“THE COVERED WAGON.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17246, 12 January 1924, Page 20

“THE COVERED WAGON.”

THE GREAT PICTURE OF 1923.

Paramount's super-special, “ The Covered Waggon,” a screen version of Emerson Hough’s fascinating story of the great overland trek to Oregon, with its accompaniment of hardship® and dangers from Hood, storm an« desert, attacks by hordes of Indiana, and internal jealousies and quarrels, will he shown for the first time in New Zealand next week at Everybody’”* and Greater Crystal Palace The storv depicts nn historical event in the de velopment of the United States, and occurred almost simultaneously with the discovery of gold in California, which caused the eyes of adventurous spirits in all parts of the world to be turned to the new land of promise, and was tt'ie prelude to the development of the spaces west of the Pocky Mountains. Naturally, presenting as it does a big incident in the opening of what was practically a terra incognita. and depicting the trials and risks of the bold spirits who faced the .perils of the vast spaces where all who ventured therein caried their lives in their hands, “ The Covered W aggon ” created intense interest throughout the States. It has been witnessed bv all classes of the community, and it has been proclaimed by prominent men in all walks of life and newspaper critics as a picture that richly earned the high position it has attained. Amongst those who viewed the pic ture was the late President Harding, a private screening being given at White House. He subsequently lef; on a tour of the West delivering ad dresses at various centres. During his tour he travelled over a large portion of the trail taken by the pioneers of 1849, whoso adventures and experiences are reproduced in the picture.

At one of the cities whore he delivered an address a number of the few remaining veterans who had participated in the expedition as children were present. The late President said:—“Not very long ago I saw ‘ '1 he Covered Waggon ' in the moving picture. I sat entrance**!. There was more than the picturesque, more than sorrow and discouragement, more than appealing characters and enthralling heroism. There was more than the revelation of the irresolute, who failed in fitness to survive, more than tragedy and comedy in tlheir inseparable blend. There was more than the scouts who surpassed our fancies, more than Nature’s relentless barrier revealed. Everywhere aflame was the soul of unalterable purpose and the commanding sturdiness of elemental greatness. Much of the same spirit was revealed in the making of the Central West, where the determined pioneers budded in the confidence which they had in themselves. They battled witih Nature and every obstacle which they encountered, heroes perished without fame’s acclaim, and they conquered and wrote big their part in the making of the greater Republic. Their victory proclaimed the strength of resolute purpose and t>he human genius, confident in itself and eager to achieve on its own account. The lesson cannot fail to impress itself. In this test of self-reliant citizenship there came the rugged, militant, wholesome West. Greater things were wrought, larger accomplishment was recorded, greater victory was won in this wtholesome, inapirinfc individualism than will ever attend paternalism or government assumption of the tasks which are the natural inheritance of the builders who may better serve for themselves.”