AMUSEMENTS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 285, 6 January 1930, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

IHE HASTINGS PICTUR1'>. TALKIES AT THE GUSY. An intenscly grippmg , dramalic uiarstcrjHcec, so umistial in theme as i to be almost startiing. is the giant Fox 1 ah-talking speeial "The Valmnt." A 1UU per cent talkie attraction, the production provides wonclerlnl entertaiumcnt. Certainly it will cause a storm of diseus.sion wlierever it is showu not only for its unusual theme, but also on accoiint of its intense dramatic appeal. As tlie man of inysterv, condemned to death for a murtler to wliicli lie confessed, clinging to an assumed lianie and rctusing to disclose his real identity even in the very shadow of the drendcd cloctrie chair. Paul Muni gave a trul.v magnilieent characterisation. His perfect cnuiiciation enables evcrv word to be heaid with clarity in evcrv jiart of the theatre and his masterly personification of a man facing death to wliicli he had been eonsigned by twelve of his fellow countrymen and toru hetwecii his own natural yearning and his great love for the invalid motlier wliom lie had not seen for years, made it apparent flint he is oue of the coniing stars of the talkie firinanient. "The Valiant" is an unusual picture in evcrv wav. marking, perhaps, tlie dawn of a new epoeh in the art oi the cinenin.