HISTORICAL SPECTACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 14

HISTORICAL SPECTACLE.

"BUEZ" FOR CIVIC. That rare combination of romantic glam"J»d masculine appeal so essential to the ideal screen hero, ig well exemplified m the heroic figure of Ferdinand de Lescharacter in the impressive historical spectacle, "Suez," which has its local premiere at the Civic Theatre to-morrow, iyrone Power, who is filling many of the starring roles in important pictures these days, portrays the famous trench engineer to perfection, and adds lustre to hw already brilliant reputation. Ine young star seems to improve with every performance, and his characterisation in this him must be just about his best so far. He was fortunate that he was chosen for the role, for it is one in which there is wide scope for expression. Most great lovers of history were notorious for their lack of real, red-blooded courage in the field of adventure, and, likewise, many of the doers of valorous' deeds were rather backward in affairs of the heart. _ De Lessepe, however, was a rare combination, being a bold adventurer in the realms of romance, as well as in the sterner aspects of life. The two women in his life are excellently portrayed in the film by Annabel la, in her most impressive role to date, and lovely Loretta Young. Both give admirable support to the star, and it is hard to single out any one of the three principals as being superior to the others. Prominent in the supporting cast are J. Edward Bromberg, Joseph Schildkraut, Sidney Blackmer and Henry Stephenson, while all other members of the huge company of minor players aid in making the film the impressive success it is.

The story, as the name suggesti, fs woven round the construction of the vital canal, and seldom have historical records provided such ideal screen material. The desperate battle against the sand and desert simoons*, of the isthmus, as well as against the marauding Bedouins, makes for a plot that grips the imagination from the outset.