STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 295, 5 March 1928, Page 12

STRAND

“SORRELL AND SON” 1 That Auckland picture-goers have excellent taste in motion pictures is eloquently shown by the thousands of delighted patrons who leave the theatre after the screening of Warwick Deeping’s immortal English novel, “Sorrell and Son,” enthusiastic in their praise for this materpiece. The intelligent restraint and gentility with which Mr. Brenon has woven his story of mutual father and son affection minimised the possibility of any maudlin sentimentality detracting from the high theme of the story. The quality in Warwick DeepIng’s novel, which made it read by half a million Americans and three hundred and fifty thousand Englishmen is preserved in the film, incidentally made by an Englishman in England, with a cast principally English. More than that, the spirit and the letter of the book are to be found in the film. The acting of H. B. Warner, Mickey Mcßan. Alice Joyce, Louis Wolheim, Anna Q. Nilsson, Lionel Belmore, Carmel Myers, Nils Asther and other practised performers in the cast leaves nothing to be desired. The direction of Herbert Brenon is at all times intelligent, logical, interest-com-pelling and smart. Emotional values which make the story of “Sorrell and Son” so universally popular, are skilfully keyed and stressed at correct moments. It is as though Mr. Brenon stood in the conductor's pit with ,iis audience as an orchestra, and with his magic baton produced the emotional effects he wished when he wished them. For the audience cried, laughed,* hated Buck and loved Sorrell, smiled wistfully and wept mightily as “Sorrell and Son” unfolded upon the screen. Beginning with that favourite old overture, “The Rose,” the popular Strand Symphony Orchestra, under the conductorship of Eve Bentley, renders an appropriate musical score, the musical programme including that rendered during the screening of the film at its world premiere in New York. A very effective atmospheric prologue preceeds the film. An interesting New Zealand scenic film is “Cape Kidnappers,” showing the gannet rookery, and the thousands of birds that infest the district.