“THE LOST PATROL”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 14

“THE LOST PATROL”

DRAMA OF THE DESERT. VICTOR McLAGLEN AT PLAZA. Grimly and magnificently realistic in background, powerful in theme, and swift and dramatic in action, “The Lost Patic-l” commenced at the Plaza Theatre yesterday. Quite different is this epic of gallantry on the desert. Played with tremendous virility by a cast including Victor AlcLagien, xioris Karloff, Wallace Ford, Reginald Denny, and a notable array or supporting artists, the production was uirecteu with a masterful hand by John Ford. The story is that of a patrol ci British cavalrymen who are lost on tne Mesopotamian desert when tneir oincer is killed by Arabs. Under tne command of their non-nerved sergeant, they take refuge in an oasis, where tney become the virtual prisoners of their invisible but ever-vigilaiit enemies. Lightened frequently by comedy tmgeer with romance and often touched by patnos, the record of the doomed patrol is mostly one of sheer drama, which reaches stirring heights in a surprising climax. Standing out among the superbly-por-trayed characters are the heroic figures of the sergeant, piayed by McLaglen, and the pathetic and somenow noble religious zealot made to Jive and breathe by Karloff. The story is based upon the novel “Patrol.” by Phillip MacDonald. There will be a special morning matinee to-day. * * * • “Flying Down to Rio,” a musical extravaganza which is coming to the Plaza Theatre next Saturday, Is reported to be an amazingly spectacular production. The handsome urene Raymond takes his American jazz band, to Rio de Janeiro to open a snow in a new hotel. He falls in love with Dolores del Rio, as the daughter of the hotel owner, and a hot rivalry develops between Raymond and Raul Koulien, a situation complicated by the fact that Roulicn has been engaged to Dolores for years. When the “heavies/* a syndicate of Greek gamblers, try to spoil the deal and ruin Dolores’ rather by getting city officials to prohibit Gene's show, that young man foils them all by taking his band and his two hundred beauties aloft. In full view of thousands of awed Brazilians, g:Ds sing and dance on the wings or aeroplanes, adagio dancers hurl their fair partners from one aeroplane to another, and ballet dancers trip the light fantastic while fluttering earthward in parachutes. Dolores and Gene arc then married by an aeroplane pilot, and everybody lives happily ever afterwards. The film is elaborately staged against the tropical and architectural beauty of Rio de Janeiro.

Returning to London. Hubert Carter, the well-known tenor, who has been teaching in Christchurch for some years, will leave for T-ondon at the end of July, when he will resume his career interrupted by the depression in 1926. He is travelling via Australia, where he is to appear at leading concerts and do broadcasting engagements.