Evening star., 1938-12-03

some fiery licks for the glory of
Mr.. Korda. Valerie Hobson, Des-
mond Tester, David Tree and Fran
els L. Sullivan are several of the
others who participate vitality in the
spectacle Of proving that maintain
ing an empire is an exciting, dam
gerous pAstime.
The excitement in this particular
instance derives from the circum-
stance that the brother of a peace
loving khan abominates the Brit
ish. Also he abominates his brother
Tor wanting to live in peace with
them. Things begin to move when
the khan is killed and his heir-ap-
parent (SabW Is marked for death,
only to escape.
Drums" has been dressed up
with some highly dramatic incident,
most Of 1t designed to show that
the English have had to be very
stout fellows in their dealings with
some OF the fapstical tribesmen who
have been absorbed into the en-
pire.
1t is all carefully built up to q
climax which is thrilling enough to
compensate for its hardness in ar
irving. The sequence involves a
huge banquet to which the fanati-
cal acting khan invites his English
neighbors. Outwardly, nothing
could be sweeter in the way of har-
monious gestures, but the host has
had the foresight to surround the
banquet table with nicely concealed
machine guns. His idea, of course.
Is to wipe out the whole English
colony at one sitting-a whale of a
good idea from the standpoint Of
creating audience suspense as we'll
as one giving novel note to dinner
parties.
Mr.. Korda has seized this arrange
ment to give neat revelation of
British practice in dealing with
maniacal potentates. The British
garrison captain, played with cour-
age and charm why does that
sound like an odd combinatio
by Mr.. Livesey, has some very sound
lntultlons about the real nature of
the festival. He knows how thor
oughly the cards are stacked against
him, but it is not in the code of the
colonizer to show any fear.
The situation Is handled for the
last gram of drama inherent in it
and so are numerous lesser ones, one
OF them polo game which involves
not only some of the fiercest action
possible, but which makes clear that
hatred and politics can be practiced
on horseback.
AS the heir-apparent in constant
flight from his enemy uncle, Sabu
gives a performance that qualities
him easily to play with such a cast.
The most compelling characteriza-
ton, of course, is that of Mr.. Massey
as the tribal wildman, a passionate
patriot who can be as suave as he
can be savage. Mr.. Livesey does a
capable job of the garrison leader
and the others are similarly good
in their varied chores.
And don't forget that the techni-
color Is marvellous and that the scene
really is India.
There is pleasant variety in the
stage show which has been con-
cocted as a companion piece for the
Capitofs picture. Headliner of the
vaudeville bill is Jay c. Flippen,
whose commodity still is wit. but
who sings Small Fry" as a happy
sideline. Right behind Mr.. Flippen
you will find the ventriloquil act of
Vox and Walters, who are most i'm
pressive when their baby dummy
cries so realistically that every one
in the house is moved. Deane Janis
provides the vocal sweetness of the
bill, Paul Gordon its acrobatics, and
the 16 Rhythm Rockets its grace
and color.