"THE TE KOOTI TRAIL."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19797, 18 November 1927, Page 15

"THE TE KOOTI TRAIL."

A SIGNAL ACHIEVEMENT. With the consummation of Mr. Rudall Hayward's latest 'venture into New Zealand history, a bright future opens out | before the pioneers of the Dominion's motion picture industry. "The Te Kooti Trail" is undoubtedly a success, as was realised by yesterday's audiences at the Strand Theatre. The subject chosen is a formidable one for any producer: its range of action and its depth of emotion make it that. By the same token, such a subject, if properly treated, will make a better picture than a less complicated theme. The story of Te Kooti's raid on the Whakatane Valley and of the heroic defence of Mill Farm is sufficiently "picturesque" to stir the most hardened pic-ture-goer. Few producers can have found a historic episode so much to their taste in that respect. Tanarahi's ride to Fort Tauranga to bring aid to the beleaguered redoubt is treated with a refreshing absence of breathless "close-ups" that makes it truly dramatic, and incidentally introduces some very fine bush scenery. One notices with gratitude the absence of any inclination to model such episodes on the "Western" picture. There is also some striking camera-work in the scenes depicting "Tawa" Main's twenty-roil© dash along the sands of the coast to raise a relieving force of friendly Maoris. Ihe running battles among the Urewera hills are equally well handled. The greater part of the emotional strain falls on Miss Tina Hunt and Mr. Patiti Warbrick, as Monika and Tanarahi, the lovers, and they play their arduous parts _ with a sympathy to bo expected from their raceMiss Hunt is always appealing as the bright and courageous Monika. She carries conviction equally when playfully taunting her lover through the gate of the redoubt, or facing death rather than betrav the hiding place of the ammunition. " Mr. Warbrick has an undoubted gift of acting, as he proves in tho intensely dramatic episode in which Tanarahi takes vengeance for Monika's death. "The To Kooti Trail" cannot fail to appeal to the people of the Dominion, and its effect on overseas audiences will probably be that of an entirely novel subject.