IMPERIAL RUSSIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 239, 9 October 1936, Page 10

IMPERIAL RUSSIA

ANNA STEN AT REGENT “A WOMAN ALONE” Life in the Imperial Russia of Tsarist days is vividly portrayed in “A Woman Alone,” featuring Anna Sten, which is to commence to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. The picture reveals all the colourful glitter of the army and society, but at the same time throws light on the rigid and unfair military laws of the day. Anna Sten gives a fine portrayal of Maria, a peasant girl working in a big city residence, and although her part is one calling for high artistic achievement in none of the scenes does she over-act, the emotional scenes in the film being conducted with admirable restraint. Henry Wilcoxon has the leading male lead as Captain Ilinsky, an officer in the army who is married, but finds the peasant girl working in his house to oe more attractive than his wife. The story revolves around the officer's love for the young nurse in his house, the nurse with whom he had idly flirted before his marriage. However, Maria is betrothed to a soldier in llinsky’s regiment, and when the solI dier hears of the relations between his sweetheart and the officer he makes a violent attack on Ilinsky s life. The authorities attempt to hush up the affair, and strive to brand Maria’s soldier as a revolutionist, ilinsky signs a false statement to be used as evidence at the trial of the soldier, thereby incurring the enmity of Maria. The final scenes at the trial are dramatic and give line scope for the ability of both leading players. Included in the film are some fine scenes ot dancing among both peasants and society folk, as well as harmonious folk-songs sung in their native tongue.