MAORILAND THEATRE.

Shannon News, 9 August 1927, Page 2

MAORILAND THEATRE.

WILD COWBOY FILM. A new sensation has hit the screen in the fascinating person of Ken Maynard whose “Unknown Cavalier., is to be screened on Wednesday. Maynard rides over ti e top easily in the lead as the most promising of the new stars, wit a the release of his second thrilling feature length show. He is a discovery of Charles R. Rogers, independent producer, and First National liked him so well that this conservative organization is distributing his pictures . Maynard, it should be pointed out, is somewhat different from the usual type of Western star, for he had everything that the drawing-room hjro is supposed to possess, plus an incomparable mastery (if horsemanship, and athletic . ability which compares favourable with the Paddocks and Granges, Keu is a Texan, dark and handsome, lean and sinewy, and the feminine fans of the country have already placed him with the Ben Lyons, John Giberts and Lewis Stones as a Romeo of rank. Tarzan, a cream-coloured Palomino, a horse with almost human intelligence, has his own particular appeal. Maynard taught'him scores of tempting tricks he had been saving up from years of circus experience.

FRIDAY’S DOUBLE PROGRAMME

On Friday an interesting vaudeville turn is announced on conjunction with the presentation of Marcus Clark’s Masterpiece “.For the Term of, His Natural Life. ’ ’ The picture possesses many spectacular thrills. The big riot scene, where the convicts overpower their warders, is realistically done, as is also the burning and blowing up of the powder ship “Hydaspes, ’’ which catches fire on its way out from England with a load of convicts for the prison settlement at Port Arthur, Tasmania. The numerous escapes of Rufus Dawes and other prisoners add plenty of daring adventure and tingling suspense. The big prison at Port Arthur, Tasmania, is seen in. reality, as the film was produced on the exact spots where all the action of the story is laid, and there is a faithful reproduction of the entire actual Tasmanian prison settlements. Interesting, indeed, ate some of the scenes of the prisoners Avorking in chain gangs, etc. Long roAVs of “human ploughs’’ are seen, Avith convicts harnessed to the yokes of the plough, like bullocks to a timber train, forced ti drag the heavy tilling instruments of the ruling classes and turn the earth for the soAv r er’s seed. Step by step they tread their Aveary Avays, with the heavy harness about their shoulders and the teamster’s whip ever ready to come doAvn across their backs. - One is amazed at the tremendous action that has been packed into this marvellous picture, and the drama it contains is as poAverful and immense as the huge set? which surround it.

There is not one single detail in the Avhole book that has lost any of its significance in its translation to the screen, for all the characters have been re-created with astounding reality. Sylvia Vickers, Rufus DaAves, Captain Maurice Frere, Sarah Purfoy, Matt Gabbett, the man-eater, Rev. North, Rev. Meokin, Warder Troke, Mrs Vickers. Major Vickers, Commandant Burgess, and John Rex—all are excellently portrayed.