“Mother Machree”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 364, 26 May 1928, Page 25

“Mother Machree”

IRISH STORY ON SCREEN Belle Bennett’s Characterisation In assigning Belle Bennett to the title role in “Mother Machree” Fox Films entrusted to the star of “Stella Dallas one of the most poignant characterisation she has yet attempted. The cast includes Victor McLaglen, Blanche Mehaffey, Beil Hamilton, Philippe De Lacey and Ted McNamara. Belle Bennett was recently seen in Auckland in one of her characteristic “ mother ” roles, playing opposite Emil Jannmgs. the famous German actor.

“Mother Mac lire e” will be screened in Auckland by the Fuller-Hayward management at the Strand Theatre, following the “Merry Widow.” Few have seen the Leprechaun, the little fairy shoemaker of Ireland, but the children of the Old Country know all about him. For does not Mother Machree put them to sleep with tales j of his doings? A „ .. Oh, the Leprechaun, she tells them, is no higher than a baby’s knee, with sly but kindly eyes. His mouth is wistful with wisdom and all night he sits beneath the blackthorn making shoes for good children. Very few have seen him and still fewer have caught him. Still, should you ever catch him, says Mother Machree, and you know his ways, you can get him to pay a big pot of gold for his freedom. He must be snatched quickly and held tightly in the hand and looking him in the eye he must be told, “I want a pot of gold.” The Leprechaun will try to squirm out of your hand and say he has none. But if you insist he will cry, “Your house is afire,” and even though you seem to see the glow of flames you must not look, for should you shift your glance for a moment, he will disappear. And he will use one ruse after another trying to get you to take your eyes off him so that he may escape. But if you keep on holding him he will at last offer you a small pot of

gold but you must persist and at last he will give you the big pot of gold you ask for. This is the story that Mother Machree tells little Brian when she holds him on her lap in the early sequences of the Irish film of the story of “Mother Machree.”