Reign and Romance of England’s Mightiest Queen

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 11

Reign and Romance of England’s Mightiest Queen

ANNA NEAGLE BRILLIANT “VICTORIA THE GREAT"

(State: Screening Friday.)

Epic in its sweep as a historical drama, “Victoria the Great," is revealed more intimately as a love story whose charm and beauty are all the more appealing because of its royal setting. Of the tenderer side of Victoria’s character the general public is now made aware. The romance of Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha evokes reminiscences ot

heartache and ecstasy in the bosoms of the old, and tints in toSj colour the dreams of the young. Considered merely as a beautifully impressive spectacle, “Victoria the Great" ranks high as entertainment. But the crux of the story lies in its heart-magnetism.

The Queen is brilliantly played oy Anna Neagle. When the slim figure of the girl in white descends the grand staircase of Kensington Palace to hear that the King is dead, and she reigns over Great Britain in his stead, the spectators throb with sympathy for the unexperienced maiden upon whose frail shoulders such a mighty trust and burden have been laid.

In giving to the screen his fine portrayal of Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, Anton Walbrook, famous international player, throws an all-reveal-ing light upon the personality of tho revered British Queen’s husband in a manner such as the printed page could not achieve. Self-denying, devoted to wife and children, wise in counsel, and intrepid in execution, an unfailing oracle upon whom Victoria draws freely in conducting Governmental relations, the Prince Albert of the picture stands out as a power behind the throne, and perfect type of the gentleman unafraid.

The idyll of Victoria and Prince Albert, during which the Queen exercises a royal disdain for precedent by proposing to him their marriage is followed by the magnificent Coronation Icereinonies; and the happy wedded life, which culminates in one of the most affecting tear-producing episodes ever filmed—the death of the Prince, as his grief-stricken wife crouches beside him to hear his last words. Because of the conflicting emotions it arouses, “Victoria the Great" is replete with surprises. There is never a dull moment as the film sweeps rapidly through its wide cycle of world-wide Empire events. Americans would thrill to the scene where the Queen, by stern exercise of her royal will, averts war between the United States and England, when she checks a too autocratic Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston from sending what amounts to an ultimatum to Washington, and has a note, couched in milder terms, written by her husband, which accomplishes her purpose. There are many such momentous occasions reproduced in the feature, which winds up in a blaze of oue thousand feet of technicolour, describing in vivid detail the glories of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Herbert Wilcox’s skilled production has resulted in a screen offering of exceptional power. Besides Anna Neagle, as Victoria, and her co-star, Anton Walbrook, distinguished Continental actor, in the part of Prince Albert, such names as 11. B. Warner, Walter Rilla and Mary Morris, Broadway favourite head a large and talented cast. Over 5000

extras were employed in the EKO Radi picture.