MAORILAND PICTURES.

Otaki Mail, 9 January 1920, Page 3

MAORILAND PICTURES.

——4“STRING BEANS.” “String Beans” will be to-morrow’s star. The synopsis is as follows: — Toby Watkins is the nil-round drudge on his uncle’s farm, completely under the sway of his domineering relative. He finds time occasionally to write poems .for the village newspaper, and when his uncle hears of this, he protests. A fight, follows, in which Toby beats his uncle and ho is ordered to leave the place for ever. He does so. After a long tramp across country Toby reaches Sawbert, where Zachary Gartram conducts the Sawbert “Weekly Clarion. ’ ’ Toby applies for a job, and he eagerly accepts Bartram’s offer to work as subscription “hustler” for six dollars a week. He starts out immediately, and on his way back to the office meets .Jean Morris, daughter of Lott Morris, the Mayor. Morris and Bartram, unknown to Toby, are political enemies, Toby is attracted at once to jean, but Jean is inclined to ridicule : the uncouth youth. After many interestin"’ experiences, Beeves induces Morris to agree to pay him live thousand dollars for a controlling Interest in a cannery. Joe Farley, a tramp printer em- j ployed in the “Clarion” office, meets aud recognises Reeves as a former cellmate, and lie threatens to expose him

unless lie “splits” the cannery proceeds with him. Toby overhears enough of the conversation to convince him that Keeves is indeed a crook, and he directs Farley to use the picture and ' account of Beeves in the next issue of the Clarion. More exciting incidents follow. Suspecting that something is wrong, Toby starts on the run tor the Morris home, and arrives thcro just as Jean, who has been awakened by the struggle in the library, runs to her father's aid. Toby hears her scream, and battering down the glass door, he grapples with Keeves, and a furious 'struggle for the possession of the "crook's revolver ensues. The man is overcome just as Bartram, with an old sword, reaches the scene. A reconciliation with Morris follows, and Toby is received into Jean’s favour in a way that bodes much happiness for him — and her —in the future. On Tuesday next Clara Kimball 3"oung will be seen in ‘ ‘ The 'Reason Why,” a very tine story. .“THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE.”

The story of “The Sentimental Bloke” and his Doreen thrilled Australia when Mr Dennis wrote and published it, and very soon the thrill went, fn-r afield. The. boo'k was a tremendous success in Great Britain, and respectable American x'ublisliers made haste to steal il. Australian sales went speeding up into tens of thousands, and tlio steady Australian sale continues. The book had a great vogue in New Zealand from the start. So that the film version of the story is at least assured of its welcome. The players and the producers have done the thing exceptionally well. Hero we have the real Bloke and the. very Doreen —local colour, atmosphere, properties, incidentals all are perfect. The effect is delightfully original and refreshing, getting right away from the rather hard and artificial American convention. Tho story is in the fullest and best sense wholesome. Here is no sinister stressing of the sc.x motive. Hi re are no people of dubious character doing dubious things. llcto arc no problems festering in a general tone of nastiness. It is a vivid, heart searching, normal, charming story of simple love, the love that overcomes difficulties and triumphs over j death. Nothing namby-pamby about , the story, nothing forced or untrue to life, nothing merely improving or gen- ■ tecl. And the story has a special ap-M peal io us because it, was very dear toH the hearts of those brave Anzacs whoH fought side by side with our own sons® through the strain and terror of the* Great War. “The Sentimental Bloke’’® .will be shown shortly at the Theatre.