VIRGINIA VALLI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 318, 31 March 1928, Page 14

VIRGINIA VALLI

APPEARING IN “THE ESCAPE”

Virginia Valli has started work on a new production for Fox Films. This charming brunette has already completed “Bast Side, West Side,” “Paid to Love,” and “Ladies Must Dress,” for the current release schedule, and her latest film is “The Escape,” a famous stage play by Paul Armstrong. With her is Nancy Drexel, playing the role of the younger sister who is at the mercy of New York’s night life. Miss Drexel was formerly known as Dorothy Kitchen, and made her debut at the age of eight in the stage play, “The Royal Vagabond.” For the past two years Miss Drexel has been playing in small parts, working in comedies. dramas, and Western romances. She gave much promise of being a splendid actress, and F. W. Murnau has chosen her for .one of the cast in “The Four Devils,” his latest production for Fox. She has good opportunity for dramatic work in the powerful action of “The Escape.”

Reports are received that Fox Films’ unique production, “Sunrise,” has gone into its fourth month at the Times Square Theatre, New York, at which theatre it received its premiere. “Sunrise” has also gone into its fifth week of screening at the Carthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles, the home of “long runs.” At this theatre, the former Fox successes, “What Price Glory” and “Seventh Heaven” screened for five and seven months, respectively, and every indication is given that “Sunrise” will run for ten or 12 months. Every critic who has witnessed the film declares that it is an epoch-making production, and sets a new standard for motion pictures. The acting of Miss Gaynor and George O’Brien, who play the leads, has reached the highest pinnacle, and the unusual direction of F. W. Murnau sets “Sunrise” in a distinct class.