The Charge of the Light Brigade (Warner Bros.) (1936)

“TH CHARGE of thel Yo: oe a IGHT BRIGADE" ro f = (Lead Off Story) ‘Charge Of Light Brigade’ Booked For The Strand The thundering hoofs that dashed across the pages of history to be immortalized by the unforgettable poem of Alfred, Lord Tennyson—sound again through Warner Bros.’ stupendous screen version of ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ which comes to the .... ae pete pee Theatre on ............, with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland in the featured roles. Tennyson’s verse deals only with the famous charge of the Light Brigade against the Russian artillery on the heights of Balaelava during the Crimean war—an action which forms only the terrifie climax of the film story that is replete with thrills from start to finish, and presents a glamorous romance in which two brothers are rivals for the love of a beautiful girl. The picture, heralded as one of the biggest productions ever filmed by Warner Bros., has an all-star cast of 20 noted actors in the important roles, and over fifteen thousand extra people. Scenes are said to be spectacular in the extreme, with border skirmishes, hand-to-hand fighting, and _ the soul-stirring charge of the Light Brigade. Scenes depict colorful interiors of the palace of Surat Khan, Amir of Suristan, with his Nautch dancing girls and slaves-— as well as mammoth exteriors of British walled towns. Errol Flynn has the role of a young English Army officer stationed in India, who is betrothed to the daughter of his superior officer. During his absence, fighting on the frontier, however, his younger brother steals the love of his sweetheart and finally appraises him of the fact. It is not until the eve of his departure to the Crimean War that his fiancee—a role played by Olivia de Havilland — tells him of her love for his brother—and her fear that the latter will be killed. His life wrecked, the young officer promises that his brother shall not be submitted to danger, and leaves for the Crimea, with only the thought of vengeance against Surat Khan—who has been responsible for the massacre of British men, women and children. Others in the distinguished cast are Patrice Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, David Niven, C. Henry Gordon, G. P. Huntley, Jr., Robert Barrat, Spring Byington, E. E. Clive, J. Carroll Naish, Lumsden Hare, Walter Holbrook, Princess Baigum, Charles Sedgwick, Scotty Beckett, George Regas, Colin Kenny, Gordon Hart and Helen Sanborn. Michael Curtiz directed. Teamed Again Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havil land, the lovers of ‘‘Captain Blood,’’ are again co-starred in ‘“‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ the Warner Bros. picture now playing at the .......... Theatre. Mat No. 102—10e Errol Flynn, fighting star of ‘‘Captain Blood,’’ leads the famous ever filmed in ‘‘The Charge of the Ligh cio Seeeiesies TRCGUC ON Fee sae greatest ever produced, has a big cast of nam Mat No. 302—30c ““600’’ in the greatest cavalry charge t Brigade,’’ the new Warner Bros. picture which opens at TREE ea; Olivia de Havilland is co-starred. The picture, said to be one of the e players as well as 15,000 extras who participate in the spectacles. ‘Charge Of Light Brigade’ Vast And Impressive Film Strand First Night Audience Is Stirred By Power And Romance Of The Story ‘“‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ the Warner Bros. picture co-starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, was shown on the screen of the ae ee Theatre for the first time locally yesterday to a large audience which was stirred to enthusiastic applause by the tremendous drama and humanity of the picture — the sincerity of the acting — and the picturesque beauty of the settings. The soul-stirring spirit of Lord Tennyson’s immortal poem “Charge of the Light Brigade” carries through the picture to the terrific climax — although the tragic love story of the two English brothers who love the same Scottish girl, makes up the real substance of the story. It is at an Army post in India that the idyll of Captain Geoffrey Vickers and Elsa Campbell begins and ends. The ill-fated lovers are unforgettably portrayed by Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The happiness of the two is wrecked by the fact that Elsa falls hopelessly in love with Captain Perry Vickers, younger brother of Geoffrey, while the latter is away fighting insurgent tribesmen on the border. It is in India also that many of the most thrilling episodes take place, including border skirmishes and the massacre, by the treacherous Amir of Suristan, of the entire garrison at Chukoti, ineluding officers, men, women and children. From thence the exciting action moves to the battle front in the Crimea to which the British troops have been transferred. It is there that Geoffrey, after Elsa’s confession that her love is for his brother, saves the latter’s life by sending him back to headquarters with a message to the Commandant. Errol Flynn gives a magnificent performance both as the lover and the fighting warrior who deliberately changes his superior’s order of attack, himself leading the Light Brigade into the ‘mouth of hell’! Olivia de Havilland is extremely moving as the girl who is torn between the loves of the two brothers. The character is drawn with a sympathy and understanding rare in so young an actress. Patric Knowles who was brought from England to play the role of Geoffrey’s brother portrays the part with fine artistry and oddly enough, greatly resembles Errol Flynn. All the members of the large east are admirably suited to their parts, but special mention is deserved by Henry Stephenson, field Marshal in the Crimea; Nigel Bruce, Commander of the Light Brigade; Donald Crisp as the father of the heroine and one of those slain at Chukoti; David Niven and G. P. Huntley, Jr., as Army officers; C. Huntley Gordon as Surat Khan, Amir of Suristan; and Spring Byington as the wife of a British Army officer. Michael Curtiz — trained the ‘noble six hundred’ in the charge into the ‘jaws of death,’ to sabre the gunners on the History’s Most Famous Cavalry Charge Filmed The most famous cavalry charge in history is reenacted in Warner Bros.’ ‘‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’’—starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland — which COMCS.“1O NO =... cs ccccercatreeyesees hace we AU st Ri a sie 0)! | Set coe pee. ore co 4 Director Michael Curtiz took three weeks to make the sequences. Elaborate preparations were made for the filming of the charge, immortalized by Lord Tennyson in his poem. Twenty expert powder men worked for a week mining the valley with charges of dynamite. Art Director John Hughes constructed sets, representing Russian gun emplacements, at the head of the valley and on either side. The horsemen were trained in cavalry manoeuvres by Capt. E. Rochfort Johns, former British cavalry officer. Ten assistant directors aided Director Curtiz in handling the difficult scene. Six cameras photographed it from different positions. heights of Balaclava. But his thirst for vengeance against Surat Khan, instigator of the Chukoti massacre is not sated until he impales him on his lance — adept in handling vast crowds — there are over fifteen thousand extra people in “Charge of the Light Brigade’ — has done an exceptionally fine job of direction, holding the suspense to the last moment of the <yclonic charge of the Light Brigade. The sereen play is by Michel Jacoby and Rowland Leigh, based on the original story by Michel Jacoby. In the opinion of this reviewer, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is one of the few pictures which must not be missed. It will probably mark the beginning of a new era in scenic production. Opening Day Story) ‘Charge Of Light Brigade’ Opening At Strand Today ‘<The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’?’ Warner Bros.’ stupendous production suggested by the inmmortal poem of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, comes to the .................cee Theatre today with an all-star cast headed by Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland —and over fifteen thousand extra people. The absorbing story of which the charge of the Light Brigade makes the sensational climax beging in India, where two brothers, both army officers, are rivals for the hand of a beautiful Scottish girl, The girl is betrothed to the elder, but during his absence, fighting on the frontier, she falls in love with the younger. She struggles against this love, believing herself obligated to her fiancee, but when she finds that both of her lovers have been ordered to the front against the Russians in the Crimea, she confesses her love for his brother to her betrothed, at the same time expressing her fear that the man she loves will be killed in battle. The elder brother and superior officer promises he will keep the younger from danger, and carries out this pledge when he sends his brother back to headquarters with a note to the Commandant telling him that he has deliberately changed an order for retreat into an attack, he himself riding to his death on the battle field. This is the terrific climax to the picture, but the preliminary setting in India is filled with thrilling action including border skirmishes, hand to hand fighting, the massacre of officers, men, women and children under a flag of truce at Chukoti and scores of other breath-taking events. _ The picture is said to have been produced on a mammoth scale with colorful interior settings, including the magnificent palace of the Amir of Suristan with his retinue of Nautch dancing girls, slaves and members of his court. Besides Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, the distinguished cast includes Patric Knowles, Hen ry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, David Niven, C. Henry Gordon, G. P. Huntley, Jr., Robert Barrat, Spring ‘Byington, E. Kk. Clive, J. Carroll Naish, Lumsden Hare, Walter Holbrook, Princess Baigum, Charles Sedgwick, Scotty Beckett, George Regas, Colin Kenny, Gordon Hart and Helen Sanborn. Michael Curtiz directed the picture from the screen play by Michel Jacoby and Rowland Leigh. Leads the Charge Errol Flynn has the most heroic role of his career as the leader of cavalry in ‘*‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’’ the Warner Bros. picture coming €0 tHe ..............000 TREGUE ON: avons Mat No. 116—10e Page Thirty-nine