CAGE OF NIGHTINGALES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 474, 23 July 1948, Page 19

CAGE OF NIGHTINGALES

(French Gaumont) ‘THIS, the second French film I saw ; last week, is an unambitious little trifle and not as well integrated as it might be (it takes a long time to get properly under way) but in spite of that I enjoyed almost every moment of it. It is the story of a young schoolteacher (delightfully played. by NoelNoel) who gets a job in a home. for. orphaned and delinquent children, In point of fact, it is more a prison or house of restraint than a home. The official in charge is a sadistic authoritarian, discipline is maintained by an elaborate system of punishments ranging from whippings to solitary confinement, and in consequence the boys are either terrorised-by, or terrorise, their masters. . To counteract the brutalising effect of this environment the young teacher relies on his lively sense of humour, ‘a strict code of fair play, and an implacable affection for the young unfortunates .whose imprisonment he. shares. He~ doesn’t find the going easy. His superiors sneer at his humanitarianism and the boys at first distrust it. But gradually he wins the boys over. When he persuades them to share his interest in music .and form a_ choir the meaning of the film’s title. becomes apparent-and one is treated to some of the sweetest singing that I have yet heard on the screen. There aré undeni--able. weaknesses in the construction of this picture. The story is sofmewhat awkwardly introduced and the opening sequences might have -been pared do®n substantially ,in the cutting-room without disturbing the. development of the action. But it would be churlish to be hyper-critical about such an unaffectedly simple and honest film. Unlike L’Eternel Retour, which relies on English sub-titles, Cage of Nightingales has the advantage of dubbed English dialogue, so that there should be no impediment to its full appreciation by New Zealand audiences. I’m sure they. will enjoy it.