AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1926, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYEODYS PICTURES. “THE TAINTED LADY” WEDNESDAY. “The Painted Lady.” the William I’ox Special Production featuring George O’Brien and Dorothy MacKaill. which is booked to open at the Princess Theatre, on Wednesday is more than an adaptation from the daringly realistic Saturday Evening Post story of Larry Evans. It’s life itself. Its South Sea love, tierce hate, romance, painted passion and vengeance, “shot” from the scenario by Thomas Dixon Jr., under the brilliant direction of Chester Bennett. Luther Smith, played by George O’Brien, lie of the million dollar smile, loses the smile on returning from a voyage, finding his mother dying of grief, his little sister Alice dead after being ruined by a brutal captain, the Sea Wolf. Vowing vengeance. Luther ships for the South Seas as first mate with “Captain Sutton” of Lho schooner “Vulture” not knowing he i.s the Sea Wolf. After a fight with the Captain about the very Bible given him by his poor littlc sister Alice, Luther quits the

“Vulture” at the first South Sea. Island. Here, in a. languorous South Sea cabaret, ho sees “The Painted tin!}’” and .she him. Tt’s love at- first sight, the girl of his dreams moots the man of hers. Under the Southern Cross, embraced by amorous breezes, he declares his great love. “The Painted Lady” has not- quite lost her soul. Honesty compels her to tell him her unvarnished painted past. Innocently sentenced to jail, unable to keep honest employment as an ex-con-vict, hounded by hunger into paying the price of virtue for a meal, she was driven by the World to Imcome “The Painted Lady.” As such, she is cruising the South Seas with Roger J-ewis, millionaire clubman, on his yacht, Louise. The finish, climax on climax, is terrific. Few plays have such a punch following punch, till the tense, heart-throbbing nerve-tingling surprise scene. Luther, entering an c/pium don of derelicts spies his “pai"

ed lady” cowering on an auction block in the Sen. Wolf’s fangs ! TTe sees red, with blood-shot eyes. An inhuman l?ght follows: wild atnim.nl against beast of prey. The big story necessitates an exceptionally big, strong supporting cast. including Harry T. Ho rev, Lucille Hutton, Lucille Rieksen, Margaret MeWndc, John Miljan. Frank Eliott and Luoien Littlefield. Coining Thursday—-A Master Production. “Three Women.”