“LAST DAYS OF POMPEII”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 15

“LAST DAYS OF POMPEII”

STUPENDOUS PRODUCTION “The Last Days of Pompeii,” Lord Lytton’s famous novel, was screened last evening to a private audience at the Lyric Theatre. The great tale of that unfortunate city was faithfully revealed in this Italian-made film. This story of romance, love and life in the ancient Imperial city of Pompeii was absorbing from many angles. One was transplanted from the haste and bustle of to-day, with the many almost incredible invention}?, to the stately grandeur of the days when this city was at a pinnacle of fame. Here we saw' the sports of other days—the swimming, the ~ames, the g adia'.^,-ial combat in the arena, and the holiday sport of feeding humans to the lions. But this was only the background for one of the most powerful dramas that have reached the screen. The romance of the poor blind flower girl for the man who had shown her kindness, was graphically told. Her love for him, and her denial and sacrifice when she knew that he loved another, and was loved in turn, gUP~ ped at the heart. How the world of intrigue of the ancient city, woven about the romance of these three figures, comes to a smashing climax with the destruction of the city by the eruption of Vesuvius. . “The Last Days of Pompeii is interpreted by an exceptional cast of European players headed by Victor Varconi and Maria Cc.rda both of whom are not unknown in this counti y. The film was enthusiastically receivert bv the large audience present and the management announces that this picture will be shown publicly from Thursday next.

“Mother Machree” Is to be screened shortly in Auckland with Belle Bennett Neil Hamilton, Ted McNamara and Victor McLaglan in the leading roles Miss Bennett herself making screen history anew with her Mother Machree. This is a simple and moving drama of mother love, Irish people, and a little of the laughter and pathos that one associates with all Irish tales. It is a simple story, but so exquisitely told and so beautifully acted that it immediately rises to the heights of the greatest pictures which the screen has ever produced. It is completely without the maudlin sentimentality which is mistaken for Irish emotion, and its characters are delightfully Irish, tears and smiles. Miss Bennett makes a wonderful mother, and Neil Hamilton is splendid as her son.