THE NEW GRAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 92, 18 April 1929, Page 11

THE NEW GRAND

Screen entertainment far above the average was presented to the theatre audience last night at the opening of “Four Sons,” a Fox Films production directed by .John Ford, who already has to his credit outstanding screen successes. In “Four Sons,” Ford has surpassed his previous efforts and the result is a picture in which pathos, drama and colour are perfectly blended. Thc story opens in a village in thc Bavarian Tyrol, where Airs Bernie and her four sons are living happily together in their old home. Thc war comes. Three of the sons answer thc call to arms, while the fourth, who pre-’ viously had sailed for New York, marries a beautiful American girl and prospers. When the war breaks out he is torn between love for his fatherland ami love for the country of his adoption. At last he joins the American colours and sails to fight against his brothers. On thc battlefield he encounters Andre, thc youngest and only surviving brother. With the war ended, Joseph returns to his little family in New York. His mother is alone in the old home. She sails for America to join him but difficulties develop at Ellis Island. How she finally gains entrance to America and finds happiness at last is graphically told, with never a moment that doesn’t pull at the heartstrings. To-morrow’s attractions will introduce another Paramount picture, “Loves Option,” featuring Dorothy Boyd and James Carew, and “Finnegan’s Ball,” a comedy feature that will be the scream of the season.

THE REGENT Once again, “The Trail of ’98,” 1929’s greatest picture drama, held a large audience spell bound at the Regent Theatre. It is a wonderful picture and rightly deserves its reputation as a successor to “Ben Hur,” which up to the present has been acknowledged as the greatest screen achievement of all time. * ‘ The Trail of ’9B ’ ’ shows a fine record of doggedness and determination, typifying the old bat-, tiers whoso eyes lighted at the merest whisper of the word gold. What a memory the name Klondyko recalls for that type, and what an impression it makes upon the mind of the adventurous generation of to-day. In this production Dolores Del Rio and Ralph Forbes are both at their best as two young lovers, caught in the torrent of humanity that slowly made its way to the Klondyko in search, not of happiness and health, but of gold. Thc progress of thc gold-inaddencd hordes who groped their painful way toward the treasure in the snow-bound Arctic regions, is shown graphically from thc day. late in 1897, when a San Francisco newspaper first spread the news of nuggets of gold discovered in thc Klondyke. Spectacle enough to satisfy the most adventurous is contained in the scenes of the perilous “ White Horse’’ rapids, the burning of Dawson City and thc terrors of a long march. The press of two continents has searched in vain to find adjectives that would fittingly ; describe this miracle of human achievement and screen artistry, lu practically every instance it has been described as “even bigger than ‘Ben Hur.’ ” Indeed, nothing else describes “The Trail of 98.” Not only by reason o? the number of people engaged in its creation, not alone by virtue of its colossal immensity, its amazing thrills, its ever-present drama; not simply because of the wealth of money and labour, lavished on it, does ‘‘The Trail of ’9B” rank as the greatest picture of all time. It is because it carries its message home to the heart of every man and woman with sledge-hammer force. Because it limns against a background of grim reality, the most amazing epic of human courage and fortitude within the record of mankind. Because it tells the story of men and women who displayed, in spite of the beckoning lure of hidden gold, all those traits of kindliness, self-sacrifice, bravery and tenacity that is the glory ot the human race. Such a picture may never be made again. It is unique and inimitable. It commands success! This it has proven up to the hilt in England’ Europe and America. Matinees will be shown at 2.15 p.m. to-day and also on Saturday afternoon. It is the most outstanding event in picture history. Regent patrons are strongly advised to make early reservation if they desire to secure seats to view what is destined as one of the greatest productions of thc screen ever to come to this city.