Saturday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
November 30, 1940.
"BEAU
GESTE"
AN OLD FRIEND appears in a new guise in "Beau Geste," the Paramount picture which is hav- ing its local showing at the Queen's and
Alhambra Theatres,
,
Many will remember this story of
the Sahara from the pen of Perci-
val Christopher Wren, and no
doubt a large number 'still
retain memories of the original silent film in which Ronald Colman scored one of his early triumphs. The temptation is to compare the two versions, but that will not detract from your enjoyment of the present picture, which is full of thrilling incidents.
The gallant brothers Geste are played by Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and. Robert Preston. For best enjoyment, it may be just as well to forget that Cooper
and Preston never come within a mile of appearing
to be the young Englishmen
as portrayed in the novel. accused of stealing a valua- the Blue That forgotten, one can ble sapphire, thoroughly enjoy watching Water, from their guardian.
The Theatre
Shaw Shares A Triumph
London.
two pleasant, robust and The action throughout is very American personalities, excellent, and Brian Don- The story opens with a levy, in the role of the sadis- column. of the French tic Sergeant Markoff, makes Foreign Legion arriving at the most of a rich part. Fort Zinderneuf to find that Every dramatic possibility the men they have come to to be squeezed from this tale
The enormous success that has attended Mr. Robert relieve are dead, propped up of the scorching sands, the Donat's presentation at the Piccadilly Theatre of Bernard in the embrasures. The colourful Legion, ruthless camera then switches back tribesmen and whine of bul-Shaw's "Devil's Disciple" is a matter of strange irony. several years to explain this lets are given full effect by It was Shaw who designed the attack and destroyed the macabre situation, taking William Wellman, the direc-system of actor-managership in England; and Mr. Donat the picturegoer to a stately tor, and the film may honest-is an actor-manager. It was Shaw who ended the thrall- English home, from which ly be said to be one of the dom of the English stage to star actors; and Mr. Donat three brothers run away to most entertaining that has join the Legion so that no been screened locally for is a star of the first magnitude. single one of them shall be some time.
One Million B. C.
A difficult subject has been excellently treated in "One Million B.C." now showing at the King's Theatre. The story is well-balanced, and despite its fantastic nature, the all important touch of conviction is never lost. Humour, pathos, drama, and downright horror are all present, rarely encroaching on one another.
The idea behind the story, that the brute can be softened by kindness, is well handled, and the climax really a climax, and not one among many.
is
Fine Actor
The present production of rushlight before the London The Devil's Disciple" runs clean footlights during the past few contrary to the, theories whose years. constant reiteration during 60 years has won Mr. Shaw his tremendous fame. Yet, while But Mr. Donat was a fine some of his recent plays have stage actor before ever he went, audiences scarcely on to the screen. He is a man attracted larger than his casts, "The of fire and eloquence, of passion Devil's Disciple" is besieged at and tenderness, and immense each performance by big crowds, speed and energy of attack. He These people come to see Mr. hurls himself upon. Dick Dud-
ing the British squares Donat; though they have no geon like the Old Guard charg objection to listening to thead Waterloo, with as much vigor as well. Mr. Donat achieved a big reputation by his perform and as much discipline, and the ance in the film, "The Citadel," part positively explodes in his which crowned a career that in- hands.
at
in "The Thirty-Nine Steps" and that he has a passion for truth;
cluded memorable appearances It may be said of Mr. Shaw
The Ghost Goes West."'
or at the very least, that he a story. "The rarely tells All this abundantly accounts Devil's Disciple," however, is an The trick photography is ing a fight between two prehis- for the Interest inspired by Mr. exception to his usual practice, magnificent, every wile of the toric monsters, a volcanic erup Donat's personal, taking of the in many ways recalling "A Tale cameraman being thrown into tion, and the destruction of stage, but it might also have of Two Cities." the effects. Those who remem- dinosaur by the prehistoric men. suggested a grave element of
Like Sidney.. Carton, Dick The film has been produced frisk. To throng to see a man on Dudgeon is a rapscallion who is ber "King Kong," will marvel at the improvement in the photo with understanding, and is thor- the stage because he has dazzled willing to surrender his life for graphy.
oughly well worth seeing, being on the screen is generally a way another, only in the American inviting disappointment. instead of in the French Revolu- Victor Mature plays the part designed to appeal to a very wide of
public.
Many a film star has proved a tion. But the parson for whom he is willing to go to the gallows is of sterner stuff than was Charles Darnay, and, dbandon-
head of a company of New Eng- jland colonists, and in a remark- ably short time has the British redcoats at his mercy, and a par- don for Dudgeon in his pocket. Adroit Bravura
of a primitive man belonging to
a tough mountain tribe.of hun-
ters. He is ejected from the
tribe, following a fight with his Candid Camera-Not at the Brennering his cloth, outs himself at the
father, and wanders down to the plains, where he is taken in and sheltered by a peaceful people, who slowly teach him a more gentle view of life.
Victor Mature's acting.during] this transformation is extremely human, and much fun is obtain- ed from the situation..
Carole Landis, as a girl be longing to the Shell "tribe, who falls in love with the stranger, is well cast, and puts a most sympathetic touch into the story..
Many spectacular scones are introduced into the film, includ-
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Mr. Shaw and Mr. Donat be- tween them manage the melo- dramatic possibilities of this theme with an adroit bravura, though Dick's self-sacrifice in allowing himself to be mistaken for the minister is not adequate. ly explained at the time when it first becomes apparent.
Mr. Donat has a good com- Ipany. Mr. Rogor Livesey is quiet and kindly as the minister. Mr. Jonathan Field plays Dick's brother Christopher as though ho were Lancelot Gobbo, but, in spite of this, gots a considerable quantity of fun out of him; but Mr. Milton Rosmer has neither the height, the elegance, nor the fineness of speech necessary to got the full effect possible out of the admirable part of General Burgoyne.
MOTORA
The production is extreniely söohomical, even to the extent. the Dudgeons and the ond live in what is appar the same House Harold
HR
ere's
THE
"We' agree-blast all wing forwards who always leave the real work to chapa like you, BUT ---you've pinched ́our ̄mug!"
3
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