HUMAN PASSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 89, 15 April 1936, Page 10

HUMAN PASSIONS.

POWERFUL FILM DRAMA

Human passions—love, pity, hate, fear at few times have been portrayed on the motion picture screen with such intense realism as they are in "Crime ancl Punishment," which held a representative preview audience almost spellbound at the Majestic Theatre this morning. It is a strange story, powerful and appealing in its very strangeness. It is Fyodor Dostoievsky's famous drama, brought into film form in a rare and superb manner. Russia is the setting, but beyond giving the characters Russian names this means little or nothing. It is a story of human weaknesses and emotions in any place and at any time. It is the story of a brilliant young man, a student of the criminal mind, who, out of sheer desperation, attempts to commit the perfect crime. He believes that he can outwit the "blundering police." But his convictions are only abstract, untried theories. His insight into the criminal mind is brilliant, but in its brilliance it overlooks things that are common to all— self-fear and the indescribable tortures of conscience. The mintT ts a machine, he thinks; he can defy faith, ignore it. With the murder done, after the first qualms he regains confidence in his theories— until their false foundations are shattered. He saves himself in time and prepares to face a new life and a fresh faith. In this role Peter Lorre is superb. With him in performances almost as fine are Edward Arnold, as the inspector of police, Marian Marsh, as the poor girl who helps him to see himself, Tala Birrell. a« his sister, and others who ably fill their roles.