AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19830, 3 May 1927, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE The much-heralded Metro GoldwynMayer production, “The Big Parade,” was screened for the first time in Wanganui last night, nefore an audience wnich crowded every corner of His Majesty’s Theatre. Much was expected from this epic of the screen, and there is no doubt that it fulfilled expectations. In the number of war pictures that the last three years have brought, “The. Big Parade” stands alone. The war theme has not been grafted on to the story of “The Big ParadU” in a pander to excitement, nor introduced lor the taking-off of an awkward husband or lover. The war theme, the sad, glorious war theme, is the whole matter of the film. There is a love affair of the billets and a humour of the trenches. And all along the action is marching left-left to that ultimate glory that the bugles promise and simple men have died to find. “The Big Parade,” if only lor the splendid climax that rounds off the first part, with the long remorseless shake vf waggons roiling along the dutsy road, rolling and rolling away into the distance, and still more at hand, and more, and then the aeroplanes winging froTn over our heads, shooting and skimming off above the waggon train, three at first, then a dozen, then a full flight like swallows in autumn, must take n place among the beautiful things that war has suggested to many a musician and pout ana dramatist. There is humour, pathos, and thrill in the picture, and the acting is perfect, with John Gilbert, Karl Dane and Tom O’Brien as the three .pals, and lienee Adoree as Melisande. Prior to the screening of the film an atmospheric prologue was presented. In a realistic trench scene Mr Trevor Thomas sang “The Dream of the Great Parade” very well indeed, and was I loudly applauded. “The JL*ig Parade” will be screcne-, again to-night and a special matinee j will be given to-morrow afternoon (Wednesday) at 2.30. The box plans arc at Upton’s.