STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 18

STRAND

“CALLAHANS AND MURPHYS” A programme that will be popular with everybody has been arranged for the Strand, commencing to-morrow. The funniest comedy of all time, “The Callahans and the Murphys,” which has been breaking all attendance records in Wellington, will be the chief feature on the programme. “The Callahans and the Murphys,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy, is a classic in screen fun. From the opening reel to the final fade-out it chronicles the hilarious combats, feuds, quarrels, and reconciliations between two neighbouring Irish families of the New York tenements. Two lovable but belligerent mothers raise their broods next door. Wealth comes to one family’, romance to both, then misunderstanding, and what looks like tragedy becomes comedy of the gayest type. Adapted from Kathleen Norris’s famous story, it scores a new triumph on the screen. George Hill, the director, has based the comedy on natural situations and real-life happenings. An unusual cast, including Sally O’Neil, Marie Dressier, the famous stage comedienne, Gertrude Olmsted, Polly Moran, Larry Gray, Frank Currier, Drew Demarest, Tom Lewis, Turner Savage, Monty O’Grady, and Dawn O’Day have made the film one prolonged howl of mirth. A lilting love story, that grips the heart. is woven throughout the plot. A strong supporting programme, composed of the Strand Magazine of the latest topical events and world news, an Aesop Fable, “Farmer Alfalfa’s Cat,” ’a New Zealand scenic, and a screamingly funny Hal Roach comedy, “Your Husband’s Past,” is a feature of the programme. A bright, appropriate musical programme will be rendered by the Strand Symphony Orchestra, under Eve Bentley.