"THREE COMRADES."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 5

"THREE COMRADES."

IMPRESSIVE DRAMA. From tlie pen of Erich Maria Remarque, author of tlie famous "All Quiet on the Western Front," comes j-et another powerfur tragic' drama with the Great War and its aftermath from the German viewpoint as its keynote. "Three Comrades" is similar to its predecessors in its undertone of futility, tragedy and hopelessness, and with its exposition of. the horrors of war and its bitter consequences. With a cast headed by such well-established actors as Robert Taylor, Franchot .Tone, Robert Young and Margaret Siillavan, and including playere of the class of Lionel Atwili and Guy Kibbee, all file grim intensity • and pathos of the novel is retained on the screen. Set against the it promises to .prove one of tlie most impressive iilms of the year.

The plot tells- tlie story of three friends (Taylor, Tone and Young) ~ who return from the war to their homeland Germany to llhcl that restlessness, poverty andJawlessness have replaced sanity and peace. They manage barelv to keep themselves led and clothed with the .profits from a. repair .business that they open, but they are given renewed life when they meet a beautiful young aristocrat (Margaret Sullavan) rendered .penniless by the wai\ Here the comrades find something to live for, and soon she and Taylor fall in love. When urged to marry Taylor, the girl confides in Tone that she has a serious lung ailment. Nevertheless, concealing the truth from her unsuspecting lover, she is persuaded by his two friends to marry him. This she does, only to. 'become desperately ill during the honeymoon. After a-wearing and costly period of sickness, she deliberately hastens death and so gives Taylor his freedom. In. the meantime Young, who. has become connected "with, a political organisation, is killed bj- a eniper. Tone pursues < his vkiller and shoots him. Then Taylor and Tone decide to leave for America to seek-their fortunes in that country.