"WHAT PRICE GLORY?"

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1927, Page 5

"WHAT PRICE GLORY?"

At last America has given us a really great film, and that film is "What Price Glory?" It was screened for the first time in Australia and New Zealand at the Majestic and Strand Theatres last night, showing to capacity houses at both theatres. "What Price Glory?" is perhaps the greatest tragedy and yet perhaps the greatest comedy that Auckland has ever seen. It has everything. As a celebration to mark the first screening in Ae* Zealand of this Fox super-film, the Majestic management arranged tor a special gala performance. Vivid and realistic war sequences, drab shots of French villages where American soldiers are billeted, the boom of artillery guns close at hand, the blood of nations running red—and, through it all, comedy, ironic, grim, stands out. One of the early scenes shows war in all its horror, striding over Europe, brandishing ita blooddripping sword. Then the call to arms of 1914, when the youth of nations marched ;o—-who knows? Victor McLaglan, the noted British actor, is the star. He plays the part of Captain Flagg, a bullying officer whose trade is war and whose pastime is love. His work all through is excellent. Then there is Delores Del Rio, a beautiful Spanish actress, with flashing eyes and a dashing personality, who plays the part of Charmaine, the little French girl who falls in love with the American sergeant. She, too, brings a new interpretation to the screen. Then again, there is Edmund Lowe, who plays Sergeant Quirt, who can "talk better, fight better, think better and love better" than his rival in love, Captain Flagg. He gives a fine characterisation. And in all the praise we must not forget Sammy Cohen, who plays Private Lipinsky, and above all, Ted McNamara, who is Private Kiper. McNamara, who, by the way, is an Australian actor, is one of the cleverest low comedians that has been seen here for a long time. His facial expressions and his various "gags" are a scream. All through the film Kiper and the little Jew are associated on all sorts of farcical excursions, managing always to pile themselves on a heap of trouble. In the last shot there is tragedy. Only half a company now, the rest shot to pieces, they struggle back into the lines—and as they go Charmaine waves good-bye. An excellent programme of topical pictures ie shown in support, and a Felix comedy causes roars of laughter. Jack Lumsdaine, the popular whispering baritone, introduced the big picture by singing one of his own compositions, "Cobber of Mine." It was good. Mr. F. G. Mumfprd arranged a fine musical programme, play.ing as an overture, "Idylle au Moulin. After the big picture a film showing the Urge crowds outside the theatre before the performance was screened. It wae a fine piece of work, _