"MICHAEL STROGOFF."

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 7

"MICHAEL STROGOFF."

A Film that is Different.

In 1870 the Tartars revolted against the rule of the Tsar and Russia fought a bloody internal war. Jules Verne wrote a novel around this theme, and RKO-Radio have taken it, and along with it a Continental film made in the Balkans, and turned it over to Pandro S. Berman, their "ace" producer, to remake, with results which were shown before a small audience here recently. The ensuing production, "Michael Strogoff," is one of action; slaying, battle, the sack of villages, torture and savagery. abound. The realism of the film is striking, and it is impossible to feel quite the same about Russia after having seen this swift and forthright revelation of the medieval savagery which goes "to the making of that vast land. There is m this production something which is new to our screen, a ruthless Orientalism, a glimpse of war as it was and is today. The theme is simple but striking. The Tartar revolt, led by the menacing Ogareff, threatens a Russian army. Reinforcements are on the way and Michael Strogoff, captain an the Tsar's Guards, is sent as courier &o the first army with its plan of campaign. His mission is known and Ogareff's agents attempt to stop him. The'-incidents of that mission, the lure of a beautiful spy, the fight with a bear, the race for new horses with Ogareff himself, the attack of Tartar rivi-i-, pirates,.and then the turmoil and horror of the war zone are vividly given. One sees the sacking of towns by the Tartars, the clash of rival armies (the Bulgarian army is said to have been employed in making the film); the piling up of horror on horror for Strogoff until a torture scene whicli caps all. That is not the climax, but it is near it, and there is a swift rush of events which make this film probably the most remarkable one of the' year. , In this film there are two new stars. One is Anton Walbrook, who has the role of Michael Strogoff. He is a Viennese actor who used to be known as Adolf Wohlbrueck in that city, and is certain to have a brilliant career. The second is Fay Bainter, who performs brilliantly as his mother, a mother robbed of all she owns by the Tartar invasion and whom he is forbidden to recognise when he sees her. In the big supporting cast is Akim Tamiron as Ogareff, decidedly the most satisfactory of screen-villains and remembered for his General Yang, Margot Graharjie as the blond allure of the Tartar:leader, Elizabeth Allan as the romance which comes to brighten the way for Strogoff, and Eric Blore and, Edward Brophy as the comic relief in the form of two war correspondents. It is an adventure film which is worth while.

Gradings of hemp and tow at the ports Ot the Dominion during April are reported as follows by the chief hemp grader (Mr. W. Petrie)—Hemp. 2951 bales, compared with 3056 in April, 1936; tow, 235 bales, compared with 355.in April, 1936.