GRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 298, 8 March 1928, Page 17

GRAND

“SEVENTH HEAVEN” “Seventh Heaven,” the wonder j photo-play of the year, still continues to attract large audiences to the Grand j Theatre. As a stage play Austin Strong's “The Seventh Heaven” was an outstanding and genuine success. Transferred to the screen by Frank Borzage, it becomes not only a triumph for the two already mentioned, but for every player in the cast as well. Other great productions undoubtedly will be made, but few will present such a combination of story interest, acting and production care. The flexibility of the screen permits the amplification of the action of the stage story. The French campaign is not merely spoken of; it is re-created and the procession of taxi- ; cabs to the Battle of the Marne sup- j plies one of the many thrills of the : picture, but striking and impressive as ! this and other battle scenes undoubt?- , edly are, the greater interest still lies j to the intimate story. Scenes which j have been the salvation of other war | stories are here subsidiary to the story of Diane and Chico, not only because of the story, but through the intensely i human appeal given by Janet Gaynpr i and Charles FarrelL

Madge Bellamy, in ‘'Very Confidential,” is cast as a salesgirl, who falls in love with a famous athlete, and Provides considerable entertainment by the manner in which she sets about to win the young man’s interest. Her imposture as a famous sportswoman leads to all sorts of unusual situations, but Madge proves herself equal to all exigencies and emerges triumphant. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have acquired i the screen rights to “Rasputin,” the dramatic Russian novel by Alfred | Henschke Klaburid, famous for his “Peter the Great” and other stories. As the title indicates, this work deals with the rise and fall of Rasputin, the mysterious monk.

‘The Smart Set” will be the title for William Haines's new starring picture, a comedy-drama of society life against a background of polo matches. Every effort is being made to make it a worthy successor to the stars previous pictures' of sporting life, "Brown o. Harvard,” “Slide, Kelly. Slide, and “Spring Paver.” Alice Day, sister of Marceline, and Constance Howard hav* the leading feminine roles m The Smart Set.’’ and the cast includes Hobart Bosworth and Jack Holt.