BRITANNIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 514, 17 November 1928, Page 14

BRITANNIA

“SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS” “Shepherd of the Hills,” from Harold Bell Wright’s story, will be shown this evening at the Britannia Theatre. Splendid characterisations by a group of at least 12 fine players, are outstanding reasons for the success of this film. Certainly the story material taken from this “best-seller” is ideal film material. This production brings the Ozark backwoods and its quaint folk realistically and artistically to the screen. It is filled with colour, drama, primitive feeling, romance and the whole atmosphere that makes its locale glamorous. Players who stalk convincingly across the screen in characterisations of the Wright novel are Af/sc B. Francis, in the title role; Molly O’Day and John Boles in the principal romance. Marion Davies, as a typically bright American girl, is the star of the second picture, “The Patsy.” “HIS TIGER LADY” AT CAPITOL Comedy, melodrama and romance are all intermingled in “Partners in Crime,” the latest comedy success of Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. In this story Wally and Ray decide to protect Mary Brian, but they find themselves mixed up with a gang of crooks who are carrying on a private war with a rival gang, led by the duplicate of Ray. It was bad enough for Wally to get mixed, but when the gangs shuffled things and star.ted shooting Ray, the lads woke up. Adolphe Menjou in “His Tiger Lady,” a story of Parisian society life, is the second attraction. Evelyn Brent has the role of the “Tiger Lady.”

MAITRE DE BALLET

“RAMONA” NOW AT EDENDALE “Ramona,” brilliant and romantic, with Dolores Del Rio in the title role, will be shown at the Edendale Theatre this evening. Running the gamut of human emotions, feeling all the pangs of love, despair and woe, Miss Del Rio plays upon the heart strings of her audience. Her histrionic skill and gift of character delineation find opportunity for full expression in the romantic scenes, and in the deep, fine nuances of pathos and tragedy. There are five great dramatic climaxes in the picture—the romantic elopement of “Ramona” with “Alessandro”; the tragic death of their baby, the most poignant scene ever screened: the wanton massacre of defenceless Indians by a band of outlaws; the cruel murder of “Alessandro”: and the beautiful restoration of “Ramona’s” shattered memory. “His Tiger Lady,” with Adolphe Menjou, is the second feature. A BOY’S FIRST LOVE A great romantic screen classic lias come to the screen in rank Borzage's latest Fox film production. 'The River.” This is a poignant and inspiring drama of a boy’s first love, featuring in the romantic theme Mary Duncan as the girl, and Charles Farreil as the boy. Mary Duncan gives a truly inspired performance as Rosalee, the girl who has known many men and who realises a great spiritual awakening in the love of Allan John, the young engineer. In the role of Allen, Farrell again scores another dramatic success. His portrayal is sympathetic and yet conceived with great power that strikes the keynote of sincerity throughout the picture. 200 CANOES IN “ROSE MARIE’’ More than two hundred canoes and enough raw furs to represent the entire winter catch of a hundred Canadian trappers, are being used in one of *h° sequences of “Rose Marie.” Metro-Ooldwyn-Mayer's screen adaptation of the famous musical comedy. Joan Crawford and James Murray have the principal roles in this picture, which wa f* directed by Edmund Goulding amid the scenic grandeur of the Sierra Mountains.