RAMONA THE LOVELY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 15

RAMONA THE LOVELY

DOLORES DEL RIO HEADS STRAND BILL

In the California of the Dons, the land where the romance of old Spain mingled with the primitive mystery of a new continent, Dolores Del Rio, the lovely lady of the wanton lips, appears in the latest arid greatest of her motion pictures, “Ramona.” “Ramona,” the big feature film which has just started its first week at the Strand, is essentially a picture beauti-

ful, and its loveliness has been placed in a tasteful and appropriate setting of music from the Strand Symphony Orchestra, and of colour and song from a fine prologue. This pro-

Dolores Del Rio logue is not nearly as ambitioufe as some which have been presented at this .theatre, but it is as effective as any. Amid the purple shadows of a canyon, Mr. Birrell O’Malley, dressed as an Indian, sings that haunting song "Bamona” with a depth of feeling and a height of ability. The atmosphere created is excellent, and the picture begins at just the right moment. There is another musical number of interest. It is the singing of the song by Dolores Del Rio herself. She has sent one gramophone record to New Zealand with the picture. In English, slightly but charmingly broken, she chants in sweet soprano the song o'f a sorrowing lover.

The picture aims at simplicity, and it has acquired dignity and beauty. Practically the whole of it is a tale simply told, and yet it is doubtful if £]lX£2 films in a# 1 many years have held a house as it did last evening. In quiet beauty of settlne*. the picturesque old haciendas, and the calm pasture land of California, the picture sets a new standard. Dolores Del Rio is the sprightly foster-daughter of a proud old Spanish family, ruled by the senora. Into her life comes the loves of Alessandro, the captain of the Indian sheep shearers, and of Felipe, the tall idealist Spaniard. The story begins at sheep-shearing time on the Moreno 'ranch, and Alessandro and Ramona love at first sight. They want to marry, but the acidulous Signora Moreno tries to force the girl into a convent.

Felipe, sacrificing his own chance of happiness, contrives a way for Ramona to escape to the arms of Alessandro. The lovers, married at the mission, go out to three years of happiness, but then fortune turns against them. Tragedy comes on the little Indian cottage, and Ramona is left heartbroken. But the picture ends happily. Dolores Del Rio is magnificent as the passionate Ramona, and Rolande Drew makes a fine Spanish don. Warner Baxter is the picturesque Alessandro, the chivalrous Indian. Others in the cast are Vera Lewis, John T. Prince and Mathilda Comont.

There is another excellent“ Our Gang” comedy on the bill. This time the lads get loose on a farm, and the circus they staged at the Ritz does not come nearly up to the farm production. The picture is called “It’s a Bear.”

An entertaining: film is “Concerning Bills,” a study of the curious shapes and uses of the bills of birds in the zoological gardens. The Strand Magazine gives the latest news of the world’s happenings. Eve Bentley and the Strand Symphony Orchestra play a medley overand incidental music with their wellknown ability.