"THE COSSACKS."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19481, 30 November 1928, Page 14

"THE COSSACKS."

JOHN GILBERT IN GREAT RUSSIAN ROMANCE. GRAND THEATRE, .MONDAY. The stars of that most successful picture, "Tho Big Parade," make another appearance together in "Tho Cossacks," tho film adapted from Tolstoy's novel o£ tho same name which will bo presented at tho Grand Theatre next week. John Gilbert and Reno Adoroc combine most happily in this story o£ a warlike people, while Nils Asther and •Ernest Torrenco go to swell the brilliant histrionic attractions o£ the picture. Tho story is a typical Tolstoy effort, tholtgh not so serious as some of that master's works: with no tragedy, no sordidncss, none of that essentially Russian sense of oncoming disaster. It .is tho story of LAikashka, a coward: his fighting father, Ivan the Ataman; Maryana, tho girl, and a Russian prince of tho blood. The hordes of Cossack soldiers, and their enemies, the Turks, form a background of , barbaric colour, and mad action. The price o£ Lukashka's regeneration is Maryana, which has always been thus. But riding to the wars, it occurs to tho young man that it might be advisable, from a romantic point o£ view; to fcigD the utmost indifference to'her overtures and transports. It would be all tho more exciting on his return; she would bo properly overwhelmed at tho return of tho hero. Thus have young men thought through the ages. But when the wars with the Turks wcro over, and in these sequences the picture, more than tho story, assumes proportions of majesty and heroism, the Cossack warrior found the girl the bride of an Imperial prince, wedded to him for policy, for it was necessary to placate her people!. How he, no longer a cringing weakling, made his way through the material and spiritual barriers surrounding the princo's wife, and took what was his own forms a thoroughly captivating and spirited story. "Tho ' Cossacks", has all tho elements o£ capital entertainment, romance, humour,, jealousy, the eternal thrill o£ war. The acting is excellent'throughout, that of : John Gilbert and Renee Adoree being conspicuous, though Ernest Torrence, as a hardened Cossack, is quite imposing. The picturo is made on a truly elaborate scale, with a wealth of authentic Cossack custom, which is always most interesting to., the student as much aB to the seeker after amusement. Patrons of pictures who have seen John Gilbert in many exceptionally good pictures, will undoubtedly receive this film as his most ambitious effort.

There will be two feature films next week at the Grand Theatre, the second one being "The Lady of Victories," being the romantic story of the Emperor Napoleon .Bonaparte, and his first wife, Josephine. 'Agnes Ayrcs plays Josephine, and Otto Mattiesen plays the Emperor. As all the world knows, the story of Napoleon and Josephine opened promisingly, though the lady . was Napoleon's senior by a few years. And though she was divorced, and was succeeded by a royal arch-duchess from Austria, the Man of Destiny never ceased loving her, who was, although frivolous and vain, a guiding star in his rise to power. The picture ia exquisitely done, made in technicolour, and acted with all the grace and charm of that period. Such high lights, ns the retreat fverm Moscow and the coronation in •Paris go to make "The Lady of Victories" a picture much above the average. Box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company for this attractive season.