LYRIC PICTURES.

Otaki Mail, 9 February 1923, Page 3

LYRIC PICTURES.

[ TO-NIGHT, "ORPHANS OF THE STORM." I "A masterpiece, a classic, and the ; must spectacular production that has I ever been screened in New Zealand." j That was the general opinion expressed ! by the large audience that witnessed the screening of "Orphans of the Storm," D. W. Griffith's latest and greatest picture. The name of D. W. Griffith stands out .among motion picture producers as does that of Shakespeare among poets, and. in "Orphans of the Storm," he has made a picture as oue of the greatest achievements of all time. The glory of old Versailles is here with the immaculate manners, dressings, and customs of the old French Courts, all portrayed by Griffith with the hand of a master creator. Then there are shown tlie seething mobs of those bloody days, waging a war of horror against the aristocrats in the hope of freedom —the guillotine is seen at its deadly work —and perhaps the most excruciating scene of all takes place when a beautiful girl is seen being taken to her death, spat at and mocked by the foul crowd on the dusty road to that awful structure —the guillotine. The "Terror Trail" serial

commences to-nigliT at 7.30 p.m. "Orphans of the Storm" at 7..jM. TO-MORROW (SATURDAY-). AT 2.30 AND S P.M. "SQUIBS." There is no criticisms to offer about "Squibs." winch screens at. the Lyric to-morrow (Saturday) at 2.30 and 8 p.m. It is just a case of perfection, ft is a British-made story of a London Flower-girl, and by one of the miracles of production has just come right. It is sadly true that it is not often that English producers make a real movie. but when they do, a* they have done in "Squibs," then they beat the world's best and do it easily. Here is a whole collection of London type-, chockful of odd sayings, quaint habits and wonderful ideas. The language, the meals, the "walking out," the folk? in the street, the house interiors are all real honest-to-goodness London, and the Cockney sly humor is simply "It.'-' Betty Balfour will laugh her way straight into the hearts of the whole audience, and Fred Grove? and Hugh Wright are the men characters who will be longest remembered. A splendid supporting programme include? the- N.Z. Government

film, "The Enemy Within," which deals with the rat menace and shows unique methods of extermination. Lloyd Hamilton in a clover Mermaid comedy. "Rolling Stones," and the Pathe Gazette complete the programme. MONDAY NIGHT. "THE STORM." For poetry in Nature, go to the Northwoods. That is where Langdon McCormick went for material to write the stage sensation of the New York season. "The Storm." which will appear as a screen drama at the Lyric Pictures on Monday. The picture is a Universal-Jewel starring House Peters and directed by Reginald Barker, the producer of "The Old Nest." Its story is that of a woodsman too simple hearted to be suspicious and too square to have anyone suspicious of him. Virginia Valli, Matt Moore and Peters present what is said to be the queerest triangular situation yet born to drama.