AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1927, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS’ PICTURES ft AST LYNNE TO-NIOIIT. When tii'e critics of llie country pick the best ten pictures of 1925-6, it's n wife wager that most of them will rank “ East Lynne,” the 'William Fox production of the famous old stage play, which wii'l he shown to-night at the Princess Theatre, high up in the list. It is not going too far to say that this picturiz.ation of one of the best known dramas of the last half-centur.v is among the best pictures in the history of the motion picture industry.

“ East Lynne,” as Emmett Flynn translated it to the screen, has everything that the most captious film patron could demand—heart interest, romance, pathos, comedy, beautiful scenery, handsome costumes, and, as a crowning achievement, superb acting and directing. Edmund Lowe and Alma Rubens, heading the all-star east of this Eox production, have never shown to bettor advantage than In their roles as Archibald Carlyle and Lail.v fsabel. .Miss Rubens adroitly captures the immediate sympathy of the audience and holds it throughout the development of the story to the very end. The tragic cVimax of the original play is retained in the screen version—another point to the credit of the adapters of the story!—and ATiss Rubens is most effective in the closing scenes. Air I,owe, always a sterling actor, rose to supreme heights of dramatic acting, especially in the climacteric episodes with Afiss Rubens. The role of Sir Archibald is particularly suited to his style and lie gave a most convincing performance throughout. Another member of the cast who wins unstinted approval for his work is Lou Teliogen, for years loading man on the stage for Sarah Bernhardt. Air Tellegen, as Sir Francis Levison, Vent naturalness and poise to a diflicutl role. His work in the final episodes of his career as the “ villain ” of the story was one of the outstanding features of the picture. Belle Bennett as Afy TTallijohn, sweetheart of Sir Francis, was an excellent foil for Mr Tellegen, especially in their love scenes. Dainty Alarjorie Daw as Barbara Hare was her usual winsome and sincere seif; her role gains in importance toward the end of the picture and she lived up fully to all tiie oxaetivo requirements of the part. Frank Keonan as Chief Justice Hare, stern advocate of honor, also is worthy of high praise for his excellent interpretation. His scenes with his son, Richard, as played most capably by Leslie Fenton, arc high spots in the dramatic development of the story. Others of this remarkable all-star cast who arc deserving of mention are Lydia Knott. ALirthn Mattox, Harry Seymour, and. of course, those wonderful “screen children,” Virginia. Alarslmil and Richard Headrick. A topical and comedy will also he shown to-night.