STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 308, 20 March 1928, Page 15

STRAND

“SORRELL AND SON” When Warwick Deeping’s novel “Sorrell and Son” was published, it was acclaimed a masterpiece and the writer’s most popular story. The film adaptation, which is now being shown for the third week at the Strand Theatre, is no less a success. Powerful in theme, and with picturesque English settings, the picture has been handled in a masterly fashion by the producer, Mr. Herbert Brenon. The story is based on a wonderful father love and son devotion, a story of England during the post-war period, when heroes came home to find their jobs taken, and forced with the most menial tasks to support themselves and their families. Captain Stephen Sorrell was one of these gg

one ul tiiese &■; heroes; not M only was his $| billet gone, ® but his wife || I had deserted || him for a|j wealthy pro- i fiteer. Sor- « roll grasps at fl a chance of a J position of as- I sistant to an n antique deal- a er in an Eng- a lish village. P He arrives only to find the dealer

T n e ueait*L dead. At this Sorrell contemplates giving up altogether, but the thought of his son, and his abiding faith in him, nerves Sorrell to solicit a job as a man of all work in a shabby inn. A gleam of promise comes when Thomas Roland, an hotel prospector, engages him as second porter at a new inn he is opening. Here he suffers from the brutal bullying of the head porter. Later Sorrell is appointed as head porter, and Mr. Rowland gets Kit into one of the best English schools, but his father’s position becomes known and he is forced to leave. Following this cruel blow Sorrell is appointed manager of the hotel. Kit studies medicine, and. under the tutoring of an eminent doctor, he becomes a noted surgeon. Kit’s life-long friendship with Mr. Rowland’s daughter, Molly, develops into love, and Sorrell’s declining days are made happy by their marriage. H. B. Warner, who plays the part of the father, gives a wonderful portrayal. The supporting cast is splendid, and an equal share of credit is due to Nils Asther, Norman Trevor, Anna Q. Nilsson, Alice Joyce, and Carmel Myers. Micky Mcßann, who plays the part of Kit in his boyhood, gives a alented exhibition of * acting. j The Strand Symphony Orchestra plays a fine programme of incidental music under the direction of Eve Bentley.

It required 300 policemen to handle the crowds at Charlie Chaplin’s “The Circus” on the occasion of its world premiere in Hollywood. When the comedian appeared on the stage at the conclusion of the picture all Hollywood stood on its feet and cheered.