"SERGEANT GRISCHA”

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

"SERGEANT GRISCHA”

I NEW WAR PICTURE AT STRAND INDICTMENT OF MILITARISM A scathing indictment of the Soullessness of militarism and the relative unimportance of the in- ! dividual in war, is conveyed in “The Case of Sergeant Grischa,” i the picture which headed the new ! programme at the Strand Theatre last evening. , Based on Arnold Zweig’s book, said i to be more powerful and convincing than the much talked of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” the strength and power of the story has lost but little in transfer to the screen. The brutality of an unfeeling military machine—which is usually more power- j lul and evil than those who control .• it—is brought out with striking era- I phasis, and Radio Pictures have sue- j ceeded in capturing the difficult atmosphere in which the book is laid. _ The story Concerns one Sergeant Grischa, interned in a German prison camp in a Russian forest in 1917. Driven desperate by the hardships and rigours of prison life he determines to escape and. breaking loose from the camp under cover of night, stows away on a timber train that takes him toward his home. When he leaves the train and takes to the forests again i he falls in with a number of others j who are hiding from the Germans in a hut in the forest. He joins their band and there meets Babka, who falls in Jove with him. SENTENCED TO BE SHOT !

After a sojourn in the forest Grischa decides to push on toward home. However, lie is captured by the Germans and sentenced to be shot as a spy. How he is reprieved and then how, through the mysetrious methods of red-tape militarism, he is once more ! condemned, is a strong indictment of { the Juggernaut of war. The snow- | storm which holds one reprieve back [ shows how the life and death of sol- { diers is at the mercy of the elements and the moods of highly-placed officers j out of touch with the positions of i those who are only names on paper. « An excellent performance is giver* j by Chester Morris, a newcomer to the ' films from the legitimate stage, as j Sergeant Grischa. Jean Hersholt ; plays the part of Major Von Safferc-n, ; the president of the court-martial by | which Grischa is condemned to death. ! Alec B. Francis is in the role of General ; Von Sychow, the military commander jof the town of Mervinsk, • where the j greater part of the story is laid. Babka. the girl who is loved by Grischa, is portrayed by Betty CompA great number of the scenes are set out of doors and reflect great credit on the photographer's art. That portion showing Grischa’s escape from the prison camp is particularly effective, depicting the great searchlight sweeping through the darkness, while a storm rages, blowing the snow before it. The supporting programme consists of an excellent colour film called “The Love Charm.” which shows the beaui ties and belles of the South Sea Islands i and contains a. strong and delightful j love interest. Another suport a

laughable comedy, “Motoring.” in which the English comedian, Harry Tate, gets 100 per cent, of fun out of a discussion on the art of driving automobiles. The comedy is clean, fast and furious. To top off a bump- r program!! e a Fox Movietone News is presented, giving a realistic display of all the news of the world.