“THE VANISHING RACE’

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 5

“THE VANISHING RACE’

AN EPIC PHOTOPLAY Many of Zane Grey’s famous books have been brought to the screen by the Paramount Picture Company, but few more soul-stirring, poignant, gripping films have been shown in Dunedin than the picturised version of Zane Grey s masterpiece, ‘ The Vanishing American,’ which had a private screening at the Empire Theatre this morning. Those present included city councillors, members of Parliament, a number of clergymen, and a party of soldiers from the Montccillo Convalescent Home. The Red Indian has always been a romantic figure in history _ and literature, and this wonderful epic of a dying race should have an appeal for young and old alike. The story starts with the caveman, the basket-makers, and goes on to the indolent Indian, who were known as cliff dwellers. Then a more vigorous, powerful horde _ swept down from the north, plundering as they came, and striking terror into the hearts of the peaceful cliff dwellers. These were the predecessors' of the modern Indian who warred against the , white man. The coming of the first I white man to North America, a band of Spaniards, and the gradual development of the Indian race, their bitter, courageous, determined, hut hopeless, stamina gainst their white enemies are depicted" in the screen version of the story of the slowly disappearing red man. •The prehistoric episodes in the picture, which briefly review the story of the early’ days of ■ civilisation and procivilisatiou are among the most powerful in the production, tho story of which is one of Nophaie, a Navajo Indian youth, educated among the white people, who is confronted with the barrier of race w T hen he falls in Jove with a white girl. Returning with a detachment of Red Indian soldiers from the Great War, he finds his tribesmen in a rebellion that threatens disruption, a rebellion against tho oppression to which tho Indians are subjected. How lie averts disaster to his people and works out his own destiny in service to his race is a motive of striking nobility. The film is a wonderfully realistic study, and has been superbly photographed. Many of the settings have been artistically chosen, , and the groupings lend spectacular effect. Richard Dix plays tho role of the Indian hero with remarkable effect, depicting in admirable manner tbe calm stoicism for which the ml_ man was famed. Lois Wilson is seen in tbe role of tbe heroine, and Malcolm Macgregor is an upright-looking stalwart of the American army. There are few more realistic villains on the screen than Noah Roery, whose acting is one of the features of this picture, tho supporting cast generally being a. strong one The picture will have its first New Zealand screening on Friday night, and two matinees will he staged on Saturday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.