‘THE BIG CITY’

Evening Star, Issue 20054, 20 December 1928, Page 11

‘THE BIG CITY’

A MYSTERY ROMANCE Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s sensational mystery romance of New York’s underworld, entitled ‘The Big City,’ features that well-known mystery star Lon Chaney, and will have its initial screening at the Octagon Theatre tomorrow evening. In this picture Lon Chaney has the role of a famous detective. And no character could demand more of an actor’s histrionic talents. He has to be the very embodiment of his law'—and still be as human as anyone else. No less than a Lon Chancy could play this complex role, and of it Chaney has made a veritable masterpiece of motion picture acting, ‘ The Big City ’ is a delicate romance told in a setting of night clubs and bright lights, hold-ups and police, and gangster battles woven into an amazing blend of thrills, surprises, and romance. Marceline Day, in the role of a little shopgirl, innocently caught in the underworld, is appealingly sweet, while James Murray, as the young gangster, who attains regeneration through the influence of her love and the detective, plays a difficult role with a well-bal-anced sense of artistry _ Betty Compson as the hard-boiled girl of the underworld, has one of the best acting roles in which she has appeared. In a way, it suggests her role in ‘ The Miracle Man,’ in which she and Chaney won fame together some years ago. A special supporting programme will also be featured.