STORY OF TITANIC WRECK IS FILMED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19060, 3 May 1930, Page 12

STORY OF TITANIC WRECK IS FILMED.

ATLANTIC ” IS SPLENDID BRITISH TALKING FILM

Most, people have , a feeling that if the British movie director could once get going, the result would be that American producers would be shown a thing or two, and it has been demonstrated from time to time that good pictures can be produced in England. The studios at ELstree have now given the screen a picture which is second to none in all departments, and must be written down as one of the best motion pictures ever seen in Christchurch. The film is “Atlantic,” based on Ernest Raymond’s play “The Berg,” and will be shown at the Crystal Palace next week. The theme is of course, the sinking of the Titanic, a tragedy which shook the world at the time, and the people responsible for the production of “Atlantic” have done full justice to a subject which must be considered very ambitious. “Atlantic” has no story in the accepted sense of the word. It does not concern itself with the struggles or happinesses of one or a handful of people, but takes as its study a diversity of types, a whole ship's company, and in simple narrative form, details their reactions to the awful disaster which overwhelms the ship. In this “Atlantic” is remarkable. There is nothing involved about the picture, which is done throughout with a restraint that is admirable. The theme took hold of the special audience which saw the Press pre-view this morning, and held them from the opening scene to the closing flash. With calmness the story of the wreck was told, and suspense was in the air. In many directions “Atlantic” is a great film, but perhaps nowhere is this more forcibly brought to notice than it is in the photography and production. Throughout, one has the impression that one is actually on board the liner, and something of the panic spirit, and certainly the excitement, of a wreck at sea are transmitted to the audience. Here again unnecessary frills have been altogether ignored. What movie director of the ordinary calibre could have resisted the priceless opportunity for spectacular scenes which the sinking of a huge ship offers? Limitless possibilities of harrowing and startling situations immediately suggest themselves, but the director of “Atlantic” has again with great artistry contented himself with mere hints at the more sensational sides of the story, and has thus secured many times more realism. Restraint is the keynote of the film, and this admirable feature will at once commend itself to the discriminating picture-goer. Production, story, and filming can all be written down as definitely superior to the average run of talkie, and the acting would hold its own with any. At times the acting is inclined to be restrained a little too much, but the quality is there. Among the names in the cast are many which are at the top of the English stage. Ellaline Terris, Monty Banks, Franklyn Dyall, John Lenglen, Madeline Carroll and Joan Barry may be mentioned as a few. “Atlantic” should be a really great success if it meets with the recognition it deserves.