CHARLES LAUGHTON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 10

CHARLES LAUGHTON

TRIUMPH AT MAJESTIC. “MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY.” The story of Captain Bligh and the mutineers on his warship, the Bounty, one of the most amazing in British naval history, after touching up and amending at the command of Hollywood producers, has reached the screen in “Mutiny on the Bounty,” to commence a season on Saturday at the Majestic Theatre. In every country in which the film has been shown it has attracted great attention, and great attendances. The pictor ai and technical merit, of the film is su high that what are popularly termed by the producers themselves '•epoch-making films'’ will have to measure up Io a new and higher standard in future—the standard or “Mutiny on Ihe Bounty.” There arc some- perhaps not many—who will entirely repress lheir admiration for the product ion because tlie producers have given fictitious twists to the real history nf the mutiny. However, it is cer. tain that their ••r’.es will be drowned amid the applause the film will win from all the theatre-going public who arc thrilled by drama, and who do not care a lig for history. After this Jilin has swept, the world il is as Laughton portrays him that Bligh will be remembered, but actually the <‘h:ira< ler has been fantastically concei\rd itj the mind of some Hollywood producer whose eye has been on sensation which would establish new records in box (dlicc receipts. Those who over'■••me the moral indignation arising from a knowledge of history will pass on to be shocked, excited, and—-yes—al ’times enchanted by this, the most rcajlistie film ever produced. Nothing Hollywood has al. its behest has been forgotten in producing this terrific tale of an eighteenth century naval villain and Ivs cruelty, and there is a surfeit of action ns more than two hours pass ! turbulent ly before Christian Fletcher /reaches Pitcairn Island and the egregiJous Bligh emerges triumphant from the I court-martial. Bligh's antics in the opening section: of the film, during the voyage of the I tiny (‘raft, will cause wide-eyed amazement. There are some magnificently

powerful scenes when Blight lights the • elements in an open boat. The later, scenes, both at Tahiti and Pitcairn, are j remarkable. Fanchot Tone appears as a. midshipman, and Herbert Mundin.l j Eddie Quillan, Dudley 1/iggcs, and j Francis Lister are others in the cast. I I Charles Laughton is the most popular! I screen actor in England, according to i j the results of a poll recently conducted I iby the British Press. He got nearly I I twice as many votes as were garnered | j by the runner-up, George Arliss. Laugh- . tor. is making vhree pictures in a new I row for Alexander Korda. The first is I Cyrano de Gegcrac. I United Artists pictures due for rej lease during April and May are [“Little Lord Fauntleroy” starring i Freddie Bartholomew, “These Three’' •wifh Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon j and Joel McCrea and ‘‘Modern Times” Charlie Chaplin’s new comedy.