Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 16

Round the Shows

STRAND “THE BUSH CINDERELLA” New Zealand’s own film, "The Bush Cinderella,” began the second week of j its season at the Strand Theatre yesterday, and once again large audiences i were attracted to the house and de- ■ lighted by the show. Many people perhaps went to the j theatre in a spirit of curiosity, but they did not see much of Mr. Rudall Hayward’s film before its impressive qualities induced a feeling quite different from curiosity—it was a sense of marvel at the coming of such good film work from a country where the industry is in its infancy. New Zealand has yet to have its life j interpreted adequately, the various j artistic mediums, but a promising be- j ginning has been made with the film. In “The Bush Cinderella” one distinctive phase of life is presented in its natural bush setting. The great trees, the rippling stream, the old homestead with its walls pasted over with pictures cut from the illustrated papers—it is all there. The “shots” are excellent, bringing with them an aesthetic thrill of their own. The bush scenes have the breath of life and sunshine in them, and surely it is in this capacity for selecting the right scenes that shows Mr. Hayward to have the producer's j eye. The story of “The Bush Cinderella” ! is simple and healthy, and the slight melodramatic touches do no more than heighten the interest. The Cinderella herself is Mary Makepeace Cameron, whose mother, a healthy New Zealand girl, died in giving her birth, while her father made the great sacrifice in the South African War. Mary is adopted by the Codlins, in whose home she was born. The years pass by, and at the age of 18 she is a happy girl blossoming into exquisite womanhood. Through all the years, Mary’s uncle, a wealthy Auckland man, endeavours to find his niece that he might leave his fortupe to her, but his unscrupulous secretary, Michael Myrgatroyd, has other plans, and finally poisons his employer. From then on, the action becomes furious and interesting, and Mary’s lover, a naval officer, takes a substantial part in winning the fortune for the girl, and bringing the villains to justice. Miss Dale Austen (“Miss New Zealand”) gave a sweet study of the heroine. She was easy in manner, sunny, and delightfully fresh in all her work. Mr. Cecil Scott was the handsome hero, and there was solid conviction in all his work. Mr. A 1 Mack did brilliant character work as the hired hand. The smaller parts were well played by an admirably balanced cast. The prologue to the film was provided. by Mr. Alf J. Lawrence and Miss Nell Crane. Mr. Lawrence, New Zealand’s own composer, sang his own songs with Miss Crane. Old favourites such as “I’ve Lost My Heart In Maoriland” and “Down the Wanganui’ were among their offerings. The Strand Orchestra, under Miss j Eve Bentley, played the incidental j music.