PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 13

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

“THE LIFE OF RILEY” George Sidney and Charlie Murray, co-featured in “The Life of Riley,” now being shown at the Princess and Tivoli, certainly prove the contention that comedy teams are natural mirth-mak-ing material for the screen. Their work together in “The Life of Riley” reaches new height in mirthmaking for Sidney and Murray individually and as a team.

Sidney is chief of police in a rural town, and Murray is fire chief. Sidney is iceman on the side; Murray keeper of the general store. The widow for whose hand they compete is played exceedingly well by Myrtle Stedman, and Sam Hardy, inimitable comedy villain, is a “city slicker.” An unusual feature of “The Life of Riley” is a charmingly naive and wistful junior love affair enacted by June Marlowe and Stephen Carr. It is straight romance rather than comedy, although well woven into the riotous, rapid-fire mirth sequences. Plot, too, enters into the story through the efforts of Riley, the fire chief, to sell his fire extinguisher invention, and the villain’s almost successful attempts to foil him.

The opportunities for comedy afforded by rustic village atmosphere are enhanced by the arrival of a big circus in town, and other events that afford contrast and colour. William Beaudine, who directed the picture, and his comedy-constructor. Jack Mintz, have taken advantage of every opportunity to intensify the fun.

A spectacular coal-mine disaster and a big college football game, both photographed from many angles by 20 cameras, are the pictorial features of

“White Flannels,” the Warner Bros.’ production which Master Pictures will shortly present for public approval. The story, concerning a miner who became a college football star, was adapted by Graham Baker from a tale by Lucien Cary which appeared in the “Saturday Evening Post.” Jason Robards and Louise Dresser, who won fame in “The Third Degree,” a Master picture, head the cast of “White Flannels,” supported by Virginia Browne Faire. Warner Richmond and George Nichols.