STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1941, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

i "THE DRUM.” — In many ways "The Drum," which is tto be screened tonight. is said < to be the most notable British film yet ! produced, and a triumph for Sabu. the ! little Indian boy who plays the role of jan Indian prince. Sabu's rise to fame jis remarkable. A little over two years ! ago the boy was picked up out of a ■ jungle in India to play the leading role j in "Elephant Boy." Afterwards he was taken to England, where he was groomed for the more important role in "The Drum." In that film he gives a performance that can only be described as sensational, and establishes him as one of tire most natural and charming personalities ever soon in films. The story is an original one of ■j contemporary colonial life on the i North-West frontier in India, and deals i with insurgent tribes, the dethroning i of a boy prince, the attempted, masi sacre of the inmates of the British Rei sidency and the sacred and mysterious drum of India, which legend says beats out strange messages by itself, but whoso riddle Sabu unravels. Throughout the thrilling story of intrigue and battle runs the thread of the little Indian princes friendship for a Scottish drummer boy who teaches him a "Signature Tunc" of his own. i The camera crews went through ini'credible hardships in the burning sun I north of the famous Khyber to photograph in technicolour the settings for i the picture. Important roles are alsd ■played by Raymond Massey. Valerie I Hobson. Roger Livesey. Martin Walker I and Desmond Tester. ' There will also be shown an 800 ft. i newsreel of the capture of Bardia. proI viding scenes hitherto unseen of the I great part played by the Anzacs. This I picture alone provides excellent enter- | tainment.