STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 287, 24 February 1928, Page 15

STRAND

FOURTH WEEK OF “SEVENTH HEAVEN” I A new star, probably the most bril- j liant that has yet appeared on the j cinema firmament, was discovered j with the showing of Frank Borzag€-.’s ; version of Austin Strong’s “Seventh Heaven,” wiiieh commences its fourth week of screening at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. And that star was Janet Gaynor. So unexpected is her great and wistful loveliness, and with such sympathy and understanding does she play her role of Diane, the Paris street waif, that she completely captivates the hearts of her audience with almost her first appearance in the picture. Sweetly demure, fearfully defiant, or gloriously smiling through her tears, in each and every mood she is equally beautiful and lovable as perhaps no other screen actress is. But not only Janet Gaynor. Charles Farrell, too, is a new star who comes into being with this production. He is Chico, that “very remarkable fellow,” as he says himself, who leads the little waif from the streets to the “Seventh Heaven.’’ And with these in the leading roles jis a cast which includes Ben Bard, i David Butler, Albert Gran, Gladys ! Brockwell, Emile Chautard and George j Stone, all of whom reach their greatI est achievement in “Seventh Heaven.” : This is the verdict of the reviewers of ; England and America, and that was | the verdict which the many thousands of Aucklanders who have seen the film | felt to be the case. The reason for i this is that Frank Borzage, the direc- ; tor of “Humoresque,” which, up to the ] present time was considered as the ! finest of all dramatic pictures, has at * last found a story greater even than “Humoresque,” which permitted his genius full play. The result is “Seventh Heaven,” probably the most fascinating and most beautiful photoplay yet produced. There is also on the programme ai interesting scenic fi3m, “Solitude,” and a very attractive atmospheric prologue, “An Attic Near the Stars,” wit t Mr. Birrell O’Malley and Miss Phyllis Hazel as soloists. A delightful musical programme Is ! rendered b:/ Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra, which renders as its overture selections from the popular composition, “Mignon’ (Thomas). | Betty Compson is featured in the latest Universal Jewel production, “Cheat- ! ing Cheaters.” Appearing as a crock i at the head of a gang planning to get 1 possession of the coveted Palmer ; jewels, her role is one of the achieve- ! ments of her career. Kenneth Hari Jan is the hero, while in support w 11 bo seen Eddie Gribbon. Uucien Kittle - i field, Cesare Gravina. Maud Turner ; Gordon, E. J. RatclifTe, Erv« in Coni nelly and Sylvia Aston.