GALSWORTHY PLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

GALSWORTHY PLAY.

“Loyalties” Featured at Theatre Royal. The Sydney ” Morning Herald ” recently drew attention to one of the most brilliant pieces of dramatic literature which have appeared during the present century.” The reference was to •• Loyalties,” the British talking screen version of John Galsworthy’s great human drama, which opened at the Theatre Royal to-day. “ Loyalties ” is something more than a motion picture: it is a stirring chapter of real life, that comes to the serten as timely as the moment, laying bare a crisis that to-day is gripping lCurope by the throat—crucifying alike, on the brazen altars of racial antagonism, the pride of men and the loving hearts of women. In poignant scenes of clashing passions, ” Loyalties ” relentlessly reveals the place in modern society of the Jew—that tragic figure which still remains ” the unknown of history.” Around the loyalties that so govern human impulses Galsworthy has woven the most moving drama it has been the silver sheet’s privilege to present. A Jew cries for justice—and a. woman pays the cost. And every woman, as she sits, enthralled, living with the characters on the screen this real life story, will ask herself: “In her place should I have done the same? ” thought that it would be impossible to produce ‘‘ Loyalties ” as a talking picture, without giving offence to Jew and Gentile alike, but this age-old problem, delicately handled in typical Galsworthy manner, setting a new, higher standard in audible screen dramatic entertainment. has been enthusiastically welcomed and applauded by both sections of the community. Basil Rathbone, himself a Jew, heads the big cast, and his portrayal of De Levis, the young aristocratic Jew, is said to be little short of inspired. Perhaps no greater further recommendation for ** Loyalties ” could he given than by quoting still another Sydney newspaper, “ TlVe Telegraph.” which concluded its paen of praise for the film by saying: ‘‘‘Loyalties’ is a splendid transcription of a magnificent play.” sibshbbsbssssbbsbhbbb