STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

"SOUTH RIDING.” One of the finest dramas ever brought to the screen was “South Riding,” which was shown at the State Theatre last night. It provides a most interesting story of English county life intelligently and sympathetically presented and holding the interes; from first to last. The sociological place of the county is not questioned in the picture, nor is the land ownin;; gentry as a survival of the feudal system, or the place of the county council in the scheme of ideal government. The county is shown as it is and plot is not the main substance of the story. The film is not only a landscape but a collection of faithful portraits from the squire to the Socialist member on the council who is continually fighting for better housing conditions for the people and who finally achieves his purpose by the aid of the squire and the “School marm.” It is a magnificent picture' undoubtedly and must make an immediate appeal for its dramatic qualities. The characters are typical of the county and are human. The picture will not fail to be of deep interest to erstwhile residents of England but to New Zealanders as well as it provides besides a gripping story so much of life that has its counterpart in the Dominion. There is comedy as well as appealing human drama in the picture and as such makes for popularity with the picturelover who appreciates a bill-of-fare containing just exactly what he is looking for. The film begins with a fox-hunt and ends with a village celebration in honour of the Coronation, with everyone, including the Socialist, singing "Land of Hope and Glory.” In between come the struggle of the impoverished landowner to keep up his pride and his purse, and consumptive visionary's efforts to pass a housing scheme through the council, the efforts of profiteers to make a ramp out of the housing improvement, the story of the school marm and the landowner’s rebellious young daughter. The acting of Ralph Richardson, Edna Best, Edmund Gwenn and Ann Todd is outstanding, and such as is rarely seen on the screen. "South Riding” has everything to recommend it to the particulai cinema patron.