STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 175, 14 October 1927, Page 14

STRAND

“MISS N.Z. 1927” TO-NIGHT Tremendous excitement prevails throughout Auckland and the whole length and breadth of New Zealand as to who will be “Miss New Zealand 1927.” To-night “Miss New Zealand 1927” will be announced and presented to the public of Auckland with due ceremony and civic honour by the Mayor of Auckland. This is the first time in the history of the cinema that a country has chosen its own film star. For the first time, New Zealand’s new National Anthem, the words of which were written by the late Madame Annette Hayward, music by Alfred Hill, “Oh Land of Promise,” will be sung by Miss Christina Ormiston. In addition to this important function, there will be a big picture programme. The first is “Fools in the Dark,” starring popular Patsy Rath Miller and Matt Moore. The director who put over “Lights Out” again scores with a success which belongs to the same general film family as his previous achievement. In “Fools in the Dark,” which is from an original story by Bertram Millhauser, scenariorised by Mr. Millhauser and John Grey, laughs and thrills go hand in hand. Throughout the terrible experience of the aesthetic young Percival Schwartz, son of the inventor of the Schwartz Stayclean Garbage Can, there is a note of comedy relief which makes that gentleman’s experiences amusing as well as intense. Tom O’Brien, of “The Big Parade” fame, and who played in “Winners of the Wilderness,” Tim McCoy’s second starring vehicle for Metro-Gold wynMayer, has the role of “Sergeant Abner Hawkins” in “The Frontiersman,” McCoy’s fourth semi-historical drama, which is the second feature on the programme. This role of the frontier scout gives O’Brien a fine opportunity to display his prowess, an opportunity which he takes full advantage of. “The Frontiersman” is a vivid tale of frontier adventures and romance, having as a background the war with the Creek Indians, which ended with their utter defeat by General Andrew Jackson’s famous Tennessee Militia. Beautiful Claire Windsor appears opposite McCoy, and other players of note are Louise Lorraine, Torn O’Brien and Frank Hagney. In the supporting programme will be included the usual Strand Magazine, of the latest topical budgets and world news. A special musical programme will be rendered by the Strand Symphony Orchestra, under Eve Bentley.

Frank Hagney, at one time well known in Australian sporting circles, has an important part in Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer’s latest Tim McCoy production, “The Frontiersman.” Hagney plays “Chief White Snake,” a truculent Creek Indian and his battle with the agile and skilful McCoy is a veritable screen epic. “The Frontiersman” tells of the early pioneering days when Indians were warlike and powerful, and danger lurked on every hand. Beautiful Claire Windsor and Louise Lorraine supply the love interest, and over 2,000 extras: —Red Indians from tie Arapahoe reservation, and troopers who impersonate the Frontier Militia — lend colour and dash to an interesting production.