Clive—Unhappy Hero of India

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 46, 24 May 1935, Page 24

Clive—Unhappy Hero of India

America Brings "Clive of India" to the Screen — Ronald: Colman Plays the Greatest Part of His Career-Will Hay, British Comedian, és Is Starred in Splendid Comedy, "Dandy Dick." »

‘OBERT CLEVD was unhappy as a . clerk-"saying "Yes, sir’ and ‘No, sir’ to these; ‘damned pompous merchants" ; he-was never entirely happy in-the role-of:the hero of India; and he was desperately unhappy and fretfud when he’ ‘played at being a country gentleman:.ins-rural England. But India had:him in its thrall-India seething with discontent, a land of barbarism; and wicked anomalies-and it was for: this dearly-earned part of, the BritishsEmpire that.Clive sacrificed his family, his wife’s love, his -.very honour, "Clive. of India, * the- splendid 20th Century film that was: given .a* Press. showing in Wellington last week, gives light and shade to the life of Ciive, It shows him as he was in the beginning-an-insignificant clerk in the employ of- the Hast India Company-it shows his assertion of his rights-a quickening realisation of his own powers to control and dominate-his moods of fire and his moods of misery-his eventual appearance before the House of Commons, the unkindest cut of all. But above all it showed his love of India-a love that made his ewn life and that of his family but dim shadows. Not that he didn’t love his wife. He loved her with a passion that marked this East India clerk as one of the great lovers of history, but he could never understand her dislike of India, never understand that the death of their first-born had killed whatever love she might have had for the country. Clive’s wife was one of those Eng-

lish women who, unwittingly for the .most part, have helped their menfolk build the Empire that we know to-day. While Lady Clive was there at his side the hero of India was willing to push on to whatever goal his far-seeing eyes were fastened upon.. When she con-, sidered that the shadow of India had obliterated her husband’s consideration ‘and love for her, she left him-and the day was lost for. Sir Robert Clive. But at the last there is reconciliation and the prospect that Lady Clive would at: last achieve her desire in seeing her husband become a ‘beace-loving English gentleman. -_,. . "Clive of is ‘one of tke most dignified English films that America has yet given us. The settings are perfect, -the battle scenes, especially Plassey, with the caprisoned elephants | charging down on the British soldiers, are spectacular in the extreme. The, ‘picture ranges from Whgland co India and yet, so skilful are the settings, that one is easily and happily transported . from one country to the other. | Ronald Colman-a thinner Colman without the familiar moustache-is Clive, and one cart say without hesitation that it is the greatest part he _ has played on the screen. He runs the gamut of many moods, but at all times his superb artistry keeps the changes within the bounds of credulity. Lady Clive is played by Loretta Young, a young. star whose presence in several of the biggest pictures made lately proves her undeniable worth as an actress. The supporting stars in this screen masterpiece are Colin Clive, who

can, incidentally, claim descent from Lord: Clive, and ©, Aubrey Smith. OR the second time-and may it not be the last-Will. Hay comes to make New Zealand laugh, chuckle, grin and smile. For in his latest picture, "Dandy Dick," he turns .on every degree of pure comedy as a parish vicar who tries-not very hard-to resist the temptations of ‘the more mundane friends with whose assistance he hopes to. rebuild. the drunken-looking spire on his: church. The vicar knew, as well as you and I, that there are lots of ways of making money-if we could only think of them ! There is actually not a dull moment from beginning to end-and what’s more, we're not. paid to say that. People who saw Will Hay in "Those Were the Days" will be ready enough to believe it. Although this unique comedian makes the show, he does not "carry" it, for he is provided with a happily-chosen supporting cast, not the least of whom is the vicar’s hearty, jolly, horsey sister, a jockey’s widow. ‘These two make the running for the greater part of the film, and the sister will probably break up the house wher-_ ever the picture is shown by her brief description of the pedigree of her horse, Dandy Dick.’ The producers have not insulted us by a tiring repetition of the "Yaas, I think so" type of drawling clerical burlesque. With a big heart and 4 small bank balance he struggles through some awkward _ situations which are the very essence of natural fun. -His valiant attempts to care for the horse on which he has staked nearly all his money result in a stable fire, and when he imagines the horse might get a cold he mixes a home remedy, during the administration of which he is grasped by a heavy. constabulary hand. His first aeroplane flight; which finishes with a parachute landing on the crumbling spire, is another of the pientiful minor climaxes, To describe all the details of this comedy would take too long, but I’m sure there have been few pictures into which so much real fun has been crammed. The more of Will [ay and of this type of entertainment the British film people can serve us, the better we shall like-them.