ST. JAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 985, 30 May 1930, Page 17

ST. JAMES

"MAY I CALL YOU CHARLES” I “May I call you Charles." These words, spoken in the most perfect English in the film production “Disraeli,” at the St. James Theatre, reflect, in a ! phrase, the whole philosophy, dignity i and convention of the Victorian era which has been re-created in this film. "Disraeli," acclaimed by popular vote in America as the most successful picture of the year, is a splendid picture in every respect, and the clear diction of the members of the cast is one of its outstanding features. The story centres around Disraeli’s struggle to secure the control of the Suez Canal for Britain, and the intrigues of the Russian ambassador, Count Bosrinov (Michael Visaroff), who attempts to forestall him. Charles is a pompous young man with very fixed ideas regarding life. He proposes to 1 Clarissa in a very pompous way and blames the influence of Disraeli when he is refused. Disraeli takes him in hand and later uses him to further his schemes concerning the canal. Disraeli is refused the support of the Bank of England and turns to his countrymen for help. His friend, Hugh Meyers (Ivan Simpson), agrees to back him, but the Russians are too clever for him and ruin his bank. Disraeli then turns upon the governor of the Bank of England and forces him to support Meyers’s bank, and so secures the canal. In the moment of his triumph Lady Beaconsfield falls ill, and the story ends in an almost heartbreaking scene, when Disraeli goes to the royal reception, which is given in his honour, alone. He appears in the anteroom of the palace broken in spirit to receive the shouts of acclamation accorded him by friend and foe; but to disclose the climax would spoil the entertainment to a certain degree. The supports are all good, but with such a picture as Disralie supports I are forgotten. It is a picture of a life-