STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 February 1940, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE." The large crowd at the State Theatre on Saturday night greatly appreciated the sterling worth of that outstanding picture. “Stanley and Livingstone." “Find Livingstone.'" Exactly 70 years ago, James Gordon Bennett said these words to one of his reporters. Henry M. Stanley. It was apparently the most' hopeless assignment in all journalism. No one but a mad man would brave the terrors of unknown Africa to hunt for a, missionary-explor-er from whom no word had come in two years. How Stanley found Livingstone, how the world called him “the most colossal liar of his age” and how he later became the greatest hero of his era, is the story of “Stanley and Livingstone.” The film shows Stanley first as he was in 1869, a reporter of bulldog tenacity who willingly risked his neck to get his story. It follows him through all the thrills and dangers of his great adventure, and shows with great dramatic force the influence on his character and his whole life of his meeting and subsequent friendship with the great missionary-explorer, who had buried himself in the black heart of unknown Africa to serve humanity. For when Livingstone died at Chitambo’s village, south of Lake Bangweolo, in 1873, young Stanley picked up the torch and became one of the greatest men of his day. Spencer Tracy gives a masterful portrayal of Stanley, it being probably the greatest character presentation of his career. The chief romantic interest of the story is carried by Nancy Kelly, as the lovely daughter of the English consular agent at Zanzibar, and Richard Greene as the son of Lord Tyce, who had just returned, fever-racked, from a similar but unsuccessful expedition. Walter Brennan is grand as the old Indian scout who accompanies Stanley; Charles Coburn is splendid as Lord Tyce, the pompous publisher of the London “Globe”; Sir Cedric Hardwicke offers truly great portrayal of Dr Livingstone; Henry Hull brings James Gordon Bennett back to vivid life, and Henry Travers is superb as the English consular agent whom Africa has aged before his time.