'THE VANISHING RACE'

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 5

'THE VANISHING RACE'

AN INDIAN DRAMA It is claimed that ‘The Vanishing Race ’ is a mighty drama of the rise and fall of the red man—an epic of the dying race—and if it traverses a fraction of the history of the red man it must be an epic. It is a story starting with the cave man, and it carries us through subsequent invasions and conquests right down to the events of to-day, the World War and its aftermath. It is written by Zano Grey, a master of lied Indian lore and _ tradition. The tale is told in the sincere, direct, dramatic manner that characterises all of Zan© Grey’s works. It is not a tragedy; but it does not gloss over the impositions and transgressions of the white man against the red. Thundering hoofs beat their hollow sound on the broad, monotonous plains again. Feathered arrows cleave the air once more. The Indians have taken the warpath! Reviving the days of the most heroic battles of one Indian tribe against another arc the scenes in ‘The Vanishing Race,’ shows the conquering of one great red tribe over another, the victory of the ravaging of the Navajo-nation by the white men, and, finally, a huge uprising of the Indians against their white oppressors. Ten thousand of them—two legions—took part in the filming of ‘ The Vanishing Race,’ in which Richard Dix portrays the Indian hero. In endless' clouds they swept by the cameras, forgetting it was just_ make-believe at times, making it difficult to control them. But because of their enthusiasm that almost bordered on real bloodthirst, scenes that could not be duplicated were obtained. While those scenes form only one of the thrilling features of Zano Grey’s powerful story of the depredations practised upon the red man, they are vitally real. “ After viewing the completed film,” said Mr Grey, “ I came away with one impression uppermost in my mind. It is this; That, although tho original story is mine, the film has gone one better. The picture is greater than the story. What more can an author say? Words, no matter how skilfully assembled, could not match the gorgeous beauty of the scenes that unfolded before me. That first sweeping view of Monument Valley made mo homesick. There is strength in the movement of real objects before the eyes that cannot be equalled by cold print. My admiration for the ability of Lucien Hubbard, who supervised the of all my stories for Paramount, is increased tenfold. The spirit transferred perfectly to the screen the spirit of my story. 1 went to see this picture in a more critical state of mind than on any other occasion, because it lies particularly close to my heart. For a_ great many years I had wanted to write a tribute to the red man, and ‘The Vanishing Race ’ is the result. No man could have given a stronger or more beautiful portrayal of the role of tho Indian hero than Richard Dix. Lois Wilson, Noah Beery, and Malcolm M'Gregor—all were just the people I pictured in my mind while writing the story.” Nophaie, according to the story, is the head man of his tribe. The tribe is exploited and robbed by Booker, the Indian _ agent, and his gang. Nophaie protests in vain. America enters the World War, and horses become a necessity. The Indians, knowing of the duplicity of Booker, do not believe Earl Ramsdell when ho says they will bo treated fairly. _ Marion Warner, who exerts a strange influence over Nophaie, gets him to bring the horses in. The Indians do so, and also enlist. In France they are distinguished for bravery. When they return home, some badly crippled, they find that Booker has become chief agent at the Indian post. He has stolen their lands and exiled their people to the desert. He is also responsible for the death of Gekin Yashi, sweetheart of Shoic. This brave, against the counsel of Nophaie, exhorts his people to war. The Indians descend on the town of Mesa, and the whites are surrounded in the schoolhouse. Booker and some of his adherents are killed, and when Nophaie, in attempting to promit further bloodshed, comes from the schoolhouse he is killed. Realising their mistake, the Indians stop, and when their grievances are settled Marion marries Captain Ramsdell. ‘ The Vanishing Race’ will he mill ally screened in New Zealand at tl e Empire Theatre next Friday.