"BLACK WATCH," MAJESTIC. TO-NIGHT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 284, 4 January 1930, Page 2

"BLACK WATCH," MAJESTIC. TO-NIGHT.

"The Black Watcli" season at the pcpular Majestic Theatre continues to dvaw packed houses and the picture certainlv warrants it. "The Black Watch" should he seen and heard by everv man, wonian and child in the Empire, hut particularly by the children. "It leaves one with mingled feelings, hut with a predominant pride in tlie fact that one is British and a member of the mighty Empire around whicb the plot of the story is built," he said. Not one member of the audience was found but had a full meed of praise for the picture as oue of the greatest epic masterpieees that has ever been seen, either on talking sereen or legitimate stage. It had a partieular appeal to those of Scottish extraction. There was heart-stirring appeal in the scenes dr.picting the leaving of the troop tjains from Victoria station with their loads of eheerful Highlanders, bound for the mud and blood of Flanders and in the scene which showed tlie gollant piper swinging along the trench parapet, with his pipes skirling. to hearten his coinrades, waiting in the trench below for the order to go over the top. There was another type of impression in tlie scenes aiiu ngst the hills of the north west frontier, with the hostile tribcsman lurking at every hand, waiting for a chance to kill. Then there was the unforgettahle scene in the officers' itloss of the 42nd. Highlanders with the pipers playing in every course and there were few dry eyes amongst the audieiK.e after the singing of "Annie I-aurie" and others of the okl favou rites hy one of Scotland's finest vuorhsts. It is morally eertain that no p;cture in the brief history of tlie talkies has approached witliin miles of "The Black Watch" for the vivid tminn of the art of photography with that of sound. The indefinahle charm of India was carried to a remarkable degree th.t'"Ughout this epic, which coritained n:any scenes which seemed nlmost to iive and breathe. As the story uufc.lded oue forgot tlie fact that oue was sitting in a theatre, gazing at a screen, and w-as transported to the land of Ivipling, with its bedlaui of noise, the rhythmic "beat of drums and the multitudinous sounds that eeho in the streets of the frontier towns. Softly, as if far off amongst the hills, tlie music of the pipes ran through the story as a silver. thread. "The Black Watch" was a feast for the eyes and ears and last night's audience literally gasped at its sheer beauty. McLaglen was ruperb as the officer concerned. Captain Donald King, of the Black Watch, the man who threw up all that was dear to him in order to best serve his countrv's interests. His bearing throughout was heroic, without ever partaking of heroics. Tn Myrna Loy, tho bewitching, seductive and enigmatic figure of a super-woman, McLaglen found an admirable foil for his art. The picture's many great qualities were excellently hlended. It was a tale of love and adventure, of intrigue and passion. From one situation to another the story moved, tlie duel constantly mounting in intensitv to a hreath-taking! climax. It was all magnificent entertainment. stirring the emotions to an incalculahle degree and certainly no fiiter talking picture has yet "been screened in Napier,