“THE WOMAN DISPUTED.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 14

“THE WOMAN DISPUTED.”

FASCINATING NORMA TALMADGE AN OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION. There arc height, breadth and depth in the United Artists film, “The Woman Disputed,” which was screened :fqr the first time at the Strand Theatre yesterday. Its sentiment reaches pleasin'? heights, its width of vision is commendable and its passion .and' feeling., are. deep. With such threefold excellence of dimension no picture -could fail, to make a general appeal, so that it was not surprising that a* capacity house greeted the initial presentation of this widely acclaimed and eagerly awaited film; The most critical judge in last night’s audience must surely have " been compelled to admit that " The Woman Disputed ” rises .far above, the commonplace products of Hollywood. A nice, discrimination has. been exhibited in the treatment of a thcnic that is alternately, as noble and ignoble as human nature can be, and the . story, notwithstanding, its abundance of theatrical pitfalls, ‘ has been handled by a craftsman experienced. enough to avoid ■ the ' plethora of timely, interventions, last minute rescues ; and romantic but improbable conclusions, which' make up the distasteful melodrama of film's. The producer has not been daunted by a theme that is not always lovely for the simple reason that life Is'- sometimes unlovely. There has been no shirking, of unpleasantness, yet nothing jars. A straightforward, if somewhat grim; chapter has been taken from the'Book' of Life and transferred to the screen with truth and fidelity.

The production of the film, its photography, titling and general conception arc as strikingly unusual in their merit ss are the interpretations which an allstar cast have put upon some, vigorously lifelike and interesting characters. Nonna Talmadge is an emotional actress with few equals in the studios of America. She has earned a widespread popularity by the unquestionable excellence of a long career oh the screen. Her exquisite - personal, charm, expressively dark eyes, and her beauty and grace of movement and, action draw all .eyes to her no matter how indifferently'she may be cast. The producer of “The Woman Disputed,” however, has, entrusted to her a. role that is peculiarly suited to her talents, and before the final scene one feels that she has done.. quite as much for the producer and the author as they have done for her. The deep and stirring emotions of grief, fear, love and hate all, war with one another in the character - she portrays, but at all times her acting is notable for a restraint and discretion in 'keeping with the spirit of the story. Hers is a'character of unusual strength and fascinaone of the most notable in which she has heen seen in Dunedin, not even excepting that of Camille. Her dramatic genius: is manifested in a host of powerful situations in which artistry and finesse.'are indispensable. The principal male roles are taken by Gilbert Roland, , who plays -Paul Hartman, the young Austrian officer,. and Arnold Kent, who appears as Nika Turgenev. Both are- confronted: by tasks ; far from easy, ' but they acquit themselves remarkably well, and complete a trio than which few better are found:in one film. Boris de Fas, Michael Vavitch, and Gladys Brockwell also have important roles. The story concerns a street girl, Mary Ann Wagner, -whose aspirations and desires soar much higher than the unlovely circumstances of her: life. ‘ Her .acquaintance with two army, officers, one Paul Hartman, of the'AustrianVArmy,.land- the; other, Nika Turgenbvi " a Russian, changes her whole outlook on life and conduct. She revels in the frank friendship, the two young men, offer her, blissfully unaware of the fact ‘ that ekoh •b£ them has lost his heart to her. Hartman and Turgenov are friends .of the David and Jonathan variety, but their regard for one, another is asked to withstand onslaughts that prove far too fierce. The outbreak of war alope would have proved insufficient to‘ estrange, such devoted friends, but taken in conjunction; with the consuming ; love : j issessss for Mary Ann, it turns: the intensity of friendship into equally intense •.hatred. Summoned to rejoin his regiment,-Turge-nov hastens to get. into communication’ with the girl, and is disappointed to find her away from home.- Disappointment changes to chagrin, when,' on hurrying to his brother officer’s . apartment, ho fihds Mary Ann busily ; engaged helping Hartman to’pack up. The thought of his impending separation from one so completely the possessor of his deepest affec tions impels'the impetuous Russian to declare his love. He urges the girl to leave Austria and go with him-to Russia as his wife. Then it is that he learns from Hartman that Mary Ann " has promised to marry him, Turgenov abandons himself to a jealous and unreasoning fury, which finds expression in the condemnation and vilification of his former friends. Thus Mary Ann, played by Norma Talmadge, becomes “the disputed woman.” The Russian is prevented from-coming' to blows'with Hartman only by the intervention of the girl who spends herself in a vain endeavour to make the enraged man understand th? position. It is hopeless. Turgenov leaves the apartment with black fury in his heart, swearing; all manner of dire revenges. Too soon fate vouchsafes him his opportunity to wreak his' angry vengeance upon the girl who is taken in an attempt to leave Lemberg against orders while the city is in the hands of the Russians. The penalty prescribed is death. The unfortunate girl is brought before Turgenov, the commanding officer in the city. The exquisite form of torture he devises for Mary’ Aim'places the girl in a terrible posit ..' He undertakes to spare the life of herself aiid five other'prisoners captured with her if she will come to him willingly. She is determined to face death rather than such dishonour and unfaithfulness to' the absent Hartman, Not all:the agonised pleas of her fellow-captives can shake her firm resolve until a priest among the condemned prisoners reveals himself as Libert, an afeh-spy for whom the Russians arc scouring the country. He tells the girl that he has valuable information for his country which will be lost should he be executed. He represents it as her duty to Austria to sacrifice herself that he might live to carry to the authorities news and despatches .which he claims will be the means of saving the lives of 10.00;) soldiers. She submits to:the terms laid down by Turgenov. Libert’s information proves effective, and Lemberg is recaptured from the Russians by an Austrian division in which Hartman is a captain. Overjoyed at finding Mary Ann. alive, the young officer takes heir in his arms, unmindful of her gentle repulses. At this moment Turgenov, fatally wounded, stumbles on to the scene, and with his dying breath - taunts the girl for infidelity and the man for his blind faith. The broken-hearted Mary Ann has no explanation to make to the embittered and. disillusioned Hartman. He spurns her,- and she considers ‘everything lost. The spy, .Libert, however, mindful of the great service Tendered by the girl, makes hpr sacrifice known to the general, who pays her a solemn tribute before the assembled /army; Realisation comes to the, unhappy captain, and the usual romantic fade-out concludes {lie story. ■ ,

Aii, additional feature in the form of one of the popular Sunkist 'cojncdies and a Pa the pictorial completed an excellent programme.