THE NEW REGENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 70, 14 June 1927, Page 15

THE NEW REGENT

“SORROWS OF SATAN” SCORES

Another packed house greeted “Sorrows of Satan,” the ParamountD. W. Griffith masterpiece, starring Adolphe Menjou, at the Regent Theatre last evening. The film has created a sensation wherever it has been shown. To quote a well-known critic “Adolphe Menjou as a modern Satan leaves nothing to be desired. Ricardo Cortez proves himself an actor of depth and feeling. Carol Dempster is superb and Lya de Putti, making her first American appearance, carves a niche for herself in the hearts of American film fans. And because—- “ Marie Corelli’s widely read novel makes good picture material. “Sorrows of Satan” tells the story of Lucifer, thrown from heaven with the promise of an hour of bliss within the Gates of Paradise for each soul which resists him. “We are then introduced to Geoffrey Tempest, a struggling, idealistic, young writer, and his fiancee, Mavis Claire. Both, temporarily in the throes of despair, have great hope for the future due to the contemplated publishing of Geoffrey’s novel. His publisher turns it down. “Prince Lucio de Rimanez approaches Tempest and informs him that he has fallen heir to a huge fortune. Lured by the man’s magnetic personality, Geoffrey soon forgets Mavis in his new life of luxury, and makes love to Lady Sybil, daughter of an impoverished nqbleman. Attracted by the youth’s money, Sybil marries him. “Too late, he realises that his marriage has been a terrible blunder.” While the reviewer agrees that he is doing his readers a great injustice by not telling what comes next, he is only doing it for their own good because “Sorrows of Satan” is one of the pictures that you can’t afford to miss! A splendid musical score is provided by the Regent Operatic Orchestra, under the baton of Maurice Guttridge, and Eddie Horton’s numbers at the Wurlitzer are as popular as ever. Donald Stuart, the High and Mighty One, is gaining wonderful receptions for his new art of mirth and magic, and much local interest is centreing on the second “Miss New Zealand 1927” film.