STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 429, 10 August 1928, Page 14

STRAND

MARY PICKFORD TO-NIGHT All roads will lead to the Strand Theatre to-night when the world’s sweetheart will be seen in her latest picture. Mary Pickford makes a picture so rarely that when one does appear it is a notable event. In “My Best Girl,” Mary Pickford plays the role of a shop girl who, unknowingly, falls in love with the shop owner’s son. Maggie Johnson, a hard-working little stock girl in the Merrill five-and-ten-cent store, is given an assistant in the form of Joe Merrill, son of the owner. As Joe wants to make his own way, however, he uses an assumed name, and Maggie has no idea of his real identity. As the pair work together in the big basement, a romance quickly springs up between them without either realising just what it means. When Maggie takes Joe to her home for the first time, a family squabble is going on with her sister Liz, who is going with a second-class sport, and Maggie is forced to send Joe away to prevent his being drawn into the argument. But comedy alone is not the only unusual feature of the picture. The appeal of an idealistic boy-and-girJ romance is utilised, Charles Rogers playing the youthful hero. The beautiful Carmelita Geraghty 5s cast for the part of Liz Johnson, sister of Maggie. Hobart Bosworth, the well-known charactor actor, is the wealthy owner of the big store and the father of the hero. A special prologue has been arranged for this big feature, Including a miniature revue entitled “Tiny Tots in Movieland,” produced and devised by Mlle. Valeska. Thirty-five juveniles appear as favourite film stars, and the climax of this clever, original show is “The Wedding of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.” A fine orchestral programme has been arranged by Eve Bentley and Roger Quilter’s Children’s Overture will be featured. Children of all ages will enjoy the “Our Gang” comedy included on the programme, entitled “Barnum and Ringling.” These hilarious youngsters are seen at their funniest in this comedy.