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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 10, August 18th, 1948

Teheran

Teheran

J. Arthur Rank Presents—One Dramatic Play, One Obscure Plot, and One Classical Ending. The result—One Mess.

But, ladies and gentlemen, let me say this, that the most dramatic scene was the singing of the "Vulgar Boatmen," by a chorus of distinguished Britons! The traditional smashing of glasses was executed with the precision of a Russian steam-roller and the broken fragments represent the plot, hence the mess.

The plot revolves around man's inherent weakness for the opposite sex, and the almost impossible scrapes he manages to get into (and out of) are a tribute to ingenuity. Yes, the ingenuity of Derek Farr in his character sketch. His acting, is very good and must not be sacrificed for a comical plot. Marta Labarr also gave a credible performance.

By the way, the plot begins in Rome, in the mighty Opera House. A BBC War Correspondent wanders into that empty house, hoping to provoke memories of a long-lost love whom he took a liking to in pre-war days. Then the fun begins; we are taken back to see what has gone before.

The history is divided into two separate parts (the meeting, in Rome, the second meeting in Teheran). The Teheran episode is dreadfully complicated, it ends with an attempted murder of President Roosevelt and the last-minute save by members of the Russian (all apologies—Soviet) guard, a very dramatic ending—but it hasn't finished yet

The finale is so obvious that it simply leaves you cold. (That large empty space—Brrr—Brr.) Suddenly stalking across the emptiness of the hall is seen a woman. She doesn't say, "I've been here before," but follows the action of Mrs. Ormond and Oliver Farewell (there I go again, always get excited at such soul-stirring scenes) Brr—Brrr, it is cold.

As a parting shot. Have you ever tried to go through a locked door? Believe me, it's easy done the Rank way.