STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 455, 10 September 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“SUNRISE” I ‘•Sunrise/' one of the most remark- ! able pictures ever made, is now being i shown at the Strand Theatre. ! Fred W. Murnau, the director, appavj entlv is as much a master of direction in America as he was in Europe. It is his most powerful, most sensational and most poignant work. Based on an original theme by Herman Sudermann, this production is simple yet big. It is powerful and human. The tale is of a man, his wife and another woman. The man and his wife have a farm. They are happy until a woman from the city enters their lives. She instills in the young husband a desire to kill his wife. ‘Brown her,” she says, “and make people believe she fell overboard accidently.” In his passion for the city woman, the man would yield to the temptation of ridding himself of his slender, lovely young wife. He is saved by his conscience at the darkest moment. But the young wife is horrorstricken, for she has noted her husband’s intentions. Hurriedly, then, he .rows her to shore and she dashes off to the city, unheeding of traffic when she gets there. He runs madly after her. begging her not to be afraid of him —he will never hurt her. And at last she is won over to him again. They spend the day in the restaurants, at the big amusement park. And then they sail home by moonlight. A storm arises and the wife appears to be drowned. The wishes of the city woman seem to be gratified. But just as the man is about to kill the temptress in revenge, the wife is found, alive. Of course, Sudermann’s story makes superior moving picture fare. In the hands of a different director, however, it would have been just another picture. It is Murnau’s direction which makes this production a thrilling, perfect work.

He has succeeded in making his cast work in perfect co-operation and with intense feeling. Janet Gaynor is tenderly charming, George O’Brien is strong and vigorous, Margaret Livingston is really wicked, and even those who wander in and out for about two or three scenes are human.

All in all, “Sunrise” has an appeal, and a strong one, for every class of movie goer.

The picture is preceded by a marvellous stage presentation, “The Angelus,” from Millet’s work of art.

Excellent musical accompaniment is provided by the Strand Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Miss Eve Bentley.