MODERN SMUGGLERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 816, 9 November 1929, Page 14

MODERN SMUGGLERS

ROMANCE OF RUM-RUNNING IN “BLOCKADE” MAJESTIC’S FINE FILM All the excitements of smuggling days, intensified many times over after undergoing the process of modernisation, were recaptured in “Blockade,” a spectacular film of rum-running ventures, which opened at the Majestic last evening. IT is doubtful whether there is any form of human enterprise carried on in the world today that could better l<*id itself to a thrilling story than rum-running as it is shown in “Blockade.” Most of us, as children, have thrilled to tales of smugglers’ caves and daring darts across the English Channel in sinister luggers. All these thrills have been caught in R.K.O. Pictures’ latest part-talking drama. Anxious faces peering shoreward from an unobtrusive boat when winking signals are expected; sea flights between smuggler and coastguard; stealthy unloading of a valuable and forbidden cargo on a secluded beach—all slipped naturally into the story of the substitution of motorships and speed-boats for luggers; whisky instead of laces and jewels as contraband; and the introduction of quick-firing guns and airplanes certainly did not result in a loss of effect. ATLANTIC COAST The story dealt with rum-running, presumably on the south-east coast of America. Slipping through the grey of a morning mist, a large power-boat returned to its island base, robbed of its cargo by a hi-jacker, and a

woman, at that. A hi-jacker, let it be explained, is the cuckoo in the rumrunner’s nest, tie, or she as in this story, raids the runner’s convoy and disposes of the loot, gaining the profit that has been so arduously sought by the runner. The runner, the hijacker, the coastguards and a lone mysterious man who pops up at awkward moments in a speed-boat were wound up in the threads of a story that threatened to become badly tangled until straightened by a clever and unsuspected climax. Of action there was .no stint, and the final episode which led to the capture of a runner’s gang and the clearing up of a number of baffling little mysteries was almost a little war on its own, fought from land, sea and The night-shrouded bay was brilliantly lit by flares and verey lights, while the three crews of cutters were at grips. On lahd a party of United States Marines engaged the runner’s shore party, while an airplahe did its bit from above. Anna Q. Nilsson took the principal a part with success. 1-ler vivacity stood ® her in good steadi—the cold, steel-hard woman of action at times, but the 5 eternal femine in appropriate circumstances. Aliss Nilsson was supported by an able east, including debonair Wallace MacDonald, leading man. Included in the supports is a U.F.A. gem, “The World’s Playground,” a particularly fine series of shots taken in \ the show-places of Switzerland. One is given an excellent idea of the exhilaration of winter sports on ice and snow. The Pathe Audio Review and the Fox Movietone News dealt with events all over the world. The picture illustrating the making of goldleaf was particularly interesting. An all-talking comedy dealt with the efforts made to counter a fair blackmailer who held the letters of ~ an indiscreet business man. ■