WORLD-FAMOUS “BEST SEILER”

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 6

WORLD-FAMOUS “BEST SEILER”

—— ‘THE CITADEL' ADAPTED TO SCREEN Mirror of a world-famous story, and preserving all the highlights which made that story a best seller of an unusual type, ‘ The Citadel,’ which will open at the Regent to-morroV, is a feature picture that has all the elements calculated to make it as great a success upon the screen as it has been in the sphere of literature. In short, it is one of those rare epochal pictures to have missed which will entail ignorance on a subject likely to loom large in the current topics of the day for many years to come. A story of gripping human interest is surrounded in ‘ The Citadel ’ by a larger and even more absorbing motif which idealises, while it at the same time condemns, the medical profession. More than fine entertainment, ‘ The Citadel ’ is an inspiration. In its plot ‘ The Citadel ’ is the story of a man who sots out fired by the highest ideals of the medical profession. As a general practitioner he throws himself into the fight against disease, public apathy, professional jealousy, and the curse of political wangling for individual profit. Rutlilessly exposing the evils of certain professional practices, he makes himself a power in the highest circles, only to fall to the blight of easy money. Awakened to, and appalled by the moral depths to which ho has fallen, he fights again to win back his own self-respect, and on the way blazes a track for all the world to see and for all the healers of the world to follow. The medical revelations, though sensational and of special significance at the moment to New Zealanders, are but incidental to the story, which is studded with thrilling, emotional, and adventurous climaxes. Crammed with character studies, the film also provides plenty of bright comedy. Altogether ‘ The Citadel makes great entertainment apart irom any other consideration. Produced by the English studio which issued A Yank at Oxford,’ with Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell in the leading roles, and some of the finest English character actors in support, it has that particular atmosphere which the best English pictures attain to make a special appeal to enthusiastic picture fans of this country.