"SCARAMOUCHES."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18603, 30 January 1926, Page 11

"SCARAMOUCHES."

AT GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. ■ SABATINI FILM SHOWS ON MONDAY. A picture that is art supreme, in which the vivid passion of the author's writing, dealing with the minds of men anjl the fury of an outraged people, hasj been portrayed in dumb show upon a silver screen. This is "Scaramouche," the Rex Ingram picture, to show .it Greater Crystal Palace next week, commencing on Monday. Rafael Sabatini's great book lias been mado a great picture; massive in setting and impressive in its realism, its deep theme ably portrayed by a cast that, it seems, could not be bettered. "Scaramoucho" is among the greatest pictures that have been produced. Tho players convey to the onlooker an unwonted sense of being vitally alive, as though the wheel of time had been turned back for moro than a hundred years, so that the early days of the French Revolution were current once more. Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry, nnd Lewis Stone are the chief players, though there 'are many others of almost equal interest, and vast crowds were called into service for the mob scenes. The whole, in a setting of old France and Paris, appeals to human emotions in an intensely subtlo fashion, while there is unfolded the story of days gone by.

Whilo the people of France, groaning under the oppression of the all-powerful nobility, , were giving vent to the first ominous tones of their vast complaint, Andre-Louis Moreau, ] after two years at a law school in Paris, returns, with his bosom friend Philippe de Vilmordin, a divinity student, to his uncle, M. de Kercadiou, at the Chateau Gavrillac. On arrival at the village they witness a sorrowful procession bearing the body of a man, shot by the order of the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr for poaching in his pi-e----serves, which were adjacent to Gavrillac. Philippe upbraids the Marquis for his action, and is cold-bloodedly insulted into a onesided duel, which inevitably results in his death, whereat Andre vows vengeance. An edict had just been issued by the King, Louis XVI., ordering that the oppression of the poor by the nobles must cease, and Andre, his mind a turmoil at this defiance of God, Ki;ig, and humanity, goes to his uncle for advice. Kercadiou scoffs at the suggestion that bo great a man as tho Marquis should be _ brought to justice. Andre sees tho Marquis in the grounds o£ tho chateau with his cousin, Aline, who had vowed her love for Andre two years ago, and the young man, his heart full of bitterness, leaves tho chateau to find justice in a world whero none existed. Aline runs to him as he leaves never having forgotten her love, but he disregards her, thinking her prepared to marry tho Marquis. Morning finds him at the town of Rennes, a centre of the new movement for freedom, whero he takes part in a demonstration, inflaming the people by a suddenlydiscovered gift of eloquence. Driven from tho town as a fugitive, ho returns to Gavrillac, whero Aline saves him from the dragoons, and swears not to marry the Marquis. He joins a band of strolling players, which in a short time he elevates to the position of a first-class company. At this time Madame de Plougastel, a friend of Aline's, invites the girl to visit her at Paris, where they witness the first performance of a new comedy, "Figaro Scaramouche." Andre and tho girl recognise each other, and Scaramouche goes to his room after tho final curtain in blackest dospondency and | bitter shame, for besides having been recog- , nised by Aline, he had seen her companion, who was none other than the Marquis. What Scaramouche did not know was that Aline had neither asked nor desired Tour d'Azyr's presence, he having at first been the occupant of the box next to her own. Climenc, the daughter of the proprietor of the com-/ panv, had been trying in vain to conquer) Andre's heart, but. coming to his room now finds him in fit mood, and he promises to marry her, telling her in his agony i of spirit that she was far above a great | lady who would sell herself for rank and power. Then Aline comes to see him, but' they part in anger, then tho last straw is ] placed upon his load by the fact that the Marquis seduces Climene, his promised wife. For tho last time he dons tho garb of Scaramouche, and in tho theatre delivers a great speech in which he so inflames the audience that they mob the box in which the Marquis I is sitting, and ho barely escapes. Meanwhile Alino has told this man that thero can be no more friendship between them, nnd her days aro haunted by the thought o£ Scaramouche/ Andre becomes a teacher of the sword and fencing, but political events ara moving rapidly about him. The people havo become represented in the National Assembly, where the power of their great orators, Danton, Marat, and Robespierre, causes great uneasiness to tlie nobles, who, finding words of no avail against this Niagara of oratory, turn to their old weapon, the sword. By challenging to duels various of the more dangerous of the people's representatives, tho most dangerous swordsmen among the nobility were ridding tha Assembly of them, and had weakened the spirit of the people and tempered the valour of their representatives with discretion. At this stage Andre is mado a niember of the new party with a set purpose. Being an expert swordsman, ho in turn challenges tho nobility, with disastrous results for them, and he is hailed as tho saviour of tho people. Somo very dramatic and excellent scenes appear at this stage of the picture. Tho Marquis visits Aline again to plead his cnuse, and she learns that he is to cross swords with Andre in a little while. She offers herself as tho price for which the Marquis 6bould call off the duel, but he refuses. On tho day of the duel, Andre plays with his opponent, and finally wounds him in tho am. Alino and Madamo Plougastel arrive at tho duelling grounds as the wounded Marquis emerges Aline, believing Andre to he dead, swoons in the Marquis's arms, and Andre, seing this, misunderstands. Bloody revolution at last breaks out in Paris, and Aline and Madame Plougastel find cscapo barred to them. Andre comes to their aid, and suddenly realising that Aline loves him, a vast part of his despair is lifted. Ho has learned that Madame de Plougastel is in truth his mother, and lends his every effort to escaping with them from Paris, but he finds in tho liouso the llarquis, wounded in escaping from tho massacre at the Tuilories. Madamo do Plougastel fling 3 herself between tho two men, intent on killing one another, | and cries out a pieco of information that | stuns Andre and brings a most unexpected turn into the story. From this scene until the end is ft whirl of action, combining des- | peration, despair, violence, and final [ triumph; and tho great story closes with enough left to the imagination to lend added piquancy to the whole. The whole picture is excellently conceived nnd executed. The ncting could not bo bettered, tho settings aro' elaborate, and the wholo atmosphere breathes tho spirit of the times. In connexion with "Scaramouche," the "Stereoscopiks" novelty will bo presented for tho first time in Christcliurch. This novelty is known »3 the Third Dimension ot tho Screen. With ordinary pictures there are only two dimensions, namely, length and breadth, In the "Stereosoopik" picture, however, the figures and scenes of the film actually have depth, the audience being provided with special coloured glasses to wear during the screening, which help to produce the weird effects. The novel effects of a crayfish being dangled before the eyes of the audience can readily ba imagined. The figures seem to coaio right off the 6creen and pass over the heads of the onlookers. One of the scenes depicts & cowboy swinging his lariat. This shoots out, and it is ■understood that it takes a person of imperturbable calm to avoid throwing up his hands in order to ward off the dropping* rope. In addition to these two gTeat features there will also be shown a comedy and latest news film. Following the established custom, particulars of next week's musical programme will be announced in Monday's newspapers. The box plan is at The Bris- ' tol, or, when The Bristol is closed, at the I theatre, but scats may be reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace, Number I 3738.

J.C.W. MUSICAL COMEDY.

"LEAVE IT TO JANE,*' TO-NTGHI. Of the J.C. WiHiaraspn musical ••Leave it to Jane." to be teen toiji™ht at the Theatre Koyal at So c.ocK, the critic of tho Wellington Ponimio writes:—"Tho company engaged in the V ro duct ion of the comedy is veil up 10 J. C. Williamson standard, and there can be little doubt that all "Wellington 1 to become inoculated with the _jo>" ? cr ° l 1 spreads. The music is k'catchy, and there is always something <* ? to enchain the attention and delight eye, including the kaleidoscopic a full singing ballet and chorus. , ton had the pleasure oi showing its a l >!> r* ciation of the clever comedy ot - - Dorothy Lena, an Kuglish comedienne- 1 • as Flora "Wiggins, showed a remarkab.% nnc vcin of humour. Miss Elmer (iibos « l tL scored a Mtccess as Bessie Tanner, and u many intimacies with Stub Tnlmadgo (-it Leyland Hodgson) lost nothing in * vrtrr J ll " and piquancy, Miss Mono Barlee, a brunette, was admirably suited as to whom everything is loft. Mr c : ' M ; Hodgson made Stub Talmadge one ut tnc king pins of the comedy's action. Ji? robustious in character, and lends li^art> cheer to any song or situation in vnicn lie is concerned. One of the most frotesnuu characters se?n in musical comedy lor quite 3 time is tho Bub Hicks of Mr At hoi Tier. Mr Tier has tho silly comedy business down to a fine point, and is a wonderfully funny eccentrio dancer. His big laughing hits were in the songs, <1 Miss My Swiss" (sung in absurd Alpine attire), and 'I Had to be Homo by Nine.* "Capital character studies were {riven by Mr Jack Cannot as Dr. Witherspoon, and Mr Harry Wotton as Hiram Bolton. -Ir Percy Ie Fre was bright nnd dapper as Matty McGoxvan, the college trainer, ant * Mr F. McKay as Howard Talbot, a college tutor, also contributed to tho humour # of the play. Mr Hugh Stevne, too, was capital in the scenes in which ho was concerned as the Hon. Klara Hicks. Mr Cecil Scott made Billy Bolton a very presentable young man, and acted the rolo with becoming seriousness. One of the bright features ot tho play was the college concert, in which the old quartet, 'Sweet and Low,' is charmingly sung by the full chorus, among other numbers. There is plenty of dancing. Mr Cass Downing controls ft competent orchestra." Tho play is produced bv Victor Tatnall. The box plans arc at The Bristol IMano Company.