STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“FOUR FEATHERS." Alexander Korda’s unique genius for grand scale motion pictures with a British Empire background is again exemplified in his latest picture in technicolour, “Four Feathers,” which was presented last night at the State Theatre to a large and delighted audience. The film has been adapted from A. E. W. Mason’s well known novel. “Four Feathers” has been largely filmed on location thousands of miles from London in the Sudan, and all the beauty and melodrama of this tropic hinterland have been caught by the camera lenses in striking natural colour. The fine cast is headed by Ralph Richardson, June Duprez, John Clements and C. Aubrey Smith. "Four Feathers” is the story of the young English officer who resigns his commission because he knows that he is a.coward, that he could not stand war. He is branded a coward by his friends in his rigiment, who send him white feathers, and is rebuffed by his fiancee. To retrieve his honour and reputation he sets out for Egypt, where

Kitchener is embarking on the Sudan campaign. There he undertakes the horrible disguise of a branded Sengali, poses as a dumb native and undertakes adventures of heroism and daredeviltry which help the army win the battle of Omdurman and which save his friends from death at the hands of the Mahdi’s soldiers. Certainly no more spectacular and brilliant offering than | "Four Feathers” has yet been present- i ed by Mr Korda, for it dramatises a stirring story of heroism against authentic desert backgrounds superbly photographed in brilliant colour. Outstanding performances are turned in by John Clements as the hero who redeems himself; by June Duprez, Mr Korda’s latest discovery; and Ralph Richardson who is still remembered for his fine characterisation as Denny in “The Citadel.” The supporting cast headed by that fine old man of the films, C. Aubrey Smith, includes Donald Gray, Jack Allen and Clive Baxter whose excellent portrayals add immeasurably to the acting strength of "Four Feathers.” This new Korda offering, with its glorious natural settings, its fast-moving action scenes, its thrilling romantic moments, its tight suspense, must naturally head any list of pictures which can be said to provide solid, sure-fire entertainment. ; A short subject will be "World Win-, dow in technicolour —Jerusalem,” the I sacred sights in the ancient capital of , Palestine, the House of Caiphas, the j Garden of Gethsemane, the Tomb of | the Mother of Christ, the “place called | Golgotha,” “Via Dolorosa,” the “Holy i Sepulchre” wherein the body of Christ was laid after his ' death, and many other interesting scenes will be shown.