LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 508, 10 November 1928, Page 14

LYRIC

“THE GREAT WELL” Those who saw the picture, ‘‘The Great Well,” at the Lyric Theatre last evening, watched one of the most intense dramas that has ever been made into a film. Love and jealousy, hatred and gratitude, swept through the story, and the audience fololwed the unfolding of the plot with fascination. When the story commences, an engineer and a military officer are close friends in a little outpost in India. Nothing would seem to mar the warmth of their friendship, which is bound by the fact that the major on one occasion had saved the other’s life. Rivalry springs up between them over a girl, whom the engineer marries. Even after the marriage the major still woos the girl, and the heat of his passion demoralises his character. He learns that one of his friend’s constructive works is a failure. This is the Great Well, in India. This knowledge he uses in dealings on the share market, but the report is afterwards proved to be false. A ruined man. he commits suicide in a manner which suggests murder, and his erstwhile friend the engineer is charged with the crime. From here on the story builds from crisis to crisis, and the climax is reached with the heart-broken confessions of the wife. Seena Owen and Thurston Hall, in the. leading roles, give notable interpretations that will live long in the memory. After such overpowering drama, the second picture, ‘‘Wickedness Preferred,” is delightful. It is bright and happy, and leaves everyone in a pleasant frame of mind, full of laughter over the adventures on a desert island of a novelist who made his name as the creator of “cave man” stories. He certainly had a lot to learn, and if the learning was painful to him, it was enjoyable to the audience. The justly famous comedy team of Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle have the centre of the stage in this story. A full programme of supporting pictures was also shown, and tuneful music, supplied by the Lyric Orchestra.