LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 411, 20 July 1928, Page 14

LYRIC

“THE DESERT WOMAN” A dramatic and romantic story of the life of a British garrison on outpost duty in India, entitled “The Desert Women,” headed the programme shown at the Lyric Theatre last evening. It is a study of the effect of loneliness and cruelty on a woman transferred from London drawing-rooms to a desert outpost as the wife of the commandant. A youth comes to the station, bringing with him not only the air of the England for which the lady longed, but glimpses of her vanishing youth. Desire awakens in each for the other, and a story of thrilling intensity develops. Her husband is unreasonably jealous and in the process of “making a soldier” of the lad, almost kills him, so when her husband has taken the garrison out on one of his raids on hostile natives, she persuades him to leave, and he persuades her to accompany him. The love which has awakened between the two comes to a climax in the desert when a storm, forcing them to halt, gives her time to think. Irene Rich gives one of her best characterisations as Lady Diane, and William Russell plays the difficult role of Lieut. Trent.

If one’s aim in going to the pictures is to get thrills, then “Reckless Speed.” the second film at the Lyric, should satisfy. It stars Frank Merrill, a champion athlete, in a series of exciting happenings concerning an oil well lease and ends with Merrill attempting to cross the street on a telephone wire, which breaks when he is half way over. A full supporting programme is also being shown.