AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1925, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES. “■MAI N HTI! EET”—TO-NIGIIT. M lii'ii Uh> announcement Has made Mail .Sinclair Lewis' widely discussed ""'■‘•l would lie tran.sposed to the films, a good deal of curiosity was expressed a.-, to just what treatment of the book

would have to he made in older to bring about a. suitable and at the same time an cute:taming motion picture. Harry [ienument, who directed •‘.Main Street’', the .Sinclair Lewis novel, explains the problems both lie and .iulieii .Josefdison, who wrote the scenario, laced in the making of this Waruei Brothers’ classic of the .screen. ‘‘When we lir.-.t stalled to go over the first 'ciipt ol ‘.Main Street,’ the director

and i spent some time di.s.ussing exactly what attitude the motion picture should take,” says Mr Beaumont, ■‘whether it should be the cynical, ridiculing attitude which it is generally conceded the book takes or whether it should he more of a humorous view. We decided that we would lighten tho spirit of the hook .somewhat because the screen is a much more obvious and less .subtle, medium than the printed pafte. Instances in the hook which were softened by pastes of description would naturally lie far too harsh for the screen, a,ml put the characters in an entirely different light than that intended by the author. We looked at the small town and these people in the book in more or less the attitude of a disinterested onlooker. We took them in a slightly humorous vein while still maintaining the atmosphere and story and not losing any of the dramatic possibilities. In other words, we did ‘play (sides’ but were fair to both and while not overlooking their sins and foibles we softened them and sympathised with them rather than hold them up to ridicule. The title “Main Street" is not simply a collection of buildings, telegraph poles and board side walks, ft is a state of mind—a self-satisfied matter-of-fact existence that resents any interference with its moss-grown traditions.’’ Florence Vidor and Monte Blue are cn-fealitred in “Main Street” which will play at the Princess Theatre to-night as the feature attraction. In the supporting cast are Harry Myers, Louise Fazenda, Robert (Jordon, Noah Beery, .Josephine Crowell. Gordon Griffiths, Otis Harlan and Alan Hale. Tito famous “Leather pushers’’ and a two reel comedy completes n capital display. Selections by Miss Williams’ Orchestra and usual prices.