GREAT DRAMA

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 13

GREAT DRAMA

$ "THE VOLGA BOATMAN." STORY OF RUSSIA, AT THIO GRAND. J'lic Don Cossacks, thnt groat musical combination of Russians, first brought into popularity in Cliristchtirch tho famous "Song of the. Volga Uoatman," and since then the melody has been heard long and oft, through more mediums than one. And now wo have a picture under the title of "Tho Volga Boatman." Quite different from anything else displayed by Him, tliis picture mav be termed an. epic of tho screen. Tho phrase has been used before, but the case in point is ono ,' n , which it has deserving application, for "lue Volga Boatman" is massive in structure, and is really a huge exposition of drama, romance, and startling sensation. It appeared at tho Grand Thcutro for tho firßt time last night, and drew'a big house. Essentially Russian, it deals with peasant life, and tho producer, Cecil B. do Millo, has infused into it tho atmosphere of suffering Russia as jt was before tho revolution, some ten years ago. Tho tragic resignation and utter hopelessness of Russian peasant life is thrown into vivid relief, and tho gilded lives of the aristocrats contrast strongly with tho complete despair of the downtrodden serf. Tho happy medium was unknown under tho Tsarist rrgirnc, but oven so, tho producer of "Tho Volga Boatman" has, with the touch of genius, tinged stark tragedy with a certain amount of relioving humour. Tho picture rises to tho lofty heights of puro drama, and demonstrates to all spectators that the lovo of the commoner for tho aristocrat is not merely a hopeless dream. Tho picture is not pretty; it is not meant to be. Thero is no charming littlo lovo story runnini; through it, but there is tho story of a great and ail-powerful love, which is told graphically, vividly, and with compelling force. Realism is the keynoto of the photoplay, stark realism which bring 3 homo sharply to comfortably-seated spectators the ideals and aspirations of a nation of people eternally ground down and oppressed. Highly emotional though tho story is, there is a plentiful supply of drollery and interesting, if unorthodox, wit. Life as it was lived a decade past is tho background to the great story of tho lovo of n grand dame for a Volga boatman. Tho master hand of the director shows a tremendous rebellion sgainst the existing; order of things, and the savage weapons with which tho revolt is brought about. Russian comedy is closely akin to tragedy, and is filmed about with sardonic humour, sinister humour. But in "The Volga Boatman" the comedy is sincere and appealing, and its infectiousness reached out to tho audience. Tho title role, that of the boatman, is played by William Boyd, and his part depicts all the rajo of the lower orders sgainst tho aristocracy. His brain ia dulled with thoughts of hatred and revenge until Fate takes a hand in his life, and n woman changes his philosophy entirely. As the aristocrat who discovers that she is human and has a heart, Elinor Fair plays a great role. Julia Faye is prominent as a Tartar camp follower, and the supporting artists are also drawn from tho rankst of tho greatest exponents of mime. Briefly, the plot deals with tho meeting of «. Princess with a boatman who eventually becomes a leader in the Red Army. When the. latter ;s about to sack a castle he meets tho Princess ami saves her from tho blood lust of his followers. They fly to an inn, which 13 raided by the White Army, and tho boatman is taken prisoner, and ordered to face the firing squad. But the Princess, before the ladies and soldiers of her castle, saves his life. Tho Red Army then lakes charge, and the boatman and Princess aro pardoned hy the tribunal. The revenge taken by the Reds produces a striking scene—that m which the aristocracy lakes tho place of the human mules and haul barges packed *»& peasant, against the tide of the \ olga. Many of the scones arc truly remarkable. One eecs tho Volga boatmen harnessed to their barges, towing them along the cobound bank; of the river, chanting the weird lav tho while. But in contrast to all this there are some exquisite love «« nP .!' which give the picture a touch of the del' cato and beautiful, and take away somo of the hardness of its realism. Tho Grand Quality Orchestra play'.fP*"".! incidental music, and the famous Song enters largely into tho accompanying pro gramme. _____^____