MAORILAND THEATRE.

Shannon News, 1 March 1927, Page 3

MAORILAND THEATRE.

"THE MIDNIGHT SUN." BRILLIANT MILITARY DRAMA. All the grim features of the Russia of the Tsars are strikingly portrayed in "The Midnight Sun," a brilliant Uni-versal-Jewel military drama, which will be screened at the Maoriland Theatr3 on Thursday and Friday. The action takes place in 1913, a year before the outbreak of the Great War that swept the Romanoffs from the thrcne. By her beauty and charm, and through the influence of the country's most powerful banker, a young dancing girl rises from the chorus to the position of premiere ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet. Sought after by the great of the land, she finds her two most persistent suitors in the banker and a Russian Grand Duke. The girl plays one against the other, but gives "her affections to a young officer in the Duke's personal guard. Then follows a dramatic story of intrigue and romance, fringed with all the luxurious elegance of life in the Russian capital of that period. The girl is found in a seemingly compromising situation by her lover, and the hotheaded young soldier insults the Grand Duke, and is promptly condemned to, death. 1

'The picture has many lavish scenes. The "Ballet of Jewels" is one of the most imposing dance spectacles ever filmed. It is said to be an exact reproduction of the famous Opera House at St. Petersburg, and more than a thou 3: and characters figure in it. A warship'g pursuit of the banker's yacht is a thrilling piece of marine photography. Grimness stands out from the scenes, showing the court martial and the hour o execution, while luxury speaks" fron. the settings of the Grand Duke 's apart ments. The furnishings are gorgeous, amongst them being a large gold iiivin once used by the great Napoleon. It is stated that antiques and rugs valued' at £20,000 are on view in the set showing the interior of the Russian banker's palace. The thrilling drama is splendidly acted. Laura la Plante steps out of her customary comedienne roles to show that she is equally good in drama. As the dancing girl who trades on her beauty for position, Miss La Plante scores a distinct triumph. Pat O'Malley surpasses himself in his masterful impersonation of the Grand Duke Sergius. He portrays all the artistocratij bearing and hauteur of the nobility of Russia in 1913, and is resplendent in the colourful uniforms of the period. Raymond Keane, as the officer whe wins the dancing girl, is a handsome young man with soulful eyes, while George Siegmann does masterly acting as Kus min, the all-powerful banker. The luxurious night life of vhe gayest capita" in Europe before the war, the splendour surrounding the Russian nobles, an-.i the tale of the love that was stronger than death itself, make "The , Midnight Sun"'a "film drama that will lin-, ger long in the memory. .■ -