"SEVENTH HEAVEN."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19171, 30 November 1927, Page 6

"SEVENTH HEAVEN."

"CHICO—DIANE—HEAVEN." A list of the great personages who have written voluntary appreciations of "Seventh Heaven" reads like "Who's 'Who." iford Beaverbrook says: "This picture is the most charming I have seen"; Sir John Martin Harvey, inter alia, says it is the most beautiful film he has ever seen, while with cheerful and characteristic loquacity Mr Seymour Hicks writes two glowing pages of praise and enthusiasm. Lilian Braithwaite, Madge Titheridge, Ellaline Terris, and Owen Narcs are some of the other great stage artists who have eulogised this exquisite story of Paris slums, Paris misery, and Paris joy. The Fox production of Austin Strong's delicate and enchanting play has been secured for, a brief Beason at the Grand Theatre, where it will open next Monday. The play has a certain personal appeal to all New Zealanders, for Austin Strong received part of his education at Victoria College, Wellington. The drama is set in the Paris slums, and that immense seat of war when the hordes of grey-coated warriors from over "the Rhine were within 30 miles of the conquered of 1870, locales that do not spell delicacy and fancy. But "Seventh Heaven" is the story that can causo the flowers of beauty and romance to bloom in any soil. Never, in the history of modern photography, has anything been seen like the ceaseless line of taxi-cabs hurrying their cargoes to stem tho oncoming tide, General Gallieni's impromptu army; one remembers that gallant and fantastic incident of the Great War as something grimly humorous; in this picture it receives flattering attention, and is one of the many amazing highlights of a film that is replete with highlights. The story is, of course, centred in Chico, the sewer-rat; Chico, who, in his own words, "was a very remarkable fellow," and, although an atheist, prayed the good God to grant him three things: to be elevated to street cleaner, to ride in a taxi-cab, and to have a wife with golden hair. And then there is Diane, unhappy, thin, terrified, halfgrazed by Nana, her wicked sister; Diane, whom Ohico 60 reluctantly rescues from Nana and takes to his garret up near tho stars. And it is only when Chico has taught Diane the meaning of "courage," and it is only when Chico is rudely torn away to fight for France, and is nearly afraid, that they find their Seventh Heaven. And what follows iB as nearly tragedy as this innocont and picturesque romance possesses; very nearly tragedy for Diane and her Chico. But then > he is a very remarkable fellow, and it would be grossly unfair to reveal how they regain their seventh heaven, in tho garret up near the stars. Janet Gsynor as Diano iB a pocket Duse in her gentler moodß. A few months ago she was playing iu average pictures with average talent; in one production she has leapt to the side of Norma Talraadge. Charles Farrell as Chico, the sower-rat, plays his part with magnificent airiness that places him, with his .partner in triumph, in tho front line. Then there are Albert Gran, as Papa Boul, the dirty and lovable old taxidriver. David Butler as Gobin, the quiet and dignified and ugly street cleaner, who could not recognise the sewer-rat as a neigh bour until his promotion to a like profession; his little .wife, restfully played by Marie Mosquini, and the Pere Chivillon of Kmil Chautard, who might have stepped out of some grey old monastery. Finally the Nana of Gladys Brockwell, a thankless and disagreeable role, but Miss Brockwell is the greater actress for her unselfish presentation of a character that has not one single redeeming feature. "Seventh Heaven" is tho most artistic work of the screen.