“THE CRADLE SNATCHERS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 196, 8 November 1927, Page 14

“THE CRADLE SNATCHERS”

AT HIS MAJESTY’S ON THURSDAY

In “The Cradle Snatchers,” the hilarious farce-comedy coming to His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday, the fun is fast and furious, more particularly in the second act, and the situationss are of a kind to interest any theatre-goer. The setting- is New York, but it might be anywhere where the world of fashion amuses itself. Three men of standing in the city go off on what they announce is a shooting party. Their wives have suspicions about the nature of the quarry sought for, and decide to make the husbands realise that what is “sport” for one half of creation is sport for the other. Three young men are brought in from college to make love to the ladies left at home. They play their various parts on broadly farcical lines with a quick-fire dialogue. The second act is tempestuous. It whirls and revels through a glitter of gaiety, especially when a masquerading student makes Spanish love to a brilliantly attired and warmly responsive “signori ta,” while his youthful com. panions ably assist. It is all very swift and hilarious, and the interest is maintained to the last. The husbands make a fine curtain for the second act by coming in on the revels of their spouses, with some atractive young things in their train. As the three wives, Misses Olive Sloane, Jessamine Newcombe and Bertha Belmore score all along the line. Their humour and vivacity make the great laughing success of the piece. Miss Sloane has most to do, and she rattles through her part with a chic and a daring that leave nothing to be desired. Miss Newcombe is lively and charming, and Miss Belmore a sedately humorous foil. The three husbands are capably played by Messrs. Arthur Cornell, Sidney Sterling and Herbert Belmore.

Of the three young men who are “snatched,” the most original note is struck by Maury Tuckerman, as the nervous but determined lover of the elderly wife. Others in a cast that is competent throughout are Fred. Con*yngham, Jack Halloran, and Lucille Lisle. The “Cradle Snatchers” is- sure of a successful run. The box plans are now open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.

A technicoloured story in two reels dealing with George Washington and Betsy Ross in the persons of Francis X. Bushman and Enid Bennett, and a couple of Britishers played by Johnnie Walker and Alice Calhoun constitute “The Flag.” Besids its beauty, the cast, you will recognise, is exceptional, perhaps one of the biggest ever in a short. The story is of the first American flag made by Betsy Ross, and love interest is supplied by the Englishman who returns to see his bride, is captured and pardoned by Washington. It is a thoroughly highclass production, a “prestige picture,” with plenty of real acting. This is another one to bill equally with your feature, or an ideal feature itself on an allshorts bill.