NEW COLOUR FILM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 12

NEW COLOUR FILM.

EMBASSY'S "LONESOME PINE." Based on the story of a famous American novel and stage success. "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," .which conies tomorrow to the Embassy Theatre, is the first natural colour film of the outdoors, and features Sylvia Sidney, Fred MacMurray and Henry Fonda. Fred Stone heads the supporting cast, which includes such talented players as Nigel Bruce, Beulah Bondi, Robert Barrat and Spanky McFarland. There have been many films in colour which have been' hailed as outstanding pictures, but in "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" success appeal's to have been reached at last. The colour element hasibeen taken as a matter of course, and has been subordinated to the story and acting interest. There is claimed to be a total absence of glare, so usually associated with colour films, and bright colours in the clothes of the players or their surroundings have been carefully avoided. The minutest of details have received careful attention, and the skilful handling of light and shade and careful production have made the picture one that will be remembered for a long time.

The story presents Miss Sidney and Henry Fonda as members of the same mountain cjan, the Tollivers, who have waged war for generations with their neighbours, the Falins. Ancient ways are changed, however, when Fred Mac Murray arrives in the person of a young railroad engineer, who wants to build a line right through the bills of both clans. The mountain folk distrust modern civilisation, and when Mac Murray begins to steal the love of Fonda's sweetheart the latter sets out to kill his rival. At the same time the rival clan are setting out to track hin: down, and the young engineer is able to heap coals of fire on the head of his rival by helping him to combat the menace of the Falins.

The greatest laurels are said to be due to Miss Sidney for her portrayal of the wild mountain girl, June Toiliver. Those who have become accustomed to seeing her in her usual roles of intense sophistication must now look forward to a big surprise in seeing her in a really simple characterisation, displaying childish likes and dislikes. It is an amazing transformation and one that • calls for admiration of her talent. Fred Mac Murray is reported to show his usual ability, and Henry Fonda to be ideally cast as the untamed "son of the earth." The attraction of the film seems to lie in the way in which the story has introduced such widely differing characters and blended them together in a plot that is- bound to capture the imagination and interest of all picture-goers. <