—Conrad Veidt Helen Vinson Captain Torres Thoroughly intriguing a large and enthusiastic audience, last night's premiere of "King of the Damned" at ihe Grand Theatre proved to be a powerful drama vividly portraying conditions in the foul, swamp-ridden, fever-laden penal settlement of Santa Maria, a fictional island in the Caribbean Sea. The convicts, smouldering under the harsh, hellish treatment meted out to them by their brutal guarüs to satisfy the greed of the Commandant, are depicted in revolt. The b"ékground is very realistically photographed, aptly showing the horrors under which the condemned men are compelled to pass their days toijing.and sweating in an atmosphere of oppressive, filthy undergrowth. The revolt is finally suppressed in a manner that brings to memory all the horrors that Shanghai has suffered during the past few. months. Conrad' Veidt, as the leader of the revolt, gives a dynamic performance as Convict "83," who is first seen as a trusty and then as a member of the road-gang. He lives his part exactly and despite the many fine exhibitions of acting. that he has given in the past, there is little doubt that he has never been seen to better advantage than in the present vehicle. Miss Helen Vinson, who, incidentally, in private life is the wife of Fred Perry, the famous tennis player, has an unusual role to enact—that of being the only woman on an island that contains thousands of men. She does not have a lot todo. in this picture, but what she does, she does convincingly and in a manner that is more than pleasing. She is not seen enough on the screen, but perhaps her consummate ability will be given further opportunities in. the future. Noah Beery makes a welcome reappearance after a long absence, and as thes rough, trouble-seeking. but good-hearted prisoner, who is one of Mr. Veidt's principal aides in the revolt, gives an excellent performance.
A, good comedy and a fine newsreel in which Lew (Screw-Loose) Lehr indulges in more of his tongue-twisting funniosities both help to make a programme that should be well received by local theatre patrons.—r.A.r.
(Continued from page 9) sultation with other naval. Powers with which "it has signed treaty relations io resume full liberty of action, 1t, however, the Japanese Govern: ment. though engaged in the construction or intending to engage in construction not in conformity with treaty limits were, willing to indicate forthwith the tonnages. and calibres of guns of vessels which it constructs or is intending. to construct the American. Government' for its part would be ready to discuss with the Japanese Government te question of tonnages and gun calibres to be adhered to in the future- if Japan were now prepared to agree to'some limitation. It would, however,; be necessary that such consultation should be completed by May 1—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.