NATIONAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 15

NATIONAL

“REDEMPTION” Following the unprecedented popularity of John Gilbert and Renee Adore© as a screen pair in both “The Big Parade” and “The Cossacks,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is said to have cast its eye about for a vehicle for these two players which would be a worthy successor to the forenamed productions. Information is that officials of the company, following a prolonged study of scenarios, manuscripts, novels and plays, returned like the prodigal son, to the source of two of Its former successes, namely to the Russian novelist and playwright, Lyof Tolstoi, author of “The Cossacks” and Ihe GilbertGarbo picture, “Love.” The work chosen was the drama, “The Living Corpse” under the revised title of “Redemption,” which Metro-Goldwyn Mayer is presenting today at the National Theatre, as John Gilbert’s new starring and all-talking production. Having obtained what is considered to be one of the finest stories to be used on the screen in many years, Aletro-Goldwyn-Aiayer made no bones about acquiring a capable director and an outstanding cast of supporting players. These include besides Miss Adore©, Eleanor Boardman, who will be remembered for her work with Gilbert in “Bardelys the Magnificent” and Conrad Nagel. In minor roles are Claire McDowell, Charles Quartermaine, George Spelvin, Augustin Borgato, Nigel de Brulier and Tully Alarshall. The story of “Redemption” differs from the ordinary run of film plots. It is a psychopathic study of a man torn between love for his wife and the call of a gipsy ancestry. Gilbert has an unusual role as the unfortunate “Fedya,” the Russian officer who, in order to save the woman he loves from unhappiness, pretends suicide only to precipitate himself and a gypsy girl in a tragic outcome. Several fine talkie featurettes will also be shown on the new programme