REGENT THEATRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 3

REGENT THEATRE.

“LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER.”

This remarkable picture, “Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” whiUi is screening lo full houses, will bo shown again to-night at the Regent' Theatre. “Love v. Duty” makui no new problem, after all; hut as this struggle is presented here, in the mind of a military lather, it takes on ihe appearance of a starkly unusual and realistic idea. This is caused to a great extent by the sensitive and magnificent acting uf Sir Guy Standing, <iri Colonel Stone; mid that is why his work in this film it. more remarkable than that of the two hotter-known stars. The character of the old Colonel, on tho eve of retirement from the King's army in India, utterly in lu\e with soldiering and ull the things winch soldiering means, yet loving his only soil desperately, too, is portrayed to complete perfection—a perfection scaled by the knowledge that such men do exist, not in India alone. Quite a dilfercnt part is that of Gary Cooper, as Captain McGregor. 'Though lie once culls himself “the biggest fool in the army,” he leaves Iho impression that lie is also the bravest man. It is a part which tends to seem not over-difficult —you tell your Colonel ' 'what you think of him, you take care of his son secretly, you go out against orders to make a rescue, and even face machine; gun fire to achieve some object. But it is not so easy to be at tho same time a very real individual, with all the characteristics which differentiate me man from all others - in fact to he at oucc a man of action and a man of subtle, sensitive personality. Cooper docs this with what seems, in retrospect, to be consummate ease. When, in the very opening of the story, ho disobeys orders with raging scorn, lie has hall-made his character already; and lie never belies that first impression. He is helped a great deal hv Franchot. Tone, an ascending actor who here convinces us finally of his worth. Tone is tho reverse of Cooper He is easv-going, usually making dry jests at the other’s expense, lying about lazily, commenting on McGregor’s impetuosity with elaborate sarcasm. V lien ; ho acts it is swiftly, hut after quick, careful thought; lie is the other kind of riiun-of-nctioii. Tho part of the Colonel’s son is played very sincerely by Richard Cromwell. Throughout this youth is the hone of contention; nis character is employed also, with considerably insight bn tho part of tli-s director (Honry Hathaway) to emphasise those of McGregor and the Colonel. Without him there would be no story; yet compared with the three other men. ho is of minor importance except at • lie end. when lie is given deserved prominence, in the part of a helpless traitor whose honour is lost, unless something incredible happens—and it does happen.