CIVIC PICTURES.

Southland Times, Issue 20081, 19 January 1927, Page 9

CIVIC PICTURES.

NORMA TALMADGE, RONALD COLMAN AILEEN PRINGLE AND CHESTER CONKLIN.

Well! Well! Fancy Norma Talmadge as a comedienne! She is, and we can assure you that she is as great a comedienne as she is an actress—and that is some statement to make. She scores a big hit in her latest “Kiki,” a French farce now at the Civic. And to make this picture still more attractive she is associated with Ronald Colman, who is now one of the most popular male stars. Norma Talmadge puts a new kick in “Kiki,” which has become famous on the American stage as a Belasco success. From now on Norma Talmadge and “Kiki'’ should be synonymous, for never has a motion picture star been so aptly fitted for a role as Miss Talmadge for the title character in the gay story of modern Paris life. The First National picture fairly bubbles over with mirthful situations, yet throughout the story runs a highly dramatic theme—the adventures of a little street gamin who aspires to stage fame and the luxurious life of a “great lady.” Miss Talmadge, as “Kiki,” who is always ready for a fight or a frolic, reveals herself as a comedienne of the first water. It is difficult to envision this harum-scarum miss in “Kiki” as the same Norma Talmadge who created those immortal screen roles in “Smilin’ through,” “Secrets” and “Graustark.” Who could have imagined the lovely Norma engaged in fisticuffs with her rival in love or hurling breakfast dishes at any one who dared disturb her beauty nap? Ronald Colman, as Victor Renal, a Paris theatre manager, makes an ideal leading man for Miss Talmadge. It is the handsome actor’s first appearance opposite Norma. Others in th? large cast who do credit to their roles are Gertrude Astor, Marc MacDermott, George K. Arthur. Erwin Connelly, William Orlsmond, Frankie Darro and Mack Swain. The skilful direction of Miss Talmadge’s greatest picture produced by Joseph M. Scheneck for First National is another feather in the cap of Clarence Brown. Then the supporting feature “The Wilderness woman.” is a picture that has more comedy interpolations than most dramas and will entertain everyone with its novel plot and situations. Both Aileen Pringle and Lowell Sherman show their ability in light comedy, deviating from their usual roles in tense drama and Chester Conklin does much to keep the fun moving. The whole picture hinges on the fact that Kadiak Mac Lean, having made a successful deal with Allen Burkett, which brings him in a million dollars, decides to leave Alaska with his daughter Juntau to visit New York, after the glowing accounts of it received from Burkett. The subsequent proceedings provide plenty of humour in the visit to New York, when two confidence men, marking MacLean as a “sucker” on the train and seeing his roll of notes, become friendlv with him afterwards trying to sell him a New York train subway. This provides a series of humorous incidents interspersed with many awkward moments experienced by Juneau as the crude country girl staving with her father at one of New York’s most expensive hotels. She concludes by blossoming out into a beautiful creature, perfect in dress and manner. Her romance with Allen throughout the picture rounds it off happily. A further phase of Amundsen’s expedition to the North Pole will nfeo be shown. There will be a rush on this programme, so it would be wise to reserve.