ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 15

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"Captain Scott's Last Expedition."

"Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of nardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the neart of every Englishman. Tliese rough notes and our dead bodies must teii the tale. Thus wrote Captain Scott in his last message. The motion picture, "'Captarn Scott's Last Expedition," which is the next change at St. James iheatre, preserves tor all time the moving and heroic adventures of these greatest explorers and' it certainly "stirs the heart of every Englishman.' With the picture is a spoKen prologue by Bear-Admiral E. R. G. K. Evan and a dramatic commentary throughout by Herbert Ponting, who accompanied the expedition and who was responsible for the superb cinematography. London "Punch" said of the picture: ' There can be no better example of the old proverb, 'Truth is stranger than fiction,' than this, for no synthetic filmic adventure could be as exciting or thrilling as Captain Scott's expedition. It is an inspiring masterpiece of noble encounters with Natures titanic forces." In the film is shown all the imajor events of the ill-fated venture. The excellent cinematography by Heribert Ponting has never been excelled and it is a tribute to him that although it was taken twenty-six years ago it | stands comparison with, the most up-to-[date photography of today. Beautiful ice caves, ice falls, and formations give one a vivid idea lof the extraordinary architecture of the frozen regions. Fantastic bergs, some over twenty miles long, take on the appearance of fairy casties scintillating in the sun. The high lights, however,! are scenes depicting magnificent efforts of the many gallant gentlemen who comprised the expedition. 'I do not think human beings ever came through such a month ag we have come through," wrote Captain Scott at one stage, and the marvellous photography of the film conveys only too well the trials he and his companions went through. The culminating scenes, showing the desolate view of the tent with the bodies of Captain Scott, are poignant reminders of the most heroic and desperate Polar adventure in the world's history. This film of Scott's noble sacrifice will quicken the heart beats of all who see it for all the old heroes of whom we have read and reread are there—Scott, Gates, Wilson, Meares, and "Teddy" Evans flash across the screen.