STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 172, 11 October 1927, Page 15

STRAND

VOTING FOR MISS N.Z. The most interesting stage of the "Miss New Zealand 1927" contest has now been reached. "Who will be ‘Miss New Zealand’?” is the question on everybody's lips;. On the Auckland picture-goers, rests the responsibility of choosing a worthy ambassador to Hollywood. Voting for "Miss New Zealand, 1927” takes place dally at the Strand at both the afternoon and evening sessions. The finalists are presenting a sparkling and colourful programme. They first appear in a grand fashion parade, a veritable pageant of brilliance and colour. They then appear as "Sports Girls" representing "The Surf Girl,” "The Snow Girl," "The Yachtswoman,” ‘‘Mademoiselle Jazz,” "The Golf Girl,” "Miss Ascot,” "The Danseuse,” "The Tennis Girl,” “The Hunting Girl." and "Miss 1930.” Special screen tests of these ten beautiful girls are also shown to enable patrons to judge their photographic ability. "Heaven on Earth,” starring Renee Adoree, the heroine of "The Big Parade,” and Conrad Nagel is the main feature picture at the Strand this week. "Heaven on Earth is one of the most unusual and interesting pictures seen iln Auckland for a long time. It was directed by Phil Rosen and presents Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel in the leading roles. An unusual amount of thought is expressed on the screen in this production, but is told with the aid of action rather than in titles. In this particular instance, Rosen has achieved a result that few directors have been able to attain. His story is never slow-moving, and there are no long "close-ups" of an a.ctor thinking, yet each thought put across is» unmistakable. Rosen has directed the picture with extreme finesse, handling each scene with delicacy and restraint. His love scenes are touching in the extreme, while the trench episodes have much the same realism and flavour as those in "The Big Parade.” There is also a Strand Magazine, composed of recent events in New Zealand, and the latest British news, a comedy and a cartoon. The musical programme rendered by the Strand Symphony Orchestra, under Eve Bentley, is in itself an entertainment. "Light Cavalry" (Suppe) is rendered as the overture. Otner musical numbers included are "Traume" (Wagner). "Gipsy Songs (Dvorak), "Last Spring" (Grieg), “L'Arlesienne Suite” (Bizet), ‘ Hillside Melody” (Montague Phillips) and •Elsa’s Dream” (Wagner).