TOLSTOY’S “RESURRECTION,” AN ABSORBING DRAMA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

TOLSTOY’S “RESURRECTION,” AN ABSORBING DRAMA

SCREEN VERSION AT THE MAJESTIC

The most widely read, classic of mrdeni times, enjoyed wherever people read books, translated from the Russian of Leo Tolstoy into eleven languages in the past thirty years, “Resurrection” is of unusual interest to film-goers becausa it is a drama strong and absorbing enough to have made Tolstoy beloved by the masses of the world.

Edwin Carewe satisfies a seventeen-year-old ambition at last in bringing to the screen this story, which has fascinated him since, he played Prince Dmitri himself in a stock company in Kan-

Rod La Rocque is the star of “Resurrection,” to be screened at the majestic Theatre on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, playing the role of the Prince who sinned and sorrowed. Dolores del Rio is Katusha Maslova, the peasant ward of his two maiden aunts, the girl whose love is defiled an 1 sullied, only to be won again through the remorse of the Prince. Miss del Rio is afforded her greatest screen opportunity to date and her work is done under the direction of

the same Edwin Carewe who discovered her in Mexico City in 1925.

The very human story of “Resur'reel ion.” the film, is identical with that of the novel, no major liberties having been taken, even with the logical ending. There is the despoliation of the Prince’s pure love for the peasant maid, the evil companionship and the mad carousing of the Prince at St. Petersburg. and the Prince on the jury that tries Katusha Maslova, the girl he himself has betrayed. Finally, there is that grand march to Siberia, Prince and peasant alike labouring over the steppes as the chains of the exiles clank and hoofs stud on the hardbaked roads. The final scenes are exact renditions of those in Tolstov’s

novel. Edwin Carewe had in Hollywood the invaluable assistance of Conn? Ilya Tolstoy, son of the author of “Resurrection,” while making the film. As a matter of fact, the Count portrays his father in a prologue to the film proper.

The cast includes, aside from Rod La Rocque and Dolores del Rio, Marc McDermott, Clarissa Selwynnc, Vera Lewis, Eve Southern and Count Ilya Tolstoy. Rita Carewe, daughter of the director, plays a part. The, adaptation was written by Mr Carewe and Count Tolstoy. A prologue to the picture will be sung by Mr Billy Hart, entitled, “Russian Lullaby.”