“FOUR DEVILS"

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 714, 13 July 1929, Page 12

“FOUR DEVILS"

FINE FILM COMING TO STRAND With deft characteristic subtlety applied to a story that will have wide popular appeal, Director F. W. Murnau has brought to the screen in the Fox production, “Four Devils,” a motion picture that will stand head and shoulders above the mask of pictures usually offered to the public. This film successfully combines art and entertainment—the result of a human, logical story, perfect performance and flawless direction. Etched upon a background of circus life, the picture tells with mingled pathos ni.iriwiv o n d drama of the lives

of four acrobats —two girls and two boys, who are helped by a kindly old clown to ascend to fame a n d happiness from the squalid, heart-breaking life of a wagon circus only to find their deepest sorrow in the midst of sueWhile the acting

of all in this appealing and deftly told narrative is beyond reproach, it is perhaps the performance of Janet Guvnor, who enacts a Parisian circus performer with fire in her being, that is the outstanding individual effort. Alary* Duncan gives a dashing and magnetic portrayal as the temptress, who lures Charles Morton from the love of Marion (Janet Gaynor). Morton is fine as the older brother, and Barry Norton is satisfactory as the younger male acrobat. Nancy Drexel gives an excellent performance as the second girl and Farrell Macdonald gaips much sympathy as the old clown, who watches over them in their trials and tribulations. I