STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1938, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“THE DRUM.” The State, Theatre was packed on Saturday night when there was presented one of the most outstanding films ever shown on the screen —“The Drum.” London Films’ production, “The Drum,” directed by Zoltan Korda in technicolour, is undoubtedly the most spectacular film yet made at Denham Studios. Dealing as it does with fighting on the North West Frontier in India, it has plenty of scope for movement and exciting scenes and every possible advantage has been taken to bring to vivid life in colour the grand situations in A. E. W. Mason’s thrilling story. This picture, which will be shown for four nights, is not only remarkable for presenting some of the best battle scenes ever seen on the screen, but it proves the boy Sabu who made such a brilliant beginning in “Elephant Boy” to be an accomplished and fascinating new star with great histrionic ability. In a brilliant and long cast, Raymond Massey, Roger Livesey and Valerie Hobson play leading parts. Roger Livesey, whose last role in a London Film production was that of the beggar Saul in “Rembrandt,” is seen as a commanding officer of a Frontier regiment who divides his spare time between dangerous secret service work and suave diplomacy. Valerie Hobson, who has in this picture the best role of her career, plays the Governor’s daughter who marries Livesey. The picture covers every side of Indian Army life and shows not only intense fighting, but the social life at the Residency and life in the barracks. ,