GRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 14

GRAND

“LAST DAYS OF POMPEII” “The Last Days of Pompeii,” the film version of Lord Lytton's story of the greatest volcanic disaster in history, is now being shown at the Grand Theatre. 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, gripped 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 Corda, both of whom are not unknown in this country. A second feature is shown in “Body and Soul,” starring Aileen Pringle. Lionel Barrymore and Norman Kerry.

It is announced that Fox Films are shortly releasing a splendid mystery thriller titled “A Thief in the Dark. * The action of the picture mingles the sawdust atmosphere of a wagon show with the rich settings in and around a pretentious mansion house of mystery. The plot depicts efforts of a gang of side-show crooks to rob a wealthy jewel-collector and his attractive granddaughter. The crooks fail in this, but the leader kills the old man. In en effort to bring the murderer to justice, the girl visits the side-show and persuades the crooks to “materialise” her grandfather’s spirit so that he may identify the slayer. The seance is held in the girl’s home during an electrical storm, while a country sheriff, superstitious coloured butler and comedy girl servant are being frightened at every turn by “apparations” which employ sliding panels and secret passageways. The all-star cast which enacts the leading roles is headed by George Meeker of “Four Sons” fame, and Doris Hill in the romantic roles.

“Loves of Carmen,” one of the most pretentious pictures attempted in the United States in recent years, opens in New Zealand shortly with Dolores Del Rio and Victor McLaglen in the principal roles. This picture, directed by Raoul Walsh, is out of the ordinary in more ways than one, for it brings before the camera, in the same production, two popular players who leaped to fame in another Walsh production. They are Dolores Del Rio ictor McLaglen, who played Charmaine and Captain Flagg respectively in “What Price Glory.” In addition the cast includes Ben Bard and Don Alvarado. "Walsh was given every opportunity to make an excep-+ol3.a*V-.Carmen” and he has delineated this striking character in a manner quite new to the screen. The director did not want for magnificent costumes and authentic backgrounds. Edwin C. Hill, Fox representative, has been in Spain for the past year and assembled an elaborate wardrobe for the picture. The acting of a notexcellent scenic effects and „ T a striking realism, make ° f Carme n" one of the most soa° UVe screen products of the sea-