'SON OF INDIA'

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 9

'SON OF INDIA'

COMING TO ST. JAMES TO-MORROW For its special New Year programme, the St. James Theatre will present to-j morrow ‘ Son of India,’ the muchheralded Ramon Novarro-Conrad Nagel j success, which has been aptly described ' as “The Sheik” of the talkies. In-] cidentally, there will be included on the programme the latest Charlie Chase] comedy, ‘ The Panic Is On,’ in which] the ever-popular comedian is said to bo at his funniest. The following commen-] tary on ‘ Son of India ’ was made by the critic of the Christchurch ‘ Sun ’:—' “It is hard to believe that ‘Son of,j India ’ was made in Hollywood, so elaborate are some of the Indian scenes. ' Clever photography and brilliant set-! tings, aided by the able direction ofj Jacques Peyder, combine to create an \ illusion of exotic charm and barbaric \ beauty. ‘ Son of India ’ presents an I unusual and satisfying entertainment. ’ The story is taken from F. Marion.] Crawford’s novel, ‘Mr Isaacs,’ and in'] its screen form' deals with the subject l of ‘East is East and West is West,’'] etc. There have been many books and ' almost as many films made about the 1 subject, but ‘Son of India,’ although it deals with impossibility of marriage between the white and_ coloured races, | is treated with a spirited touch that gives novelty to the theme. Whatever] education and the intermingling of the. races may have accomplished, caste and the colour bar still exists to keep happiness from those who attempt to defy, the conventions, and so the Indian hero and the European heroine are left separated, believing in the philosophy! of the Orient, that the perfection of] real love is only to he found in its re-; nunciation, and content to wait for its. sublimation in the life to come. . Novarro fits into his part like a hand in' a glove, but he is not the only notable one in the cast. The role of Janice is taken by Madge Evans, who once used to be a child star in the silent films,-: and now, after a successful career oh, the New York stage, looks as if she is; going to develop into an adult talkie star of great brilliance in the Hollywood heaven. She speaks well, looks well,- 1 and acts even better. Others of importance in the really excellent cast are Conrad Nagel, Niged de Brulier, 1 John Miljan, Marjorie Eambeau, and C. Aubrey Smith.” The box plans aro at The Bristol.