banks. John Stuart, Madeleine Carroll and Joan Barry, to name but a few. There is really little use in keeping from the knowledge of the grea: theatre-going public the fact that “Atlantic” is based on the wreck of the Titanic, and there is no effort on the part of the film’s producers to shroud the origin of the play in mystery; only the name of the vessel is different. It is to be wondered at that the Titanic theme was not used by dramatists before this. It has every element of drama in it, from sheerest tragedy to some glimpses of stc-dy humour, and, over and above all, it is a magnificent tribute to the courage and heroism of the British race. 'Tie tragedy is treated with extreme delicacy, and there is only a moderate speed of action throughout, that is in perfect keeping with the theme. These scenes, when everyone is just waiting for the Titanic to roll into the depths of the Atlantic, are sufficiently moving to bring a lump to the throat of the most hardened pictureeoer. Excellent supports and a musics, programme by Ted Henkel’s fine orchestra, and by Fred Scholl at the organ, complete the entertainmentA charming Irish song is sung by the boy soprano, Desmond Casey.