THE PRINCESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 15

THE PRINCESS

BRIGHT, VARIED PICTURES When a romantic girl is obsessed with the bright idea that crooks are desirable companions, one can be certain that diverting things will happen, especially if the girl is an American in her own country. However, the proof of the thrill is in the seeing, and “Too Many Crooks,” a bright screen play, entertained full houses at the Princess Theatre yesterday. It is a rattling good farce, with solid qualities which commend it immediately to a public eager to be amused. The heroine of the piece, Cecilia Mason, only daughter of a retired banker, resolves that a play wright’s career is the only one that appeals to her. Having seen a “crook” drama, she discusses it with the family solicitor, contending betimes that she is able to write a better one. The solicitor, obliging fellow! puts her in touch with a really bad criminal, who supplies men of his tastes on demand. The bad man tells Celia that she'd fit admirably into the underworld, so he invites Bert, the Boxman, Frisco Flora, and Fast Hands Faster to one of the girl’s house parties. That night they get busy, and a remarkable series of crimes are committed. Celia is later amazed when she learns that the criminals believe her to be one of their gang. Later on a new complication enters in. The crooks ar« not crooks at all, merely hired actors, and Barton is not a king criminal, merely the writer of the play which Celia condemned. So in the finish Barton and Celia are left as collaborators for life. The principal narts in this diverting play are taken by Mildred Davis anrT Lloyd Hughes. The second feature was “The Collegians,’* the first of a series of pictures having the jollity of student life as its theme. It is full of youthful joy, and as a stimulating and diverting entertainment is unsurpassed. Tilton and West, appropriately billed as the “Joy Boys.” capped an excellent programme, while fine incidental music was played by Howard Moody’s orchestra. Karl Bane leaped to prominence when he appeared as “Slim” in “The Big Parade.” His gangling lankines—his droll demeanour—made him an instantaneous favourite. George K. Arthur has appeared with pronounced success in a number of Metro-Gold - v,yn-Mayer productions, including “The Waning Sex” and “Tillie the Toiler.” Mow these two great comedians have been brought together as a team of latigh-makers. “Rookies” is their first co-starring appearance—a delicious blending of romance. fun and thrills. It tells of the battle of wits between an old soldier and a young recruit, who are thrown together in a citizens’ training camp. Nothing funnier or more original has ever been brought to the screen. This picture is being released by MetroGold wyn-Mayer shortly.

”Topsy and Eva,” the film debut of Vivian and Rosetta Duncan, is the screen version of their own stage success. L>el Lord directed the sisters*, who fire supported by Oibson Gowland Nils Aster. Myrtle Ferguson. Marjorie Law, Xoble Johnston. Henry Victor and Lionel Belmore. W. C. Fields, former Ziegfeld Foflies and Ohpheum circuit comedian, who has made several pictures for Paramount, arrived in Hollywood t<* prepare for the comedy in which he will co-star with Chester Conklin. Conklin is now being featured with George Bancroft in a railroad comedy. • Tell it to Sweeney.” one of the Paramount 100 per cent, group of pictures.