NATIONAL AND LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 April 1927, Page 15

NATIONAL AND LYRIC

“THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER” “The Unknown Soldier,” a picture which has been described as “the screen’s tribute to the mighty fallen,” will commence showing at the National and Lyric Theatres to-day. Cast on a gigantic scale the production contains several stirring war-time scenes, and there is a most unusual climax. Charles Emmett Mack, * Margaret De la Motte and Henry B. Walthall are the principal players. A First National Production, “Off the Highway,” will also be shown. The story tells of Caleb Fry, a wealthy retired stock exchange speculator, who promises his sister on her death-bed that he will care for her son, Donald. However, when the. boy reaches manhood he shows a decided penchant for art and refuses to take his guardian’s advice and devote his energies to a business career. Fry becomes annoyed at the young man’s determination, and in spite of the entreaties of his faithful old servant, Tatterley, who bears a striking resemblance to him, not to do so, he turns the young man out of the house. The nephew then takes up his residence in the Bohemian section of the artists’ colony, and when Fry visits him and finds him entertaining a lady friend, he forms his own conclusion and disinherits him. Soon after Fry has drawn up a new wilj in which he leaves his wealth to Hector Kindon, a distant relative, Tatterley dies. Curiosity as to how his heir will manage his money prompts Fry to impersonate the dead servant, who is accordingly buried as Caleb Fry. Kindon, immediately on receiving the money, sets out on a wild career of extravagance and after a short while Fry sees him revealed as a worthless scoundrel. He remonstrates with him, but is turned out of the house for his pains. He is helped by Donald, whom he later rewards when he has succeeded in ruining Kindon and making a fortune for himself.