REMARKABLE FILM, “CHANG,” NOW SHOWING AT MUNICIPAL HALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18581, 2 October 1928, Page 7

REMARKABLE FILM, “CHANG,” NOW SHOWING AT MUNICIPAL HALL.

“Chang,” the jungle picture, has arrived in Christchurch, and in reality it is all that a strenuous advertising

campaign made it out to be. The large number of. people who attended the initial public screening'at.the Municipal Concert Hall last eVenirig gave-it a very enthusiastic reception, and well they ‘might, for they saw a most unusual picture. “Chang” is taken wholly in Siam, and it deals with life of the jungle dwellers there, their heroic fight with beasts , for the mastery of their domain, and throws a clear light upon an existence the interest of which is manifold. All is centred round the struggles, triumphs and tribulations of a little family of natives, whose pioneering spirit has led them to follow their head a little further into the jungle than the rest of the tribe dared to go. There is a pleasant relief in the

picture, in that it departs entirely from accepted lines and depends for its interest upon no cunning weaving of impossible circumstances for its action. The denizens of the wild are the actors, the star being a native who probably did not know the meaning of the term motion picture till the Paramount people selected him for their very excellent purpose. Tigers and panthers and leopards and elephants add the eventful clement to the picture, and the antics of the baby bears and the audacious and human-like monkeys give a touch of humour that no human comedian could possibly accomplish. The photography is marvellous. It would have seemed impossible to get such enlighning shots of beasts in their native element as arc depicted in “Chang.” Kru, the native whose doings the picture follows, has cleared a little space

.to grow his rice, and erected a house on.stilts to keep the tiger from doing night raiding, and he has built a stockade’ to protect his tiny stock of domestic animals. There, with his wife and their little children, Kru finds the battle against primeval forces a difficult one. First a leopard comes and takes his go&ts; but Kru traps and kills the beast. However, there arc so manv about that he goes to the home village and organises a hunting party, and there follows a hunt that has a wonderful interest for the spectator. Kru and his fellow* have very elementary guns, and they have to rely on their native cunning to overcome the beasts of the jungle. Pit-falls, snares and deadfalls are employed and set, and then the beaters set out to drive the animals to their doom. It sounds all right in theory, but the great tigers and leopards are no mean opponents, anti the incidents are manifold. Every known animal in the Siamese wilds is shown on the screen. The little pet monkeys of the natives add a humour to the proceedings that is very keen indeed. The “plot” of the picture lies in the raid of a great herd of elephants on the village of the natives, and the manner in which the men unite and capture the great beasts by driving the herd into a mommoth trap. It is perfectly done, and the most blase picturegoer cannot' help a thrill as house after house of the village goes over under the. pressure of the enormous bea6te, and as. by fire and ruse, the villagers in their turn drive the elephants back and finally subjugate them. The scenery is magnificent in its rugged grandeur, and the wild life, as well as the human, has an interest which is all its own. “Chang” is supported by “Swim, Girl, Swim.” in which the ever-popular Bebe Daniels is starred with Gertrude Ederle. the swimmer. A good comedy and news reels complete a fine programme. A special orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Arthur Lilley, gives an excellent musical accompaniment. The overture, “William Tell.” was especially well rendered, and drew hearty applause.