“THE LIFE OF RILEY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 278, 14 February 1928, Page 15

“THE LIFE OF RILEY”

COMING TO PRINCESS AND TIVOLI A mardi gras and Venetian celebration combined can’t be more picturesque and colourful than the circus background that figures in “The Life of Riley,” the riotous film comedy cofeaturing George Sidney and Charlie Murray, which will be shown at the Princess and Tivoli on Thursday. Elephants and camels, wild- men and bearded women, clowns and hula girls in this sequence vie with a carload of fireworks, exploding among the principal players, a riot and 'a village fire, and many other comedy elements in providing laughs and thrills. Rural comedy has in the past been considered natural mirth ma terial, but in combination with such “exotic” thrills it is doubly effective in “The Life of Riley.” The famous comics of stage and screen, Sidney and Murray are characterised as rural town fire chief and police chief respectively, and Sam Hardy, Myrtle Stedman, June Marlowe, Stephen Carr, Edwards Davis and Bert Woodruff have interesting supporting roles.

A remarkable cast has been assembled for the motion picture version of “The Prince of Pilsen,” which will be the second feature on Thursday’s programme. Heading the feminine contingent is Anita Stewart, who has long occupied a high place in the affections of theatre-goers, and who returns to the screen after a prolonged absence. Playing the leading man’s role is George Sidney, the well-known comedian, who recently became a film player after 30 years on the stage. The part of the prince is played by Allan Forrest, recently seen in “Fifth Avenue.” Myrtle Steadman takes the part of the Princess Bertha, while other roles are enacted by Otis Harlan, Rose Tapley, W. von Bricken and other well-known screen players.

A 1 Wilson the flying “Ace” who jfiays the starring role in “Three Miles up,” the Universal feature, demonstrates a new use for the well-known western lariat. Standing on the wing of his plane, 'Wilson successfully lassos his enemy £rom the "wing of a pursuing plane, swings him up beside him and flies serenely on. Cow-boys who used to perform the lasso trick from the backs of bucking bronchos, will realise that a new aera has dawned for which their skill paved the way.