"VICTORIA THE GREAT"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 18

"VICTORIA THE GREAT"

BRILLIANT FILM FOR CIVIC One of the most brilliant historical films made in England, "Victoria the Great," will commence a season at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. With a sweep of spectacle that bears comparison with the greatest of recent films, "Victoria the Great" gains variety and attractiveness from the manner in which the Queen's romance with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, her eventual consort, is presented. Tho picture opens dramatically with the announcement of King William IV.'s death and the breaking of the news to tho young Queen. Much of tho story centres on the younger days of the heroine, showing iier as a girl with a sometimes unsuspected sense of humour, and much relief to the more sombre side of the film is derived from her courtship with Albert. She is shown proposing to him. by virtue of her Royal rank, and there are many amusing incidents in the course of her happy marriage which was only terminated after 27 years by the death of her husband. This film shows in convincing fashion that the era which now bears her name was not as drab as it is sometimes portrayed. There is a colourful historical background to the picture, great figures which have often been relegated to history books Hash vividly across the screen, and exciting incidents founded on the truth give an astonishing vitality to the action. In tho part of Victoria, Anna Ncagle, tho brilliant English actress, gives one of tho best characterisations of her career. Tho rolo which she portrays is one of the most difficult ever placed ou the screen, for five different stages of tho queen's life are shown. Appearing in the first place as a girl of 18, when she ascended the throne, she makes her last appearance at tho ago of 78, when her Diamond Jubileo was celebrated. Anna Noagle's performance is marked by restraint and a feeling for the essential points of character which makes tho figure of the Queen live throughout tho film.. There are many dramatic scenes, one of the best being that in which she threatens to abdicate when Palmerston attacks her husband, in the rolo of Albert, Anton Walbrook gives a faithfully observed portrait of one of the most charming characters in English history. There is a large and talented supporting cast, which includes H. B. Warner, Walter Rilla and Mary Morris. The closing scones, in which an entire troop of cavalry participated, aro filmed in technicolour, and show the pageantry of the jubilee in spectacular fashion. The film was directed by Herbert Wilcox.