GREAT SEA PICTURE AT THE CIVIC THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 12

GREAT SEA PICTURE AT THE CIVIC THEATRE.

There is a breath of salt air at the Civic Theatre, where the all-talking sea film "Hurricane” was shown for the first time in Christchurch last evening. The production rates high in entertainment value, and it has all the qualifications which go into the making of a; good picture. The use of sound in the film and the dialogue enhance its value and complete the illusion. The swishing of the waves, the roaring of the wind, the lashing of the sails, the beating rain and the howls of the men during a, melee are things to be remembered as a tense dramatic action unfolds. It is the story of “ Hurricane ” Martin, a bold South Sea mariner, admired bv his men for his fearlessness, but feared by them because if his* mysterious habit of indulging in maniacal laughter, who is battling his way through a terrific storm to one of the remote islands in the Pacific. Captain Black and his band of pirates are shipwrecked on the island which the vessel captained by "Hurricane” is approaching. They have with them a sailor whom they have shanghaied off the coast of the United States, Dan by name and a youth of obvious good breeding. When Black observes “ Hurricane’s ” vessel approaching the island he decides to get his men aboard by any manner of means, cause a mutiny and seize the cargo. " Hurricane,” on the ship’s arrival, agrees to take the pirate captain and his crew aboard provided i hey are all prepared to work their way. He is not. however, as it would appear, deceived by their apparent friendliness. On the nig_ht set by the pirates for the mutiny, a woman, her daughter and a sailor are rescued from a lifeboat drifting at the mercy of the seas. Through this rescue the secret of “Hurricane's” life is revealed, and what had made a desperate man of him. The woman in the lifeboat turns out to be none other than his former wife, who, twenty years earlier, in order to marry another man, deserted him while he was away on a whaling trip. A thirst for revenge has eaten the skipper’s heart ever since. Learning that the woman is dangerously ill. and fearing that death will cheat him of his long-delayed revenge. “ Hurricane ” conceives the diabolical idea of striking the mother through the daughter. Mary. He decides to marry the girl to the pirate chief, Captain Black. The mother protests her innocence, and " Hurricane,” touched by her earnestness. believes her. Having learnt that Mary is his own daughter, he goes to save her from Black. He finds Dan. who has fallen a victim to the charms of Mary, fighting with the pirate to protect her. The boy is knocked unconscious, and " Hurricane ” takes up the running. Simultaneously the pirate hand diashes with the ship’s crew, and battle rages through the ship. Then, just as the pirate gang yields to the men of the'vessel. “Hurricane” downs their leader after a great tussle. The capable cast is headed by Hobart Bosworth, who has the role of windjammer skipper, and lie plays it admirably. Johnny Mack Brown, as the boy Dan. is second only to Bosworth. Leila Hyams. Allan Roscoe. Torn O'Brien and L«ila M’lntyre are prominent in the supporting cast. The chief number of a good supporting programme is a film of the DonovanSarron fight at New Plymouth. The scenes of the two boxers in training are interesting. The actual fight " shots ” are exciting and remarkably clear. A sound synchronised cartoon, "The Skeleton Dance.” is screamingly funny, and a talkie news reel shows interesting Eastern scenes.

Mr Leslie V. Harvey on the concert organ again delighted the audience with “Faust,” “ Schon Rosmarin,” “ The Toymaker’s Dream,” incidental music during the fight picture and popular numbers during the interval.