BRILLIANT BRITISH FILM

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 13

BRILLIANT BRITISH FILM

‘ HINDLE WAKES' FOR. ST. JAMES With that magnificent actress, Dame Sybil Thorndike, in the role that she made famous on the stage, ‘ Hindle Wakes,’ a brilliant British Dominions’ production heads the new bill at the St. James Theatre to-morrow. Dame Svbil is one of those stars whose work is an education, and in ‘ Hindle Wakes,’ which really means ‘ Hindle Holidays,’ she has a part that gives her full scope to demonstrate that dramatic, ability that has placed her at the topmost rung of the ladder of fame. 1 Hindle Wakes.’ which is the screen version of the well-known Stanley Houghton play, is a simple story, anil with Sybil Thorndike are Edmund Gwen, the noted character actor, Norman M'Kinnell, John Stuart, and Belle Chrystal. Some admirable shots of holiday time at Blackpool are shown in the film. ‘Hindle Wakes’ derives its title from a very Anglo-Saxon custom, essentially religious in its origin. The “ Wake ” of old time was an annual celebration to commemorate the completion or consecration of a parish church. Tents and booths were set up in the churchyard, after which an all-night service of prayer and meditation was followed by a general holiday, devoted to feasting, dancing, and sports. As time wont on, “ ivakes,” however, degenerated into fairs, and even so early as Edgar’s reign, 958-975, records speak of their revelry and drunkenness as having become a scandal. Henry VI., in 1445, made some attempt to restrict their license by suppressing them on. Sundays and holy days, but the Stuarts viewed them with more latitude. Nowadays, the name for these festivals survives chiefly in Lancashire.