TIMELY AND THRILLING

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 663, 17 January 1933, Page 3

TIMELY AND THRILLING

“ War Correspondent ” Deals With China Trouble.

The producers of “ War Correspondent,” now showing: at the Majestic Theatre, lost no time in making: use of the Sino-Japanese conflict as a background for their latest picture. Even while the world still is receiving- cable news of clashes in China, this film brings to the screen graphic pictures of the efforts of the Chinese Nationalist forces to put down the uprising of a murderous war lord, General Fang. There are only three white characters in this story of the Eastern lands. All the others—about a thousand—are Chinese, who appear in the picture as soldiers, or in the Shanghai street scenes. China, with its mysterious' inhabitants provides excellent and novel locales, and the picture shows the intrigue and conspiracy, in addition to outward aggression, which the Government has to contend with. Besides this there is a theme of romance of the old triangle variety. The two men concern&re Jack Holt and Balph Graves, who have been in so many striking successes, best remembered for their roles in Flight,” “ Submarine ” and “ Dirigible.” Lila, Lee makes a welcome reappearance in this film as the cause of the trouble between the men. Up till now, it has seemed that every phase of militarv conflict has been covered, and every type of newspaper story filmed, but here is one that has escaped the notice of the producers. That is the profession Ul^ war correspondent, the journalist who goes to the front like a soldier, bra\ ing death in order that the public the ] , atest from the fighting area. Graves plays the role of the war correspondent in the picture He is a .«a eZ r;^^ Sel s' COnfid^ t figure, handsome and attractive. He introduces a new note to reporting—he broadcasts his * he People a running description of the fighting. His rival is Holt, who has the role of an American soldier of fortune, who fights for big money In the Chinese flying service Lila Leo plays the part of Julia March! v\ hen the picture opens, she is in love with Holt’s bravery, but the swaggering correspondent takes her away, and thus gains the hatred of the fiver The girl is captured by the Chinese bandit, and Graves calls upon his rival to save ♦if r * shows his love b y going into the bandit s camp, and doing his part in the rescue. Ther© is a splendid supporting programme.