REGENT

Southland Times, Issue 24421, 29 April 1941, Page 8

REGENT

“FORTY THOUSAND HORSEMEN” FINE ANZAC STORY A stirring tale of daring deeds is unfolded in “Forty Thousand Horsemen,” which is proving very popular at the Regent Theatre. Of this picture an Australian reviewer wrote: It is good, speedy, spectacular entertain-ment-culminating in some of the finest action I have seen on the screen. It blends adventure, spy melodrama, and romance into the great history of the Light Horse in Palestine in the last war. - With astounding panoramas, it covers Egyptian cities, battles, desert manoeuvres, village life, and the final crashing charge of Beersheba, which sets a new high for cold thrills. And it is an Australian film—a fact which we can all view with pride. I repeat that most advisedly-with pride. It has its faults. The earlier continuity is obscure here and there; the dialogue trips over some purple patriotic patches. But then the headlong story takes charge—and there you are. It has genuine humour—one of the rarest attributes of a local film; a fine bunch of real actors handling the character parts; and three singularly promising young people in the principal roles. These are lanky comedian Chips Rafferty; Betty Bryant, who has charm, personality—and can act; Grant Taylor, who is the confident Light Horseman to the life. That censor-sieged love scene is dexterously handled; the whole romance between Betty and Grant is charmingly done. The producer, Charles Chauvel, who dreamed and accomplished “Forty Thousand Horsemen” for Famous Feature Films, has achieved a paradox-triumph. The film is enthusiastically, burningly national in spirit—its inspiration was the greatest chapter in Australia’s War history; and yet, in its essentially cinema approach, it is international. And I only wish there were space in which to list and congratulate the cameraman, technicians, and artists who worked on the production; they did a superb job. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the Theatre.