‘THE BROKEN MELODY’

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 4

‘THE BROKEN MELODY’

“DEVIL’S ISLAND” VIVIDLY PORTRAYED.

The British Dominions release “The Broken Alelody,” which features Alerlo Oberon and John Garrick in the leading roles, is distinguished by the most realistic scenes of convict life ever screened. One of the sets used represents a convict ship en route for Devil’s Island. In its narrow cells convicts of all nationalities —Frenchmen, Englishmen, Chinamen, and Negroes—are shown herded together, irrespective of colour, and specially taken “shots” reveal every phase of the prisoners’ life on board one of these “hell ships.” Onlookers see the coarse mush which the guards call food; sec the prisoners flogged for imaginary breaches of discipline and, above all, they see the steam being turned on the prisoners in their cages when they attempt mutiny. A long pipe running the length of the cages contains the steam, and at a given signal it is turned on the unfortunate prisoners who cannot escape and fall screaming in their tracks. The scenes on Devil’s Island are equally authentic, showing elaborate reconstructions of prison cells and large crowds of mutineering prisoners. All the horrors of imprisonment in the French penal settlements have been emphasised in “The Broken Melody,” the current release at the Palace Theatre.